Welcome to the March Network Newsletter!

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

In this month's edition, we have the usual round up of Network news, events and training from across Scotland and share how some CLW programmes celebrated Social Prescribing Day!

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

Peer support event key messages- 28 February 2024

Our Network peer support event took place on Wednesday 28 February. A big thank you to Ingrid Sandison from Shetland and Brady Secules from Aberdeenshire for sharing some of the ways they interact with patients. You can download their presentations and read the notes from the event here

Knowledge Exchange event - save the date 24 April 2024!

Our sixth knowledge exchange event will take place on 24 April and we will announce speakers and open bookings shortly.  Our knowledge exchange events are an opportunity for CLWs to hear from organisations that can support them. If there are organisations you want to present to the Network, then please get in touch with Roisin or Lauren 

Scottish Community Link Worker Network Conference - 29 May 2024

We have now opened bookings for the conference to everyone in the Network and you can book your place by clicking here Please note that the Conference is free for members of the Network.  We also have a small fund available to help with travel/accommodation costs for those CLWs based in remote and rural areas. Please contact Roisin if you would like to find out more.  Find out more about exhibition opportunities on our events page. If you have any other questions, please get in touch with Roisin or Lauren 

Other Events

Music as Medicine - 27 March 2024

Could you use music as medicine? If your work brings you into contact with people living with dementia, you might benefit from a free seminar detailing how to use meaningful music in dementia care. Join a webinar from Playlist for Life suitable for health professionals, social prescribers or people working in hospitals on 27 March at 10am. Find out more

Deep End 'Wellbeing at the Margins' Conference - 12/13 April 2024

The Scottish Deep End Group proudly presents the 'Wellbeing at the Margins' Conference 2024. With an exceptional line up of expert speakers, interactive workshops and video diaries, this conference aims to update delegates on the Deep End story so far, share learning, and look to the future. The conference themes are: hope, joy, kindness, advocacy and inclusivity. More information here

The ALLIANCE  webinar with Professor Derek Feeley - 17 April 2024

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland has announced that Professor Derek Feeley will be participating in a webinar on Wednesday 17 April between 10:00 and 11:30. The former chief executive of NHS Scotland and chair of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care will share his expertise and global perspective regarding the future of health and social care in Scotland.

Taking Art Home: Online Creative Workshops - w/c 22 April 2024

Taking Art Home is a project run by Art in Healthcare for people living in Scotland who find it difficult to get out and about due to long term health conditions.  During a series of online free relaxed weekly art sessions, artist Jeni Allison will introduce you to a range of techniques chosen to promote fun and relaxing creative making.  If someone can’t make every week, they will have pre-recorded versions available via YouTube. No previous art experience is required and classes start w/c 22nd April. For more information please contact Jeni or Iona  Register your interest here 

Diabetes UK Webinar - 24 April 2024

Diabetes UK is running a webinar on 24 April to introduce the Diabetes Scotland initiative Together Type 1. The webinar will focus on the support available for young people 11-25 living with type 1 diabetes and explain how to get involved with Together Type 1. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with type 1 diabetes for years, or you're a parent or care-giver, or healthcare professional supporting young people living with type 1 diabetes, this event will be really useful for you! Book your place today

Scottish Public Health Conference - 1 May 2024

This in-person Scottish Public Health Conference which will take place in Glasgow on Wednesday 1 May 2024 has been jointly developed by the Faculty of Public Health, Public Heath Scotland and Scottish Directors of Public Health. This will be an opportunity to engage with colleagues from all sectors involved in developing and delivering public health.

Health and Social Care Alliance Conference - 1 May 2024

The Health and Social Care Alliance's annual conference, 'Our Voice, Our Rights, Our Future' will take place on Wednesday 1 May 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.  The conference is a great opportunity to engage in crucial debate on health and care in Scotland.

Movement for Health Conference - 18 June 2024

The Movement for Health is holding its first ever conference on 18 June in Glasgow. Movement for Health is a coalition of Scotland's leading health charities. It works to support and inspire those with long-term health conditions to become more active in a way that works for them and their health condition. You can find out more and sign up here

VHS Annual Conference - 23 October 2024 - save the date!

