Welcome to the August Network Newsletter!

Welcome to the August edition of the newsletter which as always brings together news, stories and events relevant to the Network. In this month's edition, you can read an update on our Network video project and we also share good news stories from Argyll and Bute's and the Alliance's CLW programmes.  

The Scottish Community Link Worker Network is the national network, developed and facilitated by Voluntary Health Scotland for primary care community link working in Scotland.

Please visit our webpage for the latest blogs, reports and information about the Network. You can follow us on Twitter @ScotCLWnetwork and don't forget to share your news and updates with us. Finally let Roisin know if you have new CLWs in post so that she can add them to the Network's updates.

Events, Workshops and Training

Scottish CLW Network Events

Knowledge Exchange - 25 September 2024
There are still spaces left on our next event which will take place on 25 September and will feature speakers from Reengage, Survivors of Human Trafficking Across Scotland and Diabetes UK.   You can find out more information and book your place via our events page

Adult Disability Payment Review - 29 October 2024
The Independent Review Team will be holding an event with the Network to discuss the review of the Adult Disability Payment. You can find out more information and register via our events page 

Other Events, Training and Resources

Social Security Scotland Stakeholder events: Carer Support and Pension Age Disability Payments
Social Security Scotland will be hosting a series of events for stakeholders on Carer Support Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment in September and October. For more information about the events and to book a place, please visit the Social Security Scotland Eventbrite page

Money Guiders' Network Workshop - 4 September 2024
The Money Guiders' Network is hosting a workshop in Glasgow on 4 September which is focusing on supporting children, young people and families. You can find out more information and book your place here

Cross Party Group Health Inequalities - 11 September 2024
You are very welcome to come along to the next meeting of the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities which will be on 11 September from 6-7.30pm.

ACE Aware Scotland event - 11 September 2024
ACE Aware Scotland will be hosting The Strength of Community event on 11 September from 7-9pm which will look at how health communities help people to thrive. The event will feature as its keynote speaker Sir Michael Marmot.

ALLIANCE Workforce Focus Group on SILF - 12 September 2024
The ALLIANCE is seeking views on the draft Scottish Learning and Improvement Framework for Adult Social Care Support and Community Health (SLIF). The focus of the framework is to support improvements in experiences and outcomes for people accessing care and support, based on a set of outcomes to measure improvement by the things that matter to people. Find out more here

Health Inequalities in Scotland: State of the Nation - 17 September 2024
This important event will bring together Scotland’s leading public health voices to share innovation, make connections and explore the practical steps that can be taken to address many of the challenges being faced in tackling health inequalities. Roisin will be a panel member in the afternoon's session looking at changing expectations and accelerating progress. You can find out more and book your place here.

Versus Arthritis MSK Core Skills Workshop - 7 October 2024
Versus Arthritis is really excited to be bringing back their award winning MSK Core Skills workshop to Glasgow on 7 October.  Please note they do still have bursaries left to support remote, rural and island travel and accommodation.  To sign up, please complete the booking form here

National Care Service Forum - 7 October 2024
The National Care Service Forum will take place on 7 October at the Glasgow Science Centre (50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1EA) and online. Tickets for the Forum are now available for stakeholders and people with lived experience of community health and social care support to book on Eventbrite.

CHEX Health in the Community Youth Pack launch - 9 October 2024
CHEX is holding a launch event for our refreshed Health Issues in the Community Youth Pack on 9 October (details in the link) Find out more and book here

VHS Annual Conference - 23 October 2024 
The VHS annual conference, Scotland's Vital Health Sector, will take place on Wednesday 23 October at Dynamic Earth Edinburgh and you can book your place now!  CLWs benefit from a SCLWN discount (select this option) and there is also 20% off with the EARLYBIRD offer!

Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) - 5 & 12 November 2024
This is an ideal course if you come into regular contact with members of the public, especially in a non-healthcare role.  If you are a frontline member of staff, a Health and Safety officer/First Aider in a workplace, or supporting volunteers, then this is a good course for you. More here.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland launches new women's health resource
In Scotland, heart disease is one of the leading cause of death in women. It is responsible for significant morbidity and reduced quality of life. The misconception that men are primarily affected perpetuates the prevalence and impact of heart disease in women. Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland is excited to announce the launch of a new eLearning module about women’s health, HEARTe15: Women’s Heart Health.

Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland event
Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland ran an event 'the role of culture in health, the future of social prescribing' during the Healing Arts Scotland Festival. If you missed the event and would like to watch it back, use the passcode Tw!3Bzu1 when clicking on the link below. The Role of Culture in Health - the Future of Social Prescribing

Oxfam Volunteering Opportunities
Oxfam is keen to work with CLWs to raise awareness of volunteering opportunities across Scotland for the clients they support. We all know the benefits of volunteering to our confidence and mental health. For more information please contact Claire Rowlands Volunteer Resourcing and Engagement Coordinator (Scotland). 

