Welcome to August's Newsletter 

​​​We are counting down the days to our Conference in September and are delighted to announce our Awards finalists for this year. Congratulations to all of our nominees and you can find out more about them in this month's edition.

As always our newsletter has the usual roundup of news and events, including our autumn events schedule.

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. Don't forget to share your news and updates with us. 

Events, Workshops and Training

Scottish Community Link Worker Network Events

You can find booking details, presentations and key messages from all of our Network events on our dedicated events page.

Compassionate Conversations Training - 9 September
Our last Compassionate Conversations training workshop with Cruse will focus on how to talk compassionately about death, dying and bereavement. 

September Knowledge Exchange - 17 September 
Our regular Knowledge Exchanges offer Community Link Workers the opportunity to hear from organisations and services that can support them and their clients.  Our September Knowledge Exchange will feature presentations from MISS – Miscarriage Support, Breathing Space and Children in Scotland.

SCLWN Conference and Awards - 22 September
There are only a few places left for our 2026 Annual Network Conference and Awards on 22 September at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs will be delivering the first keynote speech of the day. Book your place here.

Carers' Awareness Training for CLWs - 6 October 
Join us for VOCAL's Think Carer Training which will support Community Link Workers across Scotland to confidently identify and support unpaid carers. 

Good Practice - Gypsy/Traveller Communities - 22 October
Public Health Scotland's Good Practice Guide for engaging with Gypsy/Travellers supports health professionals to tailor public health messages to the community.  We will be running a joint event with Public Health Scotland and Progress in Dialogue to support Community Link Workers in their work with gypsy/traveller communities. 

November Knowledge Exchange - 12 November 
Our November Knowledge Exchange will feature presentations from Public Health Scotland's Confidence and Equity Teams (Vaccination and Screening), Action Against Stalking and Elevate Autism.

Peer Support and Wellbeing Session for CLWs - 25 November
This wellbeing session for CLWs will be led by Hilda Campbell from Cope Scotland. She will focus on different support techniques, including mindfulness, to support Community Link Workers to manage their own health and wellbeing.

CLW Leads Event - Whole Family Support Project - 9 December
This online event will focus on the Whole Family Support through General Practice Project, an initiative where Family Wellbeing Workers (FWWs) provide holistic support to families experiencing, or at risk of, poverty, trauma and neurodevelopmental difficulties. Book your place here.

Other Events, Training, Resources and Funding

Public Health Scotland Winter Vaccines Webinar
Public Health Scotland hosted a webinar about information and plans for winter vaccines for 2026/27. You can watch the recording here.

National Autistic Society Training - September to October
National Autistic Society: Learn is hosting training courses across September and October.  Whether you are looking to build confidence, strengthen inclusive practice, or develop specialist knowledge, their courses are designed to provide practical strategies that can be applied immediately within professional settings.  Visit their website for more information.

Dementia and Social Connection Training - September to February
Connected Lives training from Befriending Networks is free and open to staff and volunteers at third sector organisations based in Scotland who want to feel more confident supporting people living with dementia. The course will be delivered in 20 locations throughout Scotland, and a further 4 dates are available for accessing the course online. Find out more information here.

Discovering New Perspectives in Suicide Prevention - 10 September
For World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, suicide prevention partners are collaborating with Abertay University to host a full-day conference which will create a space for shared learning on what makes a difference in suicide prevention. More information and book your place here.

Social Isolation and Loneliness Forum - 16 September
The Social Isolation and Loneliness Forum is co-chaired by Befriending Networks and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland. The September meeting will focus on loneliness amongst children and young people. Book now.   

NHS Scotland Conference - 21 September
The annual NHS Scotland Conference will showcase work towards transforming health and care services through collaboration. Find out more information here.

Global Intergenerational Congress – 29 September to 1 October
Generations Working Together will hold their Global Intergenerational Congress 2026 in Glasgow.  This event will bring together practitioners, policy makers, researchers and community leaders who share a commitment to strengthening relationships between generations. Find out more here.

VHS Consultation Event: Third Sector Parity - 13 October
Join VHS for the second in our series of consultation events exploring our four asks from our Manifesto for Health Creation. Find out about the latest policy developments, including the Government's commitment to establish a Third Sector Partnership.  Register here. 

VHS Annual Conference 2026 - 2 November
VHS will be holding our Annual Conference at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. This year's theme is Power, Partnership, Perseverance and we'll be celebrating our collective power, strong partnerships, and how our perseverance leads to real, measurable change. Limited early bird tickets are available until the end of August. Book early to secure your place!

Befriending Networks Conference - 4 November
Their Annual Conference and AGM will take place on Wednesday 4 November, during Befriending Week. Please add the date to your diary! 

MS-UK Awareness Session For Community Link Workers - 6 November
MS-UK is hosting an awareness raising session for community link workers and social prescribers to support their knowledge on multiple sclerosis. The session will explain the symptoms and impact of MS as well as provide details of how CLWs can get support for patients.  Find out more information.

PSDS 2026 Bereavement Conference - 11 November
Registration is now open for Public Services Delivery Scotland's (PSDS) Bereavement Education Conference 'From the Shadows: Shedding Light on Bereavement at the Margins.'  Find out more information.

Faculty of Public Health Conference - 24 November
The Faculty of Public Health is partnering with Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Directors of Public Health Group on this year’s Conference.  Join them to explore the theme – From Frameworks to Future: Realising Scotland’s Population Health Ambitions.  Find out more and book your place here.

