Welcome to September's Newsletter 

​​​It was lovely to see so many of you at our Annual Conference last week. We were blessed with a sunny day in Edinburgh and it was great to be able to shine a spotlight on your fantastic work. Congratulations to all our award winners and finalists and we will be sharing the Conference's key messages and speaker presentations soon.

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 and community of practice 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 events page.

September Knowledge Exchange - Key Messages
Read the key messages and download the presentations from our September Knowledge Exchange. 

Scottish Community Link Worker Network Conference
We will be sharing presentations, key messages and all the photos from the day shortly on our events page. In the meantime, have a read of this write up of the day featured in HealthAndCare.scot. Thank you to everyone who attended, special thanks to our workshop facilitators, exhibitors and speakers. And finally a big shout out to all our awards winners and finalists!

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 are running a joint event with Public Health Scotland and Progress in Dialogue to support Community Link Workers in their work with gypsy/traveller communities.  Find out more and book your place.

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

National Autistic Society Training -  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 - October 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.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation - Poverty in Scotland - 5 October 
JRF Scotland invites you to join them for the online launch of the Poverty in Scotland 2026 report. They will share the latest findings on poverty in Scotland and discuss the vital role local government can play in preventing and reducing it.  Find out more.

Social Security Scotland Webinars - 5 and 8 October
As part of Challenge Poverty Week, Social Security Scotland is running two webinars on benefits support - Challenge Poverty Week 2026 - Social Security Benefit Overview on 5 October and Five Family Payments information session on 8 October. 

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 for your place here. 

Patients' Association Webinar - 14 October
There is concern that decisions around care and products for patients with bladder and bowel intimate care needs are being made on the basis of cost to the NHS, at the expense of patients receiving the right care and treatment for their needs. At this free webinar, you'll hear about patients' experiences of accessing bladder and bowel products and services, including some of the challenges people face in getting care that meets their individual needs.  Find out more information and book your place.

VHS EGM - Introducing Our New Identity - 21 October 
We're holding an exciting Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) where we'll provide an exclusive first look at our proposed new brand. This event will culminate in a member vote, where each member organisation will be invited to cast one vote on the special resolution proposing a new name. Voting instructions will be sent out to members soon. While only members can vote, we encourage all to attend! Register here.

DiGiTaL Get Together - 21 October
This year’s DiGiTal Get Together will take place on 21 October at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow, with the theme of ‘Collective Ambition into Action.’  The DiGiTal Get Together is a free, in-person learning event, with talks throughout the day addressing collaboration, inclusion and sustainability. The full agenda is available to read here. You can sign up via Humanitix 

CHEX Health in The Community Training - 22 October
The Community Health Exchange (CHEX) is holding an event in Stirling In October aimed at those who are interested in becoming tutors or leads in organisations that want to learn more about how Health in The Community training might support their work.  Find out more information here.

Carers (Scotland) Act 10 Year Conference - 28 October
Join Carers Scotland to mark 10 years of the Carers (Scotland) Act, bringing together colleagues from across health, social care, the third sector, policy, and lived experience. Register your interest here.

Talk Money Week from 2 - 6 November
The countdown is on as Talk Money Week 2026 kicks off on 2 November, and this year’s theme is It All Counts, focusing on realistic, manageable actions.  The organisers are encouraging stakeholders, partners, organisations and businesses across Scotland to encourage their own audiences to support the campaign to help improve financial wellbeing. Download the Participation Pack from the Talk Money Week webpage.

VHS Annual Conference 2026 - 2 November
We 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. Book now to secure your place!

Befriending Networks Conference - 4 November
Befriending Network's Annual Conference and AGM takes place on Wednesday 4 November. Book your place here.

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
You can register for Public Services Delivery Scotland's (PSDS) Bereavement Education Conference 'From the Shadows: Shedding Light on Bereavement at the Margins.'  Find out more information.

Our Future Health Roadshow Event - Save the Date - 11 November
Our Future Health will be holding a roadshow to spread awareness and highlight how they can work together with communities. They are currently bringing clinics directly to people across Scotland to help researchers better understand how diseases affect people from different backgrounds.  If you're interested in attending, reach out to their team. 

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.

Scottish Recovery Network's Peer to Peer Toolbox
The toolbox brings together practical resources to support the development and delivery of peer support, with learning and activities designed to help create empowering and safe learning environments.  Find out more about the toolbox here.

Funded Breaks Away for Carers This Winter
Voices of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) have availability in their holiday homes in Seton Sands this November and December. Carers can apply for funded breaks away for 3-5 nights, please visit their website. 

