Many older adults in Scotland can struggle to eat enough to meet their nutritional needs. This can lead to malnutrition which can significantly affect their quality of life. Through work with partners across Scotland, Eat Well Age Well (as part of the Scottish Charity Food Train) has found that … [Read more...] about Jen’s Blog: Eat Well Age Well: Preventing Malnutrition in Older Adults
Fiona’s Blog: the benefits of therapeutic gardening to people’s wellbeing
Trellis which is Scotland's network for therapeutic gardening, supports over 500 groups across the country who use therapeutic gardening (also known as 'Social and Therapeutic Gardening') to help people enhance their health and wellbeing. We help projects to get started, or at any point in their … [Read more...] about Fiona’s Blog: the benefits of therapeutic gardening to people’s wellbeing
Anna’s Blog: Tackling Health Inequalities through the Huruma Project
What does Huruma mean? you may wonder. It’s a Swahili word meaning “compassion”; we all need compassion at some point in our lives and therefore we are proud to share how we are using Huruma (compassion) to tackle health inequalities for ethnically diverse communities living in Edinburgh and the … [Read more...] about Anna’s Blog: Tackling Health Inequalities through the Huruma Project
VHS launches its 2022-25 strategy
VHS's Chief Executive Claire Stevens writes: Today, 2nd May 2022, I am delighted to launch VHS's new Three Year Strategy 2022-25. Delayed for a year by the pandemic, our new strategy reaffirms the purpose we serve as national intermediary and network to Scotland's health charities and other … [Read more...] about VHS launches its 2022-25 strategy
Opportunity to build your own information support app
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) and Voluntary Health Scotland are seeking up to 6 third sector organisations to pilot use of the national Right Decision Service platform to deliver web and mobile apps. This is a key opportunity to deliver information in an easily accessible … [Read more...] about Opportunity to build your own information support app
New funding to boost the Scottish Community Link Worker Network
We are delighted to announce that the Scottish Government Primary Care Division has awarded VHS a grant to support further development of the Scottish Community Link Worker throughout 2022-23. The new funding enhances VHS's capacity to support and develop the Network, at a time when link working is … [Read more...] about New funding to boost the Scottish Community Link Worker Network
Andrea’s Blog: Supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds with their alcohol problems
Specialist Alcohol Service Helps to Break Down Barriers Alcohol causes significant health and socials harm to the Scottish population. People from the most deprived areas in Scotland experience greater inequalities in harms caused by alcohol – they are four times more likely to die from … [Read more...] about Andrea’s Blog: Supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds with their alcohol problems
Inquiry into Alternative Pathways to Primary Care spotlights link working
Alison Leitch, Community Link Worker Network Area Lead for North Edinburgh, was recently part of a panel presenting evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's Inquiry into Alternative Pathways to Primary Care. The Committee's MSPs spent a large part of their … [Read more...] about Inquiry into Alternative Pathways to Primary Care spotlights link working
A Chance to Change Primary Care and Tackle Health Inequalities
Published on 14th March 2022, a new Scottish Government report sets out 23 recommendations for actions to be taken to help primary care play a stronger role in reducing health inequalities in Scotland: Report of the Primary Care Health Inequalities Short Life Working Group. VHS is a member of the … [Read more...] about A Chance to Change Primary Care and Tackle Health Inequalities