Macmillan Membership Open to CLWs
As cancer care increasingly shifts into neighbourhood, community and primary care settings, there is a growing need to ensure that professionals across the system have the confidence, knowledge and support to recognise, respond to and support people living with cancer. This is why Macmillan are excited to introduce Macmillan Membership. Macmillan Membership has been designed to support professionals at every stage of their cancer learning journey, providing access to training, resources and peer support. 

How Carer Aware Are You Podcast
The How Carer Aware Are You Podcast from Public Services Delivery Scotland provides lots of useful advice and information on carers' rights and support services. If you haven’t had a chance to tune in yet, there are now seven episodes available to explore.

Charity Worker Discounts
If you are a charity worker, volunteer or work in other charity sector support roles, you can sign up to Charity Worker Discounts and find discounts on everything from tech to travel.

News from across the Network

Help Shape the Future of Social Prescribing in Scotland
The Scottish Government is inviting people across Scotland to share their views on social prescribing through an online survey and conversation.  Whether you have used this type of support before or not, your views will help shape the future direction of social prescribing in Scotland.  Click here to take part.  The public consultation is open until Thursday 24 September.

Congratulations to Our 2026 Awards Finalists!
We have recently announced our 2026 awards finalists with programmes from across Scotland represented across our three awards categories.  Congratulations to our nominees and you can find out more about them here. 

Programme for Government Proposals From VHS Highlights CLWs
Voluntary Health Scotland has shared four proposals with the Scottish Government for inclusion in the Programme for Government, due to be published in September. One of these proposals includes a commitment to ensuring that people disproportionately affected by health inequalities have access to a community link worker through their GP practice. Read more here. 

Welcome to New CLWs!
A warm welcome to Elise Birks who is the latest community link worker to join the Glasgow city CLW team.

Edinburgh CLW Service Annual Event
Edinburgh CLW Service held their annual event 'Behind the Scenes: The Unseen Work of Community Link Workers' on 26 August. The morning was a chance to reflect on the transformational work and impact of the CLWs over the last year, along with launching their annual review of 2025-26. 

Other News

SHERU Report - Poverty Dynamics Among Young Adult Men in Scotland
The Scottish Health Equity Research Unit reports that poverty among young adult men in Scotland is more likely to be persistent and recurring than elsewhere in the UK, increasing the risk of poorer health outcomes over time. Read the full report here. 

SPICe Briefing Provides Overview of Scotland’s Primary Care Challenges
A new SPICe briefing has been published into primary care and general practice in Scotland.  It provides an overview of continuing pressure on the sector, highlighting increasing demand, workforce challenges, and difficulties in delivering reform, while also outlining recent initiatives and developments.

Missingness Interventions Paper Published
Andrea Williamson, Professor of General Practice and Inclusion Health at the University of Glasgow has published the latest in a series of papers in relation to Missingness in Healthcare. This paper focus on missingness interventions and can be read here.

Walk-in GPs Record 6,800 Cases Since February
Public Health Scotland has published statistics relating to the number of cases at pilot NHS walk-in centres, for the month ending 30 June, as part of the Scottish Government’s investment into General Practice.

Carnegie UK survey - Households Continue to Face Financial Pressures
Carnegie UK has published research showing more than a quarter of UK households would struggle to meet an unexpected £850 expense. The organisation’s survey of 6,731 people found 28% could not comfortably absorb the cost, while 6% could not afford enough food for everyone in their household and 12% could not afford to socialise at least once a month. 

Impact of Social Prescribing on Healthcare Use and Costs
A new paper from the University of Manchester-led research team evaluating the rollout of UK social prescribing link workers looks at how healthcare use and costs changed for patients who were referred to social prescribing link workers in England. They conclude that ‘referrals to social prescribing have impacted patients’ healthcare use with evidence of directing patients away from GP appointments in the longer term. 

Report Finds Major Gaps in Gambling Harm Treatment Across Scotland
A Scottish Government report has found that gambling harm treatment in Scotland remains fragmented, with limited access to specialist, evidence-based care.  NHS involvement also remains limited, with inconsistent referral pathways between services and no comprehensive national system of care. 

Scottish Government Launches Heart and Lung Health Checks
John Swinney has announced heart and lung MOT-style checks to prevent illness and support earlier intervention. They will be delivered through a new five-year partnership and Scottish Government investment with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and will be supported by local NHS services.

Disabled People's Experiences of Third Spaces - Survey Launched
Inclusion Scotland wants to hear from disabled people about their experiences of 'third spaces.' Third spaces are places that are separate from the home (first space) and workplaces or education settings (second space). Examples include libraries, community centres, parks, cafés, museums, leisure facilities, faith groups and other community spaces where people meet, socialise, learn, volunteer, or take part in activities.  Read more.

Ten Charities to Share £20m Fund to Tackle Child Poverty
The Scottish Government has announced that 10 charities will receive a share of a £20 million fund in 2026-27 to deliver support for parents and boost employment, as part of the initiative to reduce child poverty. 

Move More September
Movement is one of the most effective things you can do for mental health. Move More September runs throughout September and is a UK campaign, championed by a range of partners including local activity providers, charities working with cancer survivors, NHS, and sport partnerships. Find out more.

New Delivery Plan to Tackle Human Trafficking
The Scottish Government has published a new delivery plan setting out action to tackle human trafficking and exploitation between 2026-2028. 

Scottish Universities Launch Study into Rural Access to Healthcare
Researchers at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) and Glasgow Caledonian University have announced that they will collaborate with the Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community to improve access to healthcare for people living in rural Scotland.  The project: Improving Net Zero Transport Access to Healthcare in Rural Scotland, will investigate the experience of people living in rural areas who face long, complicated journeys to reach appointments.