The Stroke Association Scotland
The Stroke Association now has a British Sign Language option on their website under their Helpline section.  Please click here for further information.

Highlights from across the Network

Scottish Community Link Worker Network video project
You may remember that we did some filming at the annual conference in May to capture some vox pops with CLWs, GPs and exhibitors as part of our video project to promote CLWs and the Network. We have been busy filming with CLWs and clients from Edinburgh and Perth and Kinross (see above) over the last few weeks and hope to launch the final videos in the autumn.

CLW services in East Lothian and East Dunbartonshire
The CLW services in East Lothian and East Dunbartonshire are closing. The CLWs in East Dunbartonshire will be redeployed within the local CAB, while the CLWs in East Lothian will be made redundant at the end of September. This is extremely sad news, given the importance of CLWs' role in early intervention and prevention to support people's health and wellbeing. It makes finding a sustainable funding model for the CLW services across Scotland more vital than ever. We will continue to influence this agenda via the National CLW Advisory Group.  Thank you to the CLWs in East Lothian and East Dunbartonshire for their hard work over the years and we wish them all the best for the future.

Alliance Partnership supports people in fuel poverty
The link worker programme hosted by the Health and Social Care Alliance (the ALLIANCE) has extended its partnership with a gas distribution network to help people with long term health conditions access affordable energy. Initially launched in March 2022, the collaboration with provider Southern Gas Networks (SGN) is now set to run until August 2026, looking to ensure Scots can keep their homes safe and warm. You can read more information here

Argyll and Bute CLW programme celebrates three year anniversary
The Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership has published a newsletter showcasing the progress they have made since their CLW programme began in 2021. You can read all about their achievements here

Edinburgh CLW Network welcomes two new CLWs
Welcome to Kate Barrett and Natalie Lewit who have recently started working at Carr Gomm as CLWs in the Edinburgh CLW Network. Kate will be based at Niddrie Practice and Natalie at Southfield.

Rest and relaxation offer in the Highlands for CLWs
Voluntary Health Scotland is delighted to announce a partnership with Turadh, a social enterprise which offers socially conscious holiday accommodation in the stunning Scottish West Highland villages of Glenelg and Shieldaig (see photo below). The ethos behind the creation of Turadh is that everyone deserves to have an opportunity for rest, recovery and time in nature. We have subsidised rates for CLWs, register your interest with Roisin before 29 August!

Alliance Link Worker Programme ten-year celebration event
The Health and Social Care Alliance (the ALLIANCE) recently celebrated ten years of their CLW programme at an event in Glasgow as part of the Healing Arts Scotland festival (see photo below of the programme's director, Roseann Logan and team). The event brought together link workers, GPs, communities and practice staff to reflect on the programme's progress over the last decade. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Other News

Chief Medical Officer launches annual report
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gregor Smith has launched his annual report Realistic Medicine - Taking Care. His report outlines his vision to deliver better value care for patients and the health system.  It considers the climate emergency and sustainability; tackling health inequalities and careful and kind care.

Job Start Payment - spread the word!
Job Start Payment is a one-off payment of £314.45 (or £503.10 if someone is the main carer or parent of a child) to help with the costs of starting a new job including clothes, equipment and transport. People aged between 16-24 can apply if they are in receipt of certain benefits including universal credit for a period of 6 months before their job start date.

Drug-related deaths increase, with 1,172 deaths recorded in 2023
National Records of Scotland has published statistics on drug-related deaths in Scotland during 2023 which present an increase of 121 deaths on figures from 2022, with 1,172 deaths recorded due to drug misuse in 2023. Opiates and opioids, including heroin, morphine and methadone were implicated in 80% of all deaths. 

About Dementia funding announced for grassroots projects
About Dementia, Age Scotland’s forum for enhancing the lives of those affected by dementia, has announced a new round of funding for grassroots dementia projects for 2025. The Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity fund will provide £310,000 in funding, available to groups across Scotland. About Dementia is particularly focused on supporting projects in rural communities this year. Interested groups are invited to submit their proposals by Friday 13 September.

Report published on suicide prevention 
The Scottish Government has published an annual report from Suicide Prevention Scotland covering progress on the first year of the suicide prevention strategy, ‘Creating Hope Together’. It highlights progress in both developing the infrastructure to support delivery and in the level of activity delivered, noting the development of key relationships and networks have established strong foundations for the second year of the strategy. 

Committee seeks views on impact of Child Poverty Act
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee is seeking views on the impact of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 since it came into effect. The committee is keen to hear from third sector and private organisations, local authorities, health boards and academics. The call for views closes on Friday 13 September. Click here for more information.