• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About us
  • Who we are
  • Contact us

Voluntary Health Scotland

The national intermediary and network for voluntary health organisations in Scotland.

One Goal Many Voices Unlimited Potential

One Goal Many Voices Unlimited Potential

We are the national intermediary and network for voluntary health organisations in Scotland

  • Home
  • What we do
    • Clear Pathway
    • Health Policy Officers Network
    • Current work
    • Past work
  • Health Topics
    • COVID-19
    • Health Inequalities
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Health & Social Care Integration
    • Other
  • News & Blogs
  • Events
    • Messages & Learning
  • Get Involved
    • How to join
    • Our full members
    • E-mail
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
You are here: Home / Blogs / Lorna’s blog: reflecting on my first year as VHS Chair

Lorna’s blog: reflecting on my first year as VHS Chair

October 30, 2015

I hope you will read this year’s VHS ANNUAL REVIEW 2015 and agree that it captures the commitment and energy of VHS and our members working together to make a difference.

In my first 12 months as Chair of the Board it has been very evident to me that VHS has secured new levels of respect and credibility amongst all of those we seek to work with, support or influence. To build our reputation as a trusted leader of our sector we have worked collaboratively, inclusively, influentially and dynamically; an approach that represents our core values and underpins the 3 year strategy taking us forward to 2018. For me, 2015 stands out as the year when VHS punched significantly above its weight as the champion of Scotland’s voluntary health sector.

For our members and the people and communities they serve, 2015 has been another challenging year. Those people whose health and wellbeing are most fragile or at risk are really taking the brunt of welfare reform, cutbacks in public services and other inequalities. Our sector’s ability to meet the additional needs and demands created is frustrated by the deep funding reductions it experiences directly. There is little sign of public resources shifting across to preventative, person centred and community solutions, and public sector recognition of the third sector as a strategic partner in shaping and delivering services is still far from the norm.

We know from our members and wider networks that addressing social isolation and loneliness, putting kindness and compassion back into public services, and giving voice to people’s lived experience are top priorities. We also know that “public health is core to what we do” for our members. Tackling health inequalities and implementing integrated health and social care services are national policy areas where our sector’s involvement is crucial to success.

In our efforts to promote the recognition of, and give support to, voluntary health organisations as well as influence policy and practice, the staff team led by our Chief Officer Claire Stevens has worked tirelessly on our members’ behalf to provide them with opportunities to showcase the contributions the sector does and can make; express opinion; and develop skills and competences. The team is small and has seen a few changes of personnel over the last year, but despite this their commitment to the work of VHS and their enthusiasm for the job has been outstanding. I would therefore like to personally express my thanks and that of the Board for the contribution each team member makes to achieving VHS objectives.

Our Board continues its commitment to support the work of VHS and it aims to ensure that our financial and governance practices are sound. The Board with its wide ranging skills sets and knowledge base ensures that we keep to our fundamental aims and make the right decisions to achieve our strategic objectives as laid out in our Strategy 2015-2018.

Read more about us and download our Annual Review, Chair’s Review and Strategy here

Lorna Hunter

Chair, VHS Board

 

Filed Under: Blogs, News

Search by Health Topic

Search by Health Topic

Find latest news, blogs, events, resources and useful links by health topic:

Messages and Learning

VHS response to Renewing Scotland’s full potential in a digital world


Ageing Well: Virtual Talk with the Open University


#WeArePublicHealth: Conference Key Messages


#WeArePublicHealth Poster Competition Finalists


#WeArePublicHealth Conference Exhibitors


Show All

Other news

Engage with the Inequalities in Health Alliance

15/01/2021

Lucie’s Blog: Know what’s working to prevent homelessness? Crisis want to hear from you

13/01/2021

What’s new? Read our January 2021 e-bulletin

12/01/2021

Get Involved

Our members work with us to amplify the voice and influence of voluntary health organisations.We welcome new members from all sectors.

Tell us your news or write a blog

Subscribe to e-bulletin

Join us now

Contact Us

  • (if applicable)
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Find us

T: 0131 474 6189
E: mail@vhscotland.org.uk

Voluntary Health Scotland
Mansfield Traquair Centre
15 Mansfield Place
Edinburgh
EH3 6BB

Copyright © 2021 Voluntary Health Scotland · Registered Scottish Charity SC035482 · Company Limited by Guarantee SC267315

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and conditions

Website built by graphics.coop Powered by WordPress