October VHS 2025 e-Newsletter
October 2025
e-Newsletter
VHS is Scotland's membership body for health charities and other third sector organisations working to support people's health and wellbeing.
Dear colleagues,
We’re always told, focus solely on what you can control. That’s what the leadership textbooks tell you, it’s not worth your while busying yourself with what you can’t control. Hands up. I’ve fallen into the trap, I’ve been hugely distracted, contemplating what we can expect to happen beyond the next election. This feels like a critical juncture, a defining point in Scottish politics and in setting the trajectory for the next 5-10 years. We need to answer that big question, who do we want to be as a nation?
That’s why we’ve invested the time to listen to members, to develop a VHS manifesto that can clearly put forward those important, population health defining asks for the next Government.
We all know we need to see that shift. It seems to be the best kept secret across the health sector that the third sector has a huge role to play in creating a healthier population and reducing inequalities. We’re excited about the opportunity to take forwards our manifesto, to do everything we can to support change and to help the nation reduce health inequalities. We hope you will come
alongside us at this important time.
Tejesh Mistry, Chief Executive, VHS
VHS News & Events
Manifesto for Health Creation Launch
On 2nd October, we were delighted to launch our Manifesto for Health Creation at an event held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Over 40 members and stakeholders joined us to hear more about the manifesto asks. We also heard from two VHS members - Quarriers and Simba - about why they engaged in the VHS manifesto development process.
Our manifesto was developed following extensive consultation with our members and will inform our policy priorities well beyond next year's Scottish Parliament election. It explores the current health context in Scotland and identifies four high-level asks for addressing widening health inequalities. Download the Manifesto for Health Creation.
We would encourage our members and stakeholders to actively support our manifesto and help us to build a movement for health creation! Share it with your networks and reinforce our manifesto asks in your own influence work. We'd also welcome opportunities for collective influence too.
Don't miss the VHS Annual Conference on October 28th
Join us at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow for our Annual Conference "Collaboration for Change" - a day of of inspiring talks, shared learning, and collective action. Hear from leading voices Professor Devi Sridhar, Manira Ahmad and Nicola McEwen. Meet the finalists from our Annual Poster Competition and see their posters on display. You can also visit exhibitors at our first ever Health Creation Hub and meet colleagues from our collaboration partner, Public Health Scotland. If you haven't already book here. VHS members receive a discount on their booking.
VHS supports the benefits of increased volunteering within the NHS
A major call has been made to mobilise thousands of healthcare volunteers across Scotland to help ease NHS treatment backlogs. A new poll reveals that over 21% of Scots would consider volunteering, potentially unlocking millions of hours in hospital efficiency gains. NHS staff overwhelmingly support volunteer involvement, with 86% saying it improves patient care. Health leaders urge the Scottish Government to launch the biggest volunteer recruitment drive since the pandemic, focusing on trained ‘response volunteers’ to support overstretched services. Read more here.
Trustee Recruitment & VHS Annual General Meeting
Save the date! VHS will be holding our online AGM on November 27th 2025. We are excited to announce we are recruiting two new members to our Board of Trustees. Our Board of Trustees play an important role in steering the direction of the organisation as we launch our new Strategic Plan 2025-2030 in October. Application is open to VHS Full member organisations only. View more about applying here.
VHS is backing the 'Scotland Demands Better' campaign
Alongside many other voluntary sector organisations, Voluntary Health Scotland has signed up to the Scotland Demands Better campaign, led by VHS member the Poverty Alliance; we invite
our wider members to get involved too. The march will be on October 25th in Edinburgh. Find out more about why we've chosen to support this crucial campaign here.
Are you a VHS member? Join the VHS community
VHS membership is FREE. This is an exciting change - it’s more important than ever for us as a sector to have a stronger voice. We made the decision to move to a free membership, with the intention of creating a larger, more diverse membership. If your organisation would like to apply you can find out more here or contact Kellie for details.
Member News
Vintage Vibes Celebrates independence and a decade of impact
Vintage Vibes has become an independent organisation, celebrating nearly a decade of tackling chronic loneliness among older people. As they prepare to mark its 10th anniversary this month, they've welcomed a strengthened Board of Trustees, including Rory Mair CBE as Chair. With over 40,000 hours of friendship delivered since 2015, Vintage Vibes continues to prove the power of creative, community-led approaches. Read more here.
