Many of us will remember a time when it was commonplace to take home the lingering smell of cigarette smoke after spending the evening in a restaurant or pub. Now, thanks to the ban on smoking in public places, clean air is the norm and most of us wouldn’t tolerate sitting in a toxic fog-filled … [Read more...] about Obesity and its link to cancer – what do we know, and what can we do?
Community Link Working: What is happening?
There has been a lot of third sector led activity relating to Link worker initiatives. Voluntary Health Scotland have tried to capture some of this in our recent publication Gold Star Exemplars, which aims to showcase Third sector approaches to Community Link Working across Scotland. Our report is … [Read more...] about Community Link Working: What is happening?
Small Grants Scheme – To Absent Friends
Two small grants schemes are available to help organisations to participate in To Absent Friends, a people’s festival of storytelling and remembrance, taking place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2018. To Absent Friends is an annual festival that offers people a chance to celebrate and remember … [Read more...] about Small Grants Scheme – To Absent Friends
Owen’s Blog: Scotland Third National Dementia Strategy – Are we there yet?
It is 10 years since the Scottish Government made dementia a national priority. A lot has changed in this time, with a number of significant developments in policy, practice and legislation which have driven improvements in the care and support for people with dementia, their families and carers. … [Read more...] about Owen’s Blog: Scotland Third National Dementia Strategy – Are we there yet?
Lesley’s Blog: Is loneliness among older people putting them at risk of harm and abuse?
As our new Helpline moves into its sixth month of operation, call trends are confirming an issue we’ve been hearing about for some time – that some older people are so desperately lonely that they’d rather put up with harm or abuse than risk losing contact with the abuser. We know that it can be … [Read more...] about Lesley’s Blog: Is loneliness among older people putting them at risk of harm and abuse?
Lorraine’s Blog: Looking through a public health lens – what did we see?
Audit Scotland has an interest in improving the health of the population – indeed, don’t we all? How do we know what’s value for money, what works and what’s important to people who use services? We have a commitment to try and find new ways of measuring the things that matter to people and … [Read more...] about Lorraine’s Blog: Looking through a public health lens – what did we see?
Claire’s blog: A National Strategy to Tackle Social Isolation and Loneliness
Recently I was delighted to give the opening address at the Scottish Government's stakeholder event on developing a National Strategy to Tackle Social Isolation and Loneliness. Here's a summary of what I said - and if you're interested in reading my presentation in full and seeing the Scottish … [Read more...] about Claire’s blog: A National Strategy to Tackle Social Isolation and Loneliness
Claire’s blog: Loneliness is a hard slog so let’s tackle it together
“I am very keen to keep on prodding out to the community. We look like a secret service building or prison, but we are actually quite nice and if you would like a cup of coffee come in and see us. So we are working away at that level. It is a hard slog." So said Jim, a 75 year old gay man with … [Read more...] about Claire’s blog: Loneliness is a hard slog so let’s tackle it together
VHS planning response to consultation on New Health and Social Care Standards
VHS are planning a response to the Scottish Government Consultation on the New Health and Social Care Standards. To help inform our response we held an information and discussion session in December. The keynote speaker was Dr Fiona Wardell from Healthcare Improvement Scotland who provided … [Read more...] about VHS planning response to consultation on New Health and Social Care Standards
Kiren’s blog: The Spirit of Kinder Communities
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and Carnegie UK Trust discussion paper; ‘Kinder Communities: The Power of Everyday Relationships’ sets out some really interesting approaches to the way in which small acts of kindness can lay the ground work for cohesive communities and an enabling state. This … [Read more...] about Kiren’s blog: The Spirit of Kinder Communities
