Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland

15/06/2026

At a time when services are stretched and staff wellbeing is under real strain, the question “What matters to you?” feels more important than ever.

Over the past 18 months, thousands of nurses and midwives have taken part in Tommy Whitelaw’s sessions on person centred care. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive; not just about the learning, but about the sense of recognition and connection they felt.

Two things consistently made a “good day at work”:
• feeling valued and respected
• feeling connected to others

Tommy’s sessions deliver both. They remind staff of the difference they make, and why their work matters.

As we mark What Matters To You? Day 2026, we’re celebrating the people who keep compassion at the centre of care and the approaches that help them thrive. Read Barbara’s reflections on the process of analysing feedback from Tommy’s sessions: https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/opinion/what-matters-to-you-the-powerful-question-at-the-heart-of-person-centred-care/

14/06/2026

Do you want to improve the inclusivity and accessibility of your communications?

Disability Equality Scotland's Training team have some upcoming events. These are delivered online and open to all.

There is a free webinar on spoken inclusive and accessible language on Tuesday 16 June. Book your free place for the Spoken Inclusive and Accessible Language webinar here: https://ow.ly/GQh550Z9NMu

There are also 2 paid training deliveries, for anybody looking for professional development around inclusive and accessible communication.

The first is the Inclusive Communication Awareness Workshop – a single session with lots of examples of how small changes can make a big difference.

There is also the Easy Read training course, delivered over 2 half-day sessions. This training gives participants the technical and linguistic skills they need to start producing Easy Read documents, and includes a follow-up expert review of their first document.

For dates, details, and to make a booking, please see our website: https://disabilityequality.scot/easy-read-training/ or email [email protected].

13/06/2026

Gambling is becoming harder to avoid. And nowhere is this more visible than the beating heart of sport; football. So with the World Cup upon us, if you, or someone you love, is affected by gambling, here are some places to ask for support.

RCA Trust offers free one to one counselling to support people experiencing gambling harm and those affected by someone else's gambling. You can contact them on 0141 887 0880 or [email protected].

GamCare offer a free 24/7 phone line and messaging service which you can contact for support 08088020133 or via WhatsApp on +44 808 802 0133.

You can find out more about the ALLIANCE's Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm programme here: https://ow.ly/QK8b50Zbiys

12/06/2026

What if creativity could play a vital role in improving health, wellbeing, and preventing future illness?

Healing Arts Scotland Week 2026 explores exactly that, and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland is proud to support the upcoming Glasgow Day.

Taking place on Friday 19 June, this inspiring event is led by Healing Arts Scotland Leadership and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). Tickets are still available for Glasgow Day and events across the week.

Delivered with partners including Glasgow.Life, Scottish Ballet, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Voluntary Health Scotland and Scottish Opera, Glasgow Day brings together voices from health, social care and the arts.

Expect powerful discussions, live performances, and opportunities to connect with professionals and leaders from across the UK and beyond - all passionate about the transformative power of the arts.

Hear from leading speakers including:

• Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Chief Executive Officer, National Academy for Social Prescribing
• Katie Duffy, Head of Arts and Music, Glasgow Life
• Professor Sir Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer Scotland
• Jill Sonke, Research Director, Center for Arts in Medicine, University of Florida
• Nisha Sajnani, Founding Director of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, Professor Drama Therapy NYU
• Nils Fietje, Founding Director, Jameel Arts & Health Lab & Technical Officer: Culture and Health, World Health Organization
• Manira Ahmed, Chief Officer at Public Health Scotland
• Yazmany Arboleda, People’s Artist, Civic Engagement Commission, New York
• Sonia Sabri OBE, UK senior cultural leader, choreographer, and international performer

The HAS Glasgow Day tickets are on sale here: https://www.healingartsscotland.org/events/glasgow-day

11/06/2026

Learning a new language isn’t just good for the brain; it can boost confidence, spark connection and bring a whole lot of joy.

That’s exactly what Lingo Flamingo are proving every day. They deliver language classes for older adults in care homes and day centres, and while that might surprise some people, the impact is powerful. Their sessions help people build confidence, strengthen social bonds and improve wellbeing through meaningful, inclusive learning - because it’s never too late to discover something new.

