In celebrating VHS’s 20th anniversary, if ever there was a time for us as an organisation to exist it surely is now. Over the past ten years, health inequalities in Scotland have worsened due to successive political and social policy decisions taken and with the lasting impact of Covid-19 this has led to an increase in the unequal distribution of income, power, and wealth. We know through our members that many people and communities are living in poverty and are struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis. Public services and third sector providers are facing inexorable levels of demand coupled with a reduction in funding that often results in increased rationing and stricter gate keeping, demoralisation and stress. Life for most people has become much harder.
As the national voice, and intermediary network for third sector and voluntary health organisations, we can draw upon our members’ experiences and thereby influence others to address health inequalities and to help people and communities lead healthier and fairer lives.
Since joining the VHS Board three years ago, I am particularly impressed with three specific areas of work that demonstrates where overall we punch well above our weight. These are acting as the secretariat to the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities, convening the Health Policy Officers Network and coordinating the Scottish Community Link Worker Network. All of this is important in networking, building stakeholder relationships, identifying good practice, and influencing policy.
As a small organisation with five staff, all of whom are dedicated to our work and who exhibit an important level of professionalism in everything that they do, we are fortunate to have such valued employees. I am also impressed with, and I appreciate the rich experience, knowledge, and competencies that my fellow eleven Board members bring to the table that has allowed us to strengthen our organisational governance and to further develop our strategic understanding of the complex pattern of responses to health inequalities.
Through our membership, it is truly humbling to learn how across Scotland, individuals, communities, and organisation have come together to make tangible improvements to health inequalities often in the face of significant challenges, not least securing funding and maintaining effective partnership working. The Scottish Community Link Worker Network is one example of where good practice can be captured and disseminated for others to benefit. Whereas there has been progress in identifying good practice, most of that to date has focused on the processes of deploying Link Workers. One of our challenges is to accumulate a rigorous evidence base of what are the outcomes of Link Workers’ interventions and how that impacts in reducing health inequalities.
As with most organisations we face challenges and demands, not least in ensuring that our funding for next year and beyond is secure. Given the increasing recognition of the importance of tackling health inequalities there is no shortage of work for us to do. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members and our staff in promoting our work and contributing to the understanding of and effective responses to health inequalities.