RNIB Scotland launches Manifesto
Sight loss charity RNIB Scotland has launched its manifesto, ‘Looking For A Better Scotland’, urging all political parties to commit to action ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. Read more here.
Befriending Week November 2025
Befriending Week is on November 1-7th, celebrating the power of connection and the impact of befriending across Scotland. This year’s theme, Collaboration and Partnership, highlights the importance of working together to tackle loneliness and isolation. Join the celebrations, thank volunteers, and share your stories to raise awareness of befriending’s life-changing impact. Find out more here.
Challenge Poverty Week
This week The Poverty Alliance hosts its important campaign Challenge Poverty Week. VHS is proud to join hundreds of charities to support this campaign to raise awareness. Read more about supporting the campaign.
National Rural & Islands’ Mental Health Forum
The next National Rural & Islands’ Mental Health Forum will be online on October 29th, 11am. The Forum will be feeding back on the European Rural Parliament being held in Scotland, plus there will be a focus on rural wellbeing support in Sweden. Register here.
People First Summit to Edinburgh October 23rd
Change Mental Health has partnered with Wellbeing at Work to deliver their first People First Summit to Edinburgh in October. Since 2014, Wellbeing at Work have been delivering conferences all over the world that seek to empower workplaces to prioritise employee wellbeing through community engagement, expert knowledge, and meaningful connections. View more about this event here. VHS members get a 30% discount to attend using code CHANGE30.
SCVO Scottish Parliamentary election manifesto
SCVO has published its manifesto for May’s upcoming elections, setting out the important role the community and third sector play in our society. The focus is on delivering fairer funding, creating a partnership of equals between sectors, commissioning with communities, modernising regulation, securing volunteering, and amplifying the voice of the sector.
Our Voices Matter: ALLIANCE Annual Conference Report
The conference report for the ALLIANCE Annual Conference 2025, Our Voices Matter, is now published and available on their website. The report reflects the key themes of the event; human rights, equality, lived experience, inclusion, and accessibility.
Free new volunteer resource from
Royal Voluntary Service
RVS is launching a major new digital volunteering platform funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, in October. The aim of the platform is to support charities to find and mobilise support from volunteers quickly and easily, whilst inspiring the next generation of volunteers. Charities can register their interest now. Find out more here.
Share Your Member News
Please send your updates and news to share - email Kellie.
Policy News
Joint Statement on Prevention
A partnership of third and community organisations, including Voluntary Health Scotland, have come together to publish a joint statement on prevention.
Published jointly by Edinburgh Community Health Forum, The
ALLIANCE, Scottish Community Development Centre, and Voluntary Health Scotland, the statement sets out the urgent action required to achieve the prevention-centred system needed to tackle Scotland’s growing health inequalities crisis. It comes as major policies and frameworks have set out prevention as a key approach to how public services should operate.
Read our statement, plus a range of case studies demonstrating community and third sector primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
Consultation Response: Scotland’s Census 2031
On 30th September we submitted our response to the National Records of Scotland consultation on Scotland's Census 2031. Scotland’s Census is a rich source of data for many third sector health organisations. In our response, we stress the need for the 2031 Census to reflect the shift to preventative interventions that promote health creation in Scotland. Read our response here
Cross Party Group (CPG) on Health Inequalities
VHS provide the secretariat for the CPG on Health Inequalities. Our last meeting was the 10th September, where we explored Health Inequalities and Poverty. View the draft minutes here. To find out more about the CPG and how to join, please contact our Policy & Public Affairs Lead Sarah
Latto.
Want more?
If you would like to receive more important policy updates, sign up for our monthly Policy Bulletin.
Poverty in Scottish Rural and Island Communities Report released
The Office of the Chief Social Policy Adviser at Scottish Government has released their report which is focused on understanding the changing nature and context of poverty in Scottish rural and island communities since 2010.
The Future Health of
Scotland
Enlighten, Scotland’s independent think tank, is delighted to invite you to attend a full-day conference on the future of the nation’s healthcare. Titled The Future Health of Scotland, it will be held on 27th October in Edinburgh, in partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. The event will feature expert speakers, panel discussions and audience engagement. Email to find out more.
