health improvement
Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund
As part of the national conversation about the future of health and care services in Scotland (Creating a Healthier Scotland – What matters to you) VAF is delighted to announce the launch of the Scottish Government’s new Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund.
From August 2015 to Spring 2016 the Scottish Government is holding a national conversation on improving the health of the Scottish population and the future of health and social care services in Scotland.
With £26,000 to give out in grants the Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund is part of this conversation. It aims to help small voluntary organisations and community groups in Scotland run an event or engagement activity to gather views of people who would not normally participate in a consultation of this nature.
Grants of up to £500 (or exceptionally up to £1,000) are available to support an event or engagement activity with a group of five or more people.
We are particularly keen to fund events or engagement activities that will involve seldom heard or hard to reach groups or communities. Applications that will gather the views of these groups will be considered a priority as will applications from groups with an income under £100,000.
Applications should be received by VAF by 5pm on Friday 11 December 2015. Applicants will hear the outcome of their application by Thursday 7 January 2016. A short report on the event or activity should be returned to Voluntary Action Fund by Thursday 18 February 2016.
Further information, including the guidance and application form, is available on the VAF website at www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk or click on this link: http://www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/funding-and-support/healthier-scotland-engagement-fund/
The Voluntary Action Fund receives funding from the Scottish Government.
Scottish Charity number SC035037. Company Number SC261186.
Register your interest in The Crucial Conversation Cafe
Wednesday, 25 Nov 2015 or Friday, 27 Nov 2015, 10 am – 12.30 pm or 1 pm – 3.30 pm
Venue to be confirmed depending on interest
An opportunity for you to share your views and ideas on 
the new strategy for Integration for Health and Social
Care. Good integrated care can reduce: Confusion,
Repetition, Delay, Duplication & Gaps in service
delivery and, People getting lost in the system.
Integrated care will achieve: better planning, free
access to good information and personal involvement of the person using the services.
To note your interest, date and time preference, please contact:
Carla Angus on 01358 720824. Website: http://www.vsa.org.uk
National Conversation – Creating a Healthier Scotland: What Matters to You?
From August 2015 to April 2016 the Scottish Government is holding a 
national conversation on health and social care services in Scotland. The
conversation is seeking views on what a healthier Scotland should look like in
the next 10-15 years from now and how people in Scotland can be
supported to be as healthy as they can be. To help get the conversation
started three broad questions have been issued:
• What support do we need in Scotland to live healthier lives?
• What areas of health and social care matter most to you?
• Thinking about the future of health and social care services, where should
our focus be?
A facilitation pack is now available to help you host local conversations. This material is designed to give you a bit more background on the current situation in Scotland, where there have been successes and some of the long term challenges we face.
Join in the discussions online at: http://healthier.scot/
Twitter: @scotgovhealth #healthierscotland
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/healthier.scot
Email: healthier@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
We need you to help make it happen!
Are you pro active, motivated and have a personal desire to take forward joint tobacco related actions to reduce smoking in Aberdeenshire? If so, The Aberdeenshire Local Tobacco Alliance (ALTA) needs you. The ALTA is a multi-agency operational group that includes NHS, Council and 3rd sector agencies which localises the recommendations in the Scottish National tobacco strategy and co-ordinates and monitors a local tobacco plan that aims to reduce smoking and the effects of tobacco in Aberdeenshire. Membership is free and open to any Origination as long as they can declare that they do not have any connections, affiliations or holdings with Tobacco Industry or Representatives.
For more information on the work of the ALTA or how to join then please contact Public Health Coordinator Banff & Buchan; g.rutten@nhs.net
‘Don’t Get Scared, Get Checked’
PEOPLE URGED TO NOT ‘MISS THE SIGNS’ AS DETECT CANCER EARLY TOUR HITS GRAMPIAN 
The benefits of finding cancer early will be highlighted to shoppers in Grampian over the next two weeks as the Detect Cancer Early tour kicks off at ASDA Aberdeen Beach tomorrow (Wednesday 21 October).
The 52-date national tour is focused on raising awareness of the importance of screening and the potential signs and symptoms of bowel, breast and lung cancer, in a bid to encourage more people to get checked at the earliest stage and save more lives.
The Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early programme aims to increase the proportion of people diagnosed and treated in the first stage of breast, bowel and lung cancer by 25 per cent by the end of 2015. Read the rest of this entry »
Community Health in Partnership (CHiP)
Please find below current job vacancies with Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action:
Community Health in Partnership (CHiP)
A Collaborative Approach to Creating Individual and Community Health in Aberdeenshire
CHiP Co-ordinator
£32,000/annum – 35hrs per week
Fixed term to March 2017
CHiP Officers x 6
£26,487/annum – 35hrs per week
Fixed term to March 2017
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA) is the Third Sector Interface for Aberdeenshire. We are recruiting for our innovative new project which will connect and support effective collaboration between integrated health and social care teams and local voluntary and community organisations. CHiP aims to influence and improve service design and delivery and significantly contribute to improving health and wellbeing in our local communities.
