Welcome to May's Newsletter 

​​​As always our newsletter has the usual roundup of news and events, including the latest about our 2026 Conference.

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. 

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.

SCLWN Leads Peer Support - 3 June
In the latest of our peer support events for CLW Programme Leads, we will hear from North Ayrshire’s CLW team about their work on Arran, delivering programmes focusing on smoking cessation and weigh-to-go interventions. We will also be joined by Gillian Burton from Ash Scotland who will talk about their whole family approach to smoking cessation. Find out more and register here.

SCLWN Coffee and Conversations - 9 June 
In this lunchtime catch up, we will be discussing training, supervision and support for CLWs. Is there training you have had recently that has really helped you in your role?  What training would be helpful? What does good supervision look like for you?  Find out more and register here.

Cruse Scotland Training in Compassionate Conversations - 16 June
As these proved so popular earlier in the year, we will be running some more Compassionate Conversations sessions in partnership with Cruse Scotland.  The session focuses on how to talk compassionately about death, dying and bereavement.  Find out more and book your place.

SCLWN Conference and Awards 2026 - 22 September
Booking is now open, via programme managers, for our 2026 Annual Network Conference and Awards, which is taking place on 22 September at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. Thanks to everyone who submitted workshop proposals and we will be announcing these soon. Don't forget to submit your nominations for the awards - please complete this form to get nominating!

Other Events, Training and Resources

Unlocking Change: Motivational Interviewing Training for CLWs
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence‑based counselling approach that helps people explore their own motivation and resolve uncertainty about change. Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) is a trusted national leader in workforce development in Scotland. Visit SDF Learning Centre website to find out more.

Scottish Recovery Network Peer Events Programme
Scottish Recovery Network has launched their Peer Connects programme for 2026/27!  Through in-person events and webinars you’ll explore what helps mental health peer support thrive - from leadership and lived experience to building a supported peer workforce. Go to Peer Connects Events Brochure.

VHS and CEMVO Anti-Racism Guidance Workshop - 9 June
This Anti-Racism Guidance online workshop, hosted in collaboration with CEMVO Scotland, aims to empower participants to be anti-racist and to be an effective ally. You will be able to refresh your understanding of human rights and anti-racism key principles - some basic prior knowledge will be assumed - as well as develop tools for change through spheres of influence and practising an anti-racist mindset. Click here for more information and to book your place.

IFIC Scotland - Spotlight on Social Prescribing - 10 June
The International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) Self Management and Social Prescribing SIG and the Journal of Integrated Care (JICA) are pleased to announce the first of two special collections on social prescribing as a key enabler for integrated care. To mark this collaboration, they are hosting an international webinar featuring some of the special collection authors.  Join them to hear more about social prescribing in England, Canada and Wales. Connect with IFIC’s international community of practice to share your own  insights on social prescribing. Click here to register for your place.

SVIP National Conference 2026 - 11 June
Registration is open for the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) event hosted by Public Health Scotland at Perth Concert Hall. To register, please visit their event page.  

The Art of Health - Weaving Wellbeing Across Scotland - 18 June
As part of Healing Arts Scotland 2026 VHS will be hosting an evening reception and panel discussion that will explore and analyse what’s being done to combine arts, culture and social prescribing in Scotland.  We’ll hear powerful stories from those who are supporting communities across Scotland to benefit from access to arts and culture. Find out more and book your place. There will also be regional events throughout the week across Scotland. Check out the Healing Arts Scotland 2026 website for all the details of events near you.

Realistic Medicine Conference - 19 June
Bookings are open for the Realistic Medicine Conference 2026 which will take place on Friday 19 June at Strathclyde University's Technology and Innovation Centre. VHS will be delivering two workshops at the conference, one focused on social prescribing and the other on gender and missingness in health. 

Social Isolation and Loneliness Forums - 16 June and 16 September
The Social Isolation and Loneliness Forum is co-chaired by Befriending Networks and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland. The June meeting will focus on post-election reflections and planning for the future. Book now. 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 take place on Monday 21 September at Strathclyde University's Technology and Innovation Centre.  The event's programme will showcase work towards transforming health and care services through collaboration. Find out more information here.

CDAS Annual National Conference: 23 September
Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS) will be hosting their 2026 conference in Glasgow on 23 September. If you would like to work with them to help shape their programme or take a stall in their green zone area, get in touch with CDAS.

Voluntary Health Scotland Annual Conference - 2 November
Mark your calendars for this year's Annual Conference taking place at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. More details to follow soon. 

PSDS 2026 Bereavement Conference - 11 November
Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) will be hosting their Bereavement Education Conference on 11 November. The conference will be a free, virtual, one-day event. Find out more information here.

Rural Health Equity Community of Practice - Get Involved!
Rural Health Equity is a project exploring health inequalities in rural Scottish Highland and Island communities, specifically Caithness, Lochaber and the Western Isles.  A key part of this work is the Rural Health Equity Community of Practice (CoP), bringing together national, regional and local organisations through three thematic working groups running between June 2026 and February 2027, exploring: rural health inequalities and pathways to healthcare, heritage, culture, place and co-production in support of health equity, access, inclusion and stigma in rural contexts. If you are interested in being involved, further information and registration is available via this Eventbrite link.

Marie Curie's Support for People with Terminal Illnesses
When someone is living with a terminal illness and those close to them, the right support can make a meaningful difference. Marie Curie’s Information and Support Service and Companion Service are designed to provide both practical help and human connection at a time when it matters most. Together, these services help people feel supported in ways that truly matter.

SHERU 'Data at a Glance'
Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) is sharing a new development with its Data at a Glance resource.  Alongside the existing quantitative indicators and background data already available, Data at a Glance now includes dedicated qualitative insight sections across key determinants of health inequality and SHERU populations of interest. 