Working Health Services
Working Health Services provides guidance and support to help staff enter or remain at work when they are ill, have a disability or suffer from long-term health conditions.  Whether paid or voluntary, being in good or fair work is associated with improving mental and physical health.

News from across the Network

Shetland CLW Receives Warm Welcome from the Kingdom of Fife!
Ingrid Sandison, CLW from Shetland, recently spent time with the Fife CLW team, learning about the team's service structure and the logistics involved in supporting such a large geographical area and population. Ingrid said, 'it was a valuable opportunity to gain insight into the challenges and successes of their work. They do a fantastic job supporting the people of Fife and I would like to extend my sincere thanks for their time, knowledge, enthusiasm and warm welcome.'  The photo above is of Ingrid (on the right) with Christine from the Fife team.

From Research to Reality: Social Prescribing In Scotland Report
The report from Voluntary Health Scotland's May event on social prescribing in partnership with Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has now been published. It calls for sustainable, long-term funding, better data sharing and guidance for evaluation and a proportionate approach that prioritises reaching those with greatest need. Thanks to all the CLW teams who contributed to the discussions on the day.  Read the report here.  

Award Winner Features on BBC Radio
You can listen to our Outstanding Scottish CLW of the Year, Linsey Drever, from NHS Orkney and her colleague Erika Copland talk about the importance of their work in their local communities. You can hear them both on BBC Radio Orkney Thursday 24 September’s morning show, (about 15 minutes in!)

VHS Response to Programme for Government 
VHS has published our response to the Programme for Government which was published on 1 September. While we welcomed the focus on prevention, it was disappointing that there is still no commitment to universal Community Link Worker provision or long-term funding for social prescribing.  You can read our response here. 

Carers' Trust Research - CLWs Needed!
Carers' Trust Scotland is conducting research exploring the barriers and strengths of mental health service provision for unpaid carers in Scotland. It is inviting professionals who work around mental health to take part in a short, online, anonymous interview to share their experiences, whether or not they specifically work with unpaid carers.  If you are interested, please contact Campbell MacPherson.

What If We Got It Right? Designing the Future of Health in Scotland
Roisin recently attended a workshop led by Public Health Scotland and Design Hopes, looking at the future of health and care in Scotland. We were encouraged to time travel into the future and imagine what a more sustainable, resilient and equitable health system should look like. Community Link Workers need to be part of turning ideas and commitments into action. Watch this space!

Other News

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.

Drugs Deaths Rise In Scotland
Deaths related to illicit drugs rose by 11% in Scotland last year to 1,133 as the country struggles to tackle the worst fatality rate in Europe. National Records of Scotland (NRS) said the figure for 2025 was 116 higher than the previous year, bringing the total deaths in a decade to more than 11,000.  Efforts to save lives over the past year have been hampered by criminal gangs mixing powerful synthetic opioids such as nitazenes with existing drugs including heroin, cocaine and fake Valium pills.

First Minister Announces More GP-led Walk-In Clinics
John Swinney has announced plans to open more than 30 GP-led walk-in services in 24 additional areas, bringing the total number of planned or operational clinics to 40.  In response, the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland (RCGPS) called it "disappointing" that resources continued to be devoted to GP walk-in centres rather than measures that would make a 'meaningful difference' to patient access.

Warm homes should be part of the health system’s prevention toolkit
For many people, particularly those facing financial hardship, housing conditions are not incidental to their health – they can be a significant part of what is driving poor health.  As The King’s Fund has previously explored in its work on poor housing and health the impact is greatest for those already experiencing disadvantage. Read more.

Scottish Government Sets Out Five Year Plan to Improve Patient Flow
The Scottish Government has published a new Improving Flow Plan for 2026-31, setting out reforms aimed at reducing hospital pressures and shifting more health and social care into homes and communities.

Making Prevention Real
The Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) Report Making Prevention Real: What Public Sector Reform Needs to Deliver for Scotland  has identified seven areas that need to be considered if Scotland’s ambitions for public sector reform that delivers prevention are to be realised.

Petition Calls for Women’s Health Hubs in GP practices
A petition has been lodged calling on the Scottish Government to establish Women’s Health Hubs in GP practices across Scotland to improve perimenopause and menopause care. PE2244 argues that women can face delays in diagnosis and treatment, with symptoms sometimes misdiagnosed or dismissed, leading to poorer physical and mental health and repeated GP appointments. 

Movember Publish Report into Men's Health
Movember has published The-Real-Face-of-Mens-Health-Report-2026-Scotland. Its new report found the five leading causes of premature mortality for men in Scotland cost the economy £1.73 billion each year.  The study found that Scotland had the lowest male life expectancy of any UK nation, with four of the ten highest premature mortality rates presiding in Glasgow.