For an application pack please e-mail recruitment@avashire.org.uk or telephone 01771 624787
Applications Close: 10am on 5th October 2015
Health & Social Care
Your Health and Social Care Services – We want Your Views
Health and social care services across Aberdeenshire are changing. We aim to make them:
- Better connected – one single united health and social care service.
- More responsive – to your needs and the needs of your family
- More local – linked up with the community and voluntary groups that benefit the health and wellbeing of your locality
We are writing a plan for the future of health and social care services in Aberdeenshire.
The plan is based on what you told us should be available in your locality. It describes how we will work together to improve the health of local people and to provide the right services for people who are ill or who rely on social care.
Have we got it right for you, your family and your locality?
The plan is available to view on Aberdeenshire Council and NHS Grampian Website from 17th August, click on links below
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/social/healthsocialcareintegration.asp
http://nhsgintranet.grampian.scot.nhs.uk/depts/CorporateCommunication/Pages/Aberdeenshire.aspx
How can the Healthy Working Lives Tackle Health Inequalities in Aberdeenshire?
What is Healthy Working Lives? 
The Healthy Working Lives Team within NHS Grampian works with approximately 150 companies throughout the North East, to facilitate a planned and integrated approach to improving the health, safety and well-being of their employees. Healthy Working Lives is a mature health improvement programme which has been operational since 2006; the programme is delivered locally in every NHS board area and is governed by a National Team overseen by Health Scotland.
The programme is targeted to all working aged adults; from 16 yrs to retirement age. National census data (2011) reveals unemployment in Grampian is around 3% for those aged 16 – 74, making the workplace an excellent setting to tackle health inequalities. Read the rest of this entry »
Health & Social Care
Your Health and Social Care Services – We want Your Views
Health and social care services across Aberdeenshire are changing. We aim to make them:
- Better connected – one single united health and social care service.
- More responsive – to your needs and the needs of your family
- More local – linked up with the community and voluntary groups that benefit the health and wellbeing of your locality
We are writing a plan for the future of health and social care services in Aberdeenshire.
The plan is based on what you told us should be available in your locality. It describes how we will work together to improve the health of local people and to provide the right services for people who are ill or who rely on social care.
Have we got it right for you, your family and your locality?
The Rural Area Partnership is hosting events in your area
Come along to your local event on:
Tuesday 8th September
Bettridge Centre, Newtonhill
12 Noon – 2.15pm
Refreshments Provided
For more information and to book your place, please contact
Email: officesupport@kincardineshiredp.org
Tel No: 01569 763246
The plan is available to view on Aberdeenshire Council and NHS Grampian Website from 17th August, click on links below
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/social/healthsocialcareintegration.asp
http://nhsgintranet.grampian.scot.nhs.uk/depts/CorporateCommunication/Pages/Aberdeenshire.aspx
Empowering Conversations Workshops
Are you looking after someone? Do your emotions get in the way when you are speaking to professionals? PAMIS, an organisation that supports those with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families are organising a two-part workshop for our families on having ‘Empowering Conversations’ on Tuesday 1st and Tuesday 8th September (at the Mile End Community Centre, Mid Stocket Road in Aberdeen AB15 5PD). The sessions will be run by professional mediators will help equip you with being able to get your voices heard effectively and negotiate with services around Self- Directed Support. Priority will be given to carers of those with profound disabilities but we will try and accommodate other carers who are interested in attending. Please see attached poster. Sessions will be from 10 till 2.30pm and lunch/tea & coffee will be provided.
Places are limited so please call or email me to book your place!!
Amy Anderson
PAMIS Grampian Family Support Director
52 Evan St
Stonehaven
AB39 2ET
01569 764 221
We Walk To Feel Fitter!
Whatever it is that you really want to do – get fitter, meet new people or just feel better today – walking is the easy way to a happier, healthy you! Stop wanting, start walking with us.
Our free health walks are short, low level walks with a friendly, trained leader to show you the way.
Portlethen Health Walk 
Location: Jubilee Hall
Day: Every Wednesday
Time: 10am
Get in touch for more info
Call: Chris Wright
Tel: 07810852817
Everyone’s welcome!
Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund
Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund is a new fund to further encourage physical activity among Scotland’s least active people.
Spirit outcomes:
- People’s personal wellbeing increases through participation (in physical activity)
- Positive change in the perception of disabled people in communities (by both disabled and non-disabled people)
Scottish Government outcomes:
- We encourage and enable the inactive to be more active
- We encourage and enable the active to stay active throughout life
K&M Communities 