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!

Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care - End of Life Skills courses

End of Life Aid Skills for Everyone is a course designed to enable people to be more comfortable and confident supporting family and community members with issues they face during dying, death and bereavement.  The course has been developed by the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care. It is delivered free of charge by volunteer EASE Facilitators, and takes approximately 8-12 hours to complete over a period of four weeks.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland regional events 

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland CEO Jane-Claire Judson invites CLWs to find out how they can work together with you to achieve their mission of No Life Half Lived and support the NHS.  They are hosting 6 events between April and June across Stirling, Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen. You can find out more in their invitation and register for one of their regional events by signing up here 

Singing for Health Network - guide for community link workers

The health benefits of singing are widely publicised, and as the evidence base grows, more choirs understand their role in supporting health and well-being, and welcome people referred to them for this reason. The Singing for Health Network together with partners including Making Music (who support leisure time music making) have produced a guide for community link workers to support you to connect your patients with great singing opportunities. Read their blog on our webpage where you will find links to some great resources.

Highlights from the Network

Social Prescribing Day and the Network

It was great to see so many of you celebrating Social Prescribing Day! The photo above shows Rachel Bower from Perth and Kinross CLW team at Blairgowrie Library where she had a busy day!

Edinburgh CLW Network marked the day by sharing some impressive referral statistics from their annual review 2022-23 

Alison Leitch from Edinburgh CLW Network, in her capacity as Chair of the Scottish Social Prescribing Network, spoke with Health and Care Scotland about the progress of the Network to date. You can read the full interview on their website.

Inverclyde CLWs were at Greenock H&C Centre to meet people face to face and share more information about what they do (see photo below of Elaine Cannon from CVS Inverclyde)

Other News

Scottish Government extends Best Start Foods eligibility

The Scottish Government has announced changes to the threshold for the Best Start Foods benefit which will extend eligibility for more than 20,000 people. The benefit helps families access money to help with the cost of food shopping every four weeks to help pay for healthy food for those who are pregnant until a child turns three.

Public Audit Committee calls for action on mental health services

The Public Audit Committee has published a report on adult mental health which finds that whilst funding for adult mental health is increasing, poor quality and incomplete data has made it difficult to assess the impact of funding.

National Care Service (Scotland) Bill passes Stage 1

The Scottish Government has welcomed the parliament’s passing of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1. The government hopes the legislation will ensure greater transparency in the delivery of community health and social care, improve standards, strengthen the role of the workforce and provide better support for unpaid carers.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland report into the impact of Long Covid

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland has highlighted the growing crisis of the tens of thousands of people in Scotland living with long Covid in their report published earlier this month. A key finding of the report is that 40% of people are unable to work due to their condition.

Plans unveiled for Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

The Scottish Government has unveiled plans for a Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance. Under the proposals, the 66,000 eligible people who receive Disability Living Allowance through the DWP would have their award transferred automatically to the new benefit, before having the opportunity to apply for the Adult Disability Payment. Legislation to create the ‘closed’ benefit – available only to those whose awards are transferred onto it and not open to new applicants – will be laid in the Scottish Parliament this year.

Peer Support Celebration Success

A new online hub to help people plan and deliver mental health peer support was officially launched by Maree Todd MSP. She told attendees of the ‘Future is Peer’ event held earlier this month that she was delighted to launch the refreshed website and free resources.  Hosted by the Scottish Recovery Network, the event brought together mental health groups, organisations and services to celebrate and champion the role of peer support across Scotland’s mental health system.

Health Inequalities in Scotland 2000-2020

In 2022, researchers at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow were funded by the Health Foundation to write a report describing trends in health inequalities over the last two decades in Scotland. You can go onto their website to read their key findings.

Scottish Government consultation on HFSS food promotion restrictions

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict the promotions of high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) foods where they are sold to the public. You can read the consultation paper details the aims of the consultation.