Free Courses For Social Prescribers on TURAS
Don't forget to check out the TURAS social prescribing landing page.  The page has lots of free courses which will be of interest to link workers, social prescribers and the wider third sector. If there are other courses you would like included on the page, please get in touch with Roisin.

News from across the Network

From Research To Reality - Social Prescribing in Scotland
Photos above show the teams from VHS and RSE at our recent workshop which focused on social prescribing in Scotland.  Speakers included the team from the NIHR-funded research project which has been evaluating the roll out of social prescribing link workers across the UK (Eddie Donaghy pictured above), as well as Alison Leitch from Edinburgh's CLW Network and Laura Moffat from Scottish Government who spoke about plans for a Scottish Social Prescribing Framework. Thanks to the CLW teams from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Inverclyde, West Lothian, Argyll and Bute, Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire who came along and contributed to the discussions.

VHS (IN)VISIBLE Report Published
Voluntary Health Scotland's (IN)VISIBLE report exploring sex, gender, and health inequalities has now been published. The (IN)VISIBLE report pulls together evidence and insight from 50+ VHS members and wider stakeholders, as well as national and academic sources, to identify key themes on the relationship between sex, gender and health.  It also emphasises the important role that CLWs play in tackling gender inequalities. If you missed our launch event, we do have a recording and please contact Cecily May about this.

Knowledge and Skills Framework for Community Link Workers
A Knowledge and Skills Framework for Community Link Workers & Social Prescribers is currently being developed by an established working group facilitated by Public Services Delivery Scotland. They have shared, via email, a draft of the initial building blocks and document to gather feedback before further refinement.  The deadline for submissions is 6pm on Friday 12 June 2026. All feedback will remain anonymous. 

UK-Wide Research Shows the Impact of CLWs in Primary Care
The latest research paper from the Manchester University-led research into the UK Evaluation of Social Prescribing Link Workers has been published. Read more about the research findings here 

SCLWN May Knowledge Exchange - Key Messages
Our latest Knowledge Exchange took place earlier this month and featured presentations from Penumbra and Neurodivergent Birth Support. Thanks to all the CLWs that contributed to the discussions.  Read the key messages and download the presentations here.

Other News

SCVO report warns voluntary sector is  pushed beyond breaking point
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has published the first of its new Pulse reports as part of its Scottish Third Sector Tracker.  The first report highlights that the funding system is unstable, competitive, and overly bureaucratic, and does not always match what communities need. This makes it harder for organisations to plan ahead and remain sustainable.  The second report shows how these challenges are made worse by uncertainty around elections, a more difficult social and political climate, and rising demand for services.

Sick Notes ‘Scrapped’ Under Plans to Reduce Benefit Claimants
The UK Government will begin a pilot scheme aimed at reducing the number of sick notes issued to benefit claimants.  GPs will no longer issue fit notes to benefit claimants to sign them off work. The Times Newspaper explains that the programme will instead refer workers to “social prescribers” based in the surgery who will recommend alternative support to help them stay in work.

Patients' Association Patient Experience Report Published
The Patients' Association has published its latest Patient Experience Report highlighting how people are experiencing care across the NHS.  The findings paint a clear picture that the day-to-day reality for patients has not improved. From 807 patients responding about their health over the past six months: 

• 69% said their priorities, goals and preferences were not discussed in their care
• Only 41% felt there was genuine partnership in decision-making  
• 52% reported that their care was not well coordinated.

Carers' Week 
Carers' Week which will take place from 8-14 June is a great annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. The theme for this year is 'Building Carer Friendly Communities'.   

Supporting Early Language and Communication Development
The National Early Language and Communication Team (NELCT), sponsored by the Scottish Government, is seeking to strengthen connections with third sector partners who work directly with families at a local level. This aligns with the aspiration to deliver a whole‑system approach to supporting young children’s early language and communication development.  A key priority for 2026–27, within the Early years speech, language and communication action plan, is to connect with national agencies funded by the Scottish Government to raise awareness of the lifelong impact of early language development. Please contact Louise Steel, or go to National Early Language and Communication Project.

Health Foundation Briefing - More Focus Needed on Prevention 
The Health Foundation has warned that Scottish political parties are failing to propose the scale of policy change needed to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities. In a new briefing, the organisation said manifesto commitments prior to the election remained heavily focused on the NHS, with insufficient emphasis on preventative measures and the wider drivers of health such as housing, employment and poverty. 

Peer Support in Prevention and Early Intervention - Insight Report 2
There's strong consensus that our mental health system must shift toward prevention and early intervention.  This new report from the Scottish Recovery Network examines the role, impact and potential of peer support in driving that shift, making a clear case for embedding peer worker roles across sectors within mental health services and supports. Read the report here.

Pushing on a Piece of String? Child Poverty, Outcomes and Prevention
This article from SHERU explores the role of prevention in tackling child poverty and some of the complexities around this. 

Women's Health in Scotland
Scottish Government has published its Women's Health in Scotland - An Evidence Brief, highlighting that health inequalities faced by women in Scotland are socially patterned and avoidable. 

Report Calls for Action on Gypsy/Travellers' Rights
A new report has set out how Scottish Gypsy / Travellers continue to face racial discrimination and unequal access across housing, health, and education. Published by the University of Glasgow and Making Rights Real, the research focuses on how specific measures could help ensure these communities have their rights upheld.

Scottish Charities Unite Behind Samaritans Scotland's Call For Change
Samaritans Scotland has been joined by organisations across the sector in calling for a fairer, more supportive Scotland. It has called on political parties to commit to putting prevention, fairness and wellbeing at the heart of their work in parliament.