Welcome to the June Network Newsletter!

Welcome to June's edition of the newsletter which as always brings together news, stories and events relevant to the Network. 

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. And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @ScotCLWnetwork

Events, Workshops and Training

Scottish CLW Network Events

Scottish Community Link Worker Network Conference - key messages
It was so fabulous to see everyone at our second annual conference last month. We are already reviewing your feedback and exploring options and ideas for next year's conference!  We have now published the key messages on our events page. Happy reading!

Knowledge Exchange - 25 September 2024
Our next knowledge exchange event will take place on 25 September and will feature speakers from Survivors of Human Trafficking Across Scotland and Diabetes UK.  You can find out more and book your place  

Other Events, Training and Resources

Social Security Scotland Carer Support events
Social Security Scotland is expanding the pilot launch of Carers Support Payment to Angus, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire on 24 June, and will extend this further from 19 August to the following Local Authorities: Fife, Moray, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and North Ayrshire.  Find out more and book your place here.

Free MS-UK awareness training for social prescribers - 10 July 2024
Sign up to this awareness training from MS-UK which is aimed at social prescribers. The session will look at what MS is, its symptoms and how social prescribers can support people with MS.  

Festival of Politics 2024: Health Creators - 20 August 2024
VHS and the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities are hosting an event as part of The Festival of Politics on 20 August from 11.30-1pm.  The event will bring a panel together to explore the right to health and the barriers to access health services and consequently exacerbate health inequities. You can find out more information here

Voluntary Health Scotland Members' Meet Up - 28 August 2024
Voluntary Health Scotland's next members' meet up with take place on 28 August and will enable members to come together and discuss the shared challenges that voluntary health providers are currently facing. 

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.

Save the date: 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. More information will follow soon, but save the date for now!

NHS24 Summer Health Campaign
NHS24 has launched its Summer Health Campaign for 2024 with lots of useful information and resources on summer related health conditions. 

Creating Hope with Peer Support – new resource
The Scottish Recovery Network has launched a new co-designed resource to help groups, organisations and services further develop their understanding of peer support in the context of suicide prevention and to train more people to facilitate and offer peer support in the community.  Why not order your free copy?

Highlights from across the Network

Edinburgh CLW network winners at Social Prescribing Awards!
Huge congratulations to the wonderful Edinburgh CLW Network who were winners at the recent 2024 Social Prescribing Awards in London (see photo above!) The team won the award for best local social prescribing service. We are so pleased for everyone in the team and well done for flying the flag for Scotland at the event!

Inverclyde CLW team is recruiting!
Inverclyde are currently recruiting for two vacancies in their team - closing date 5th July!

2nd Global International Social Prescribing Report published
The 2nd report highlighting social prescribing across the globe has been published. The work of both The Scottish Community Link Worker Network and The Scottish Social Prescribing Network are referenced on Page 12 of the report. You can find out more information here about the international perspective on social prescribing - well worth a read!

Scottish CLW Network poster  at NHS Scotland Conference
Roisin and Lauren attended the NHS Scotland Conference 2024 'Planning for the Future: Delivering Health and Care Services through Innovation and Collaboration' as part of the poster exhibition.  We presented a SCLWN poster on the network's recent research report Essential Connections which looked into the range and scope of community link worker programmes in Scotland. View our poster here and below!

Keep us up to date!
Don't forget to share your news and updates with us and let Roisin know if you have new CLWs in post so that she can add them to the Network's updates.

Other News

Primary Care Improvement Plan - Progress Report
The Scottish Government has published the Primary Care Improvement Plan progress report which provides updates on workforce numbers, including CLWs, and access to NHS board provided services across Scotland (up to 31st March 2024). 

Obesity Action Scotland New Report
Obesity Action Scotland published a new report last month which presents a snapshot of price and location promotions to explore the extent and balance of food and drink promotions in retail settings. It was found that 34% of all promotions on food & drink products were applied to unhealthy items. The study supports their call for Scottish Government to take urgent policy action to comprehensively regulate all forms of promotions of unhealthy food and drink products.

Call for views on 3rd sector funding principles
The Social Justice and Security Committee is calling for views on 3rd sector funding principles as part of their pre-budget 2025-6 scrutiny.  The Committee wants to examine how the Scottish Government’s approach to fair and efficient funding can contribute to the continued effectiveness of the third sector.  The call for views will close on 16 August and you can find more information here 

ASH Scotland's New E-newsletter
ASH Scotland has launched an e-newsletter! Stay informed and connected with the latest updates on local and global tobacco control research, project initiatives and upcoming events. Sign up here for more information.

Diffley Partnership report published
The Diffley Partnership has published a report commissioned by the NCD Alliance Scotland which explores public attitudes towards the harms caused by alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food and drink.

Scottish Government report published on tackling child poverty
The Scottish Government has published progress on its Best Start Bright Futures - tackling child poverty initiative.  The progress report provides information on early evidence and learning from a range of initiatives that aim to tackle child poverty through working in partnership to provide holistic, person-centred support for parents and families.

Committee launches call for views on assisted dying bill
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee has launched a call for views on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The call for views comprises a short survey for those who wish to express general views on the bill as a whole and a detailed call for evidence for those who wish to comment on specific aspects of the bill.