Welcome to the April Network Newsletter!

The Newsletter brings together news, stories and events which we hope will be of interest to the Network. 

In this month's edition we have blogs from Baillieston Community Link Worker Laura Ewing and Danny McShane from Edinburgh as well as details of our next Knowledge Exchange event with Age Scotland and Kidney Research UK.

The Scottish Community Link Worker Network is the national network, developed and facilitated by VHS, 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 24th May 2023

Only a month to go and the programme for the The Scottish Community Link Worker Network Annual Conference on Wednesday 24th May in Glasgow is shaping up nicely! 

We are pleased to announce that we will be offering 4 different workshops on the day which will be led by CLW teams from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverclyde and North Ayrshire.  Delegates will have an opportunity to attend one of these on the day and we will be in touch shortly with everyone who has signed up for the conference with more information and how to sign up for your preferred choice. 

Change Mental Health which manages the Mental Health and Money Advice Service will be one of the exhibitors at our Network conference. Ahead of this, Clare Johnston, Content Writer at the Service has written Clare's blog  which outlines how they are challenging the stigma around accessing financial support during the cost of living crisis.

For the latest information about our conference programme, please visit our events page 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone in person next month!

Knowledge Exchange and Peer Support Events

We are pleased to announce our third Knowledge Exchange event will take place on Tuesday 8th June 2023 from 10-12pm.  We will be joined by Doug Anthoney, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Age Scotland and Bushra Riaz Policy Lead for Scotland from Kidney Research UK. 

Other Events

Leading to Change

Leading to Change (L2C), is a new national leadership development programme to improve the leadership development and support for those working in health, social care and social work.

If you are interested in overview of their events, support and opportunities that are available you can sign up to their weekly newsletter  to stay updated on Leading to Change.

NES Bereavement Education Conference - save the date

The next NES Bereavement Education Conference: The Grief We Carry will take place on Tuesday 28th November. This will be a free virtual one day event for health and social care staff. Please email  the NES events team for more information. 

Highlights from the Network

CLWs contribute to Singing for Health Network Podcast

Deborah Hamilton, a Glasgow-based Community Links Practitioner with the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, and Alison Leitch, assistant service manager of the Edinburgh Community Link Worker Network, co-chair of the Scottish Social Prescribing Network and member of Scottish Community Link Worker Network  recently took part in a podcast on social prescribing and link working as part of Scotland's Singing for Health Network.  

Laura's blog

Laura McEwing who is a Community Links Practitioner with the Alliance shares her story of her work with the community of Baillieston. You can read Laura's blog on our webpage.

Danny's blog

Danny McShane from Edinburgh CLW service has written a blog about their programme's partnership on nature prescribing with RSPB Edinburgh. You can read Danny's blog on our webpage. 

We want to hear from new CLWs!

It is always great to hear news from across the Network. Don't forget to get in touch if you have new CLWs who have recently started in post. We are always keen to welcome them to the Network. Please get in touch with Roisin if you want to add any CLWs to the Network's mailing list.

Other News

Pancreatic Cancer UK: Specialist Nurse Support Line

Do you support anyone affected by pancreatic cancer? Pancreatic Cancer UK specialist nurses are experts in pancreatic cancer and are only a phone call away. They can provide additional support to people living with pancreatic cancer and their families; answering their questions, following up with personalised information and providing reassurance for as long as they need it.

Please encourage anyone affected by pancreatic cancer to call Pancreatic Cancer UK's free and confidential specialist nurse Support Line on 0808 801 0707. It is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9am and 4pm, and Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm.

To find out more about their support services for people affected by pancreatic cancer, or their events, training and resources for professionals, please visit their website or contact their Engagement Officer, Natasha Johnston.  

Scottish Book Trust - Reading is Caring

Reading is Caring is a Scottish Book Trust programme which seeks to support people living with dementia and their carers (professional and family carers).

Scottish Book Trust offers free online workshops for carers in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders. These workshops equip carers with the knowledge and tools needed to undertake personalised shared reading with someone living with dementia. This includes teaching carers how to select and tailor reading for the person they care for, as well as gathering sensory triggers to complement the reading.

To find out more about the programme and how you can get involved, please visit the Scottish Book Trust website or you can email them and they will get back in touch

Venture Scotland

Venture Scotland provides free outdoor-based personal development programmes for young people in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Edinburgh. Their programmes aim to support people aged 16-30 who are experiencing poor mental health or challenges in their life to enhance and maintain their wellbeing and feel more positive about their future and they are always happy to take referrals from CLWs!

Scottish Government publishes guide to person-centred suicide prevention

The Scottish Government has published an introductory guide to the Time Space Compassion principles and approach; a relationship and person-centred approach to improving suicidal crisis. It has been developed for use by people and services who regularly come into contact and support people experiencing suicidal crisis. The government has also published a collection of practice stories, illustrating the principles and supporting practices of Time Space Compassion.

£1m to tackle health inequalities

The First Minister has announced an additional £1m will be made available for general practices in the most deprived areas of Scotland to help tackle health inequalities. The Inclusion Health Action in General Practice programme allocates funding directly to practices within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area which feature on the list of 100 most deprived practices in Scotland.

Scottish Government announces £15m investment in mental health

Scottish Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson has announced an additional £15m investment in the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. The investment will be shared by projects which address mental health issues, social isolation and loneliness.  The move aligns with the priority to boost mental health and wellbeing that was set out in the Scottish Government’s Policy Prospectus earlier this month.

National Lottery Community Fund: Cost of Living Support Scotland

Grants up to £75,000 are available for community groups and voluntary organisations to help support individuals, families and communities currently experiencing hardship because of the cost-of-living increases. You can email the National Lottery to find out more information on how to apply.