New report: Tackling childhood health inequalities in Scotland
A new report from the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) highlights urgent action needed to tackle childhood health inequalities in Scotland. It identifies major gaps between research, policy, and local delivery of national strategies. With the Election approaching, the report calls on policymakers to prioritise translating evidence into action. The findings aim to drive more effective, inclusive approaches to improving children’s health outcomes.
VHS backs Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) Manifesto
Scottish Youth Parliament have launched their Manifesto 2026-2031, Dear Scotland's Future, written by young people, for young people. It sets out clear, actionable policies based on the lived experiences and priorities of Scotland’s youth. The Manifesto was also supported by VHS, alongside other partner organisations and stakeholders, were pleased to support its development and launch in September.
Partnership urges action over Scotland's mental health
Leaders across health, care and charitable organisations are calling for 'bold and decisive action' from Scotland’s next government to tackle what they say is a nationwide mental health crisis. In a joint election manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, 17 organisations have demanded the next set of ministers improves mental health literacy, increases early intervention and prevention and supports patient care and treatment choice.
New Palliative Care Strategy Launched
The Scottish Government has unveiled a new five-year strategy, Palliative Care Matters for All (2025–2030), alongside an initial delivery plan for 2025–2028. Developed with NHS Scotland, charities, and those with lived experience, the strategy aims to improve care for people of all ages with life-shortening conditions, and support their families and carers.
Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) launches a four-point Call to Action
SDS are calling for urgent action to remove barriers faced by disabled people in accessing sport and physical activity. The charity is urging organisations across Scotland to uphold the rights outlined in Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The four-point Call to Action follows the publication of a new national survey Read more here.
SPICe details the structural barriers to physical activity
SPICe has published a briefing on barriers to physical activity and potential policy solutions. The briefing presents the results of research which explored what could be done differently to address existing structural disadvantages and increase levels of participation in physical activity.
Scottish Health Equity Research Unit - 2025 Inequality Landscape Report
Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) launched their 2025 Inequality Landscape report at the Fraser of Allander Institute Conference. It looks at health and socio-economic inequality in Scotland in 2025,
highlighting the persistent policy blind spot affecting a subset of younger men at risk of dying from drugs, alcohol or suicide.
October Guest Blog
It’s been a busy time for VHS member Playlist for Life, who marked World Alzheimer’s Month and their 3rd National Playlist Day. Read Mehar's Blog about the power of music in transforming dementia care.
New Member Welcome
Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) provides financial, practical and emotional support to people involved in the Scottish agricultural industry, including farmers, crofters and farm workers and their dependents. Their support is also available to those previously involved in the industry.
Their welfare team can provide emotional support, including access to free counselling with counsellors who understand the farming sector. There are several financial support options that their team can also provide such as Help for Heating grants to combat fuel poverty, household goods and regular monthly financial support to those no longer able to work in the industry either due to retirement or ill-health. The team can also offer support and guidance around benefit entitlement, debt solutions and employment queries. Reach out to the RSABI team.
The Community Transport Association (CTA) is a UK member-led charity that provides leadership, training, advice, and operational support to transport-related charities, community groups, and social enterprises across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
They support and advocate on behalf of members, enabling them to deliver innovative and flexible transport solutions that remove barriers, drive social change, and improve access to opportunities in their communities.
CTA promotes sector-wide excellence through training, resources, publications, advice, events, consultancy and project support on voluntary, community and accessible transport. View their Healthy Communities programme and recently published report, Making Scotland Healthier. Reach out to the CTA team.
Our Networks
Health Policy Officers Network (HPON)
The HPON is a peer group of health policy officers administered by VHS and RNIB Scotland. We share policy insights, consultations, inquiries and other parliamentary activity throughout the year. For details contact us here.
The Scottish Community Link Worker Network (SCLWN)
The SCLWN is our national network for primary care community link working in Scotland. To join contact Roisin Hurst Project Manager, SCLWN. Follow SCLWN on X @ScotCLWnetwork
Dates for your Diary
October 28th: VHS Annual Conference - Radisson Blu, Glasgow.
November 27th: VHS Annual General Meeting, Online.
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Newsdirect
Looking for updates on the key political issues emerging across health and social care each day? Newsdirect is offering VHS members a free one-month trial of their daily parliamentary and political briefing, ‘Health and Social Care Today’. Contact Newsdirect to arrange
a chat about the service.
Voluntary Health Scotland
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