Can you spare five minutes to tell us how you involve volunteers in NHS settings in Scotland? You can help us to complete our data collection for Clear Pathway by completing our short Survey Monkey. This invitation is to any charity, voluntary or community organisation, social enterprise or housing … [Read more...] about Help complete picture of third sector volunteering in health
VHS response to National Health and Social Care Standards Consultation
During October 2016 and January 2017 the Scottish Government consulted on the New National Health and Social Care Standards. VHS's response focused on, what worked well, how well the standards link to existing policy and legislation and what is missing or needs to be improved in the … [Read more...] about VHS response to National Health and Social Care Standards Consultation
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
Gender and health inequalities
VHS recently contributed to an Engender round table exploring health inequalities as they affect women. Engender is a feminist organisation working to address women’s inequality in Scotland. They are developing a Gender Matters Roadmap to set out concrete steps for advancing women’s equality … [Read more...] about Gender and health inequalities
Rob’s Blog: HPON on Cross Party Groups
HPON or the Health Policy Officers Network is a peer support network of Health Policy Officers in small to medium sized organisations who meet to discuss policy issues affecting the voluntary health sector in a supportive environment. VHS and and Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland jointly administer … [Read more...] about Rob’s Blog: HPON on Cross Party Groups
Going the distance for the voluntary health sector
Just published, the VHS Annual Review 2016 gives a visual snapshot of what we've been doing this year promote and support the voluntary health sector's contribution to a fairer, healthier Scotland. We hope you like it - please let us know! If you would like to read a fuller account of our work … [Read more...] about Going the distance for the voluntary health sector
Katie’s blog: Loneliness, a threat to Scotland’s health
One in five of us feel lonely often or always, according to important research from British Red Cross, which describes loneliness as “an increasing but under-recognised crisis that is shortening lives and eroding the health and wellbeing of people across the UK.” Loneliness, and its threat to … [Read more...] about Katie’s blog: Loneliness, a threat to Scotland’s health
Su’s Blog: Community Renaissance – How to unblock the straw
I’m not one for a lot of words really, but, here I go… Today I’m on one of my soap boxes, and one which I feel I can never resolve. I have a sense that there is an underground movement, swelling, slowly but surely, to create a community renaissance. It’s being drawn up to the surface, like a … [Read more...] about Su’s Blog: Community Renaissance – How to unblock the straw
VHS Conference – Loneliness: A threat to Scotland’s Health
Third sector leaders will investigate ways to tackle loneliness and social isolation at our conference Loneliness: a threat to Scotland's Health. The one-day event, being held at Edinburgh’s Roxburghe Hotel, will bring together experts from charities, academia and the health and care sectors to … [Read more...] about VHS Conference – Loneliness: A threat to Scotland’s Health