At a time when many older people face loneliness and isolation, these classes offer more than vocabulary and verbs. They create community and give people a reason to come together, laugh, learn and share stories. They show that learning can be playful, social and deeply human at any age.

Lingo Flamingo are also challenging the stigma surrounding dementia. They’re working to bust the myth that dementia automatically closes doors, including the door to learning. Their approach centres dignity, possibility and the belief that everyone deserves opportunities to grow.

Read their full story here: https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/case_studies/lingo-flamingo-breaking-stigma-around-dementia-older-age-and-learning/

10/06/2026

"Telling people’s stories is a way to break down barriers, tackle inequalities, and ensure people can live with dignity."

In 2016 we established our Humans of Scotland series highlighting the stories and experiences of people living with long term conditions, disabled people and unpaid carers across Scotland. This opinion piece by our Integration team looks at our Humans of Scotland project - the stories covered so far and why they're so important.

Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/bOPI50Z9QWr

“I quickly realised that I wanted to be an advocate for others to ensure that no-one was treated the same way I was.” – Nicoletta  Telling people’s stories is a way to break down barriers, tackle inequalities, and ensure people can live with dignity.  That’s why The Health and Soc...

09/06/2026

Welcome to the Diabetes Week special.

raises awareness of free and trusted apps and resources that help people improve and manage their health and wellbeing.

This month we are excited to share three apps and websites that are specifically designed for people living with diabetes:

My Diabetes My Way – an NHS Scotland website to help support people who have diabetes and their family and friends. You can access information and view your own up-to-date diabetes clinic results. More information - https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/.

Diabetes UK Learning Zone – a website where you can learn about your diabetes at your own pace, with personalised advice, top tips and ongoing support. More information - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/support-us/diabetes-week.

mySugr - a diabetes management app that allows you to track meals, exercise and import diabetes data from connected devices so all your information is stored in one place. More information - https://www.mysugr.com/en.

Learn more about and get involved with Diabetes Week - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/support-us/diabetes-week.

Tried one of these tools? Comment on this post or email [email protected] with your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you!

Give our resource guide a read to learn about more digital tools - https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/resources/try-a-tool-resource-booklet/ #

08/06/2026

This June, our National Lead for Person‑Centred Voices, Tommy Whitelaw, is continuing his work across Scotland and beyond, bringing conversations on What Matters to You?, Intelligent Kindness and Civility Saves Lives to colleagues across health, social care and community settings.

These conversations remain at the heart of the Person‑Centred Voices programme, supporting Scotland’s workforce to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters to the people they support, to families, and to one another.

This month, Tommy will be joining teams at:
- Harrogate Hospital – Healthcare Workforce
- GCHSCP Home Care
- Link Workers – West & South East teams
- Newcastle Hospitals – Dental Governance Meeting
- Advanced Practice Conference – Glasgow Caledonian University
- Care Inspectorate – Dundee & Glasgow
- Home Start North Lanarkshire.

Across the years, more than 300,000 people have taken part in these conversations, yet the message remains unchanged:

Kindness, listening and human connection are not optional extras – they are essential.

Thank you to every organisation, team and individual who continues to welcome these discussions into their spaces, and to all those working every day to make care more compassionate, connected and person‑centred.

We’re looking forward to the conversations ahead.

07/06/2026

A new app to support disabled people in employment, overcome challenges, help them stay well and motivated has been launched by Scottish Union of Supported Employment.

EASE connects users to tailored support services, resources and guidance, based on their needs and locality, including wellbeing resources, and career development tips.

The app has been made possible via the Scottish Government funding administered by The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE). The Self Management Fund for Scotland aims to empower people living with long term conditions, disabled people and unpaid carers to take control their health, care and wellbeing.

EASE was designed by SUSE Scotland members and partners who bring expertise and lived experience ensuring that it's accessible, practical and relevant.

You can download the EASE App today from both the Google Play and Apple App Store - on your app store search: suse ease app.

05/06/2026

Have you ever considered that the arts could be used to improve health, wellbeing, and support prevention of future illness? Or that in a national context as a way to improve quality of life, and address health inequalities?

The 2026 Healing Arts Scotland Week will focus on just that - and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland are delighted to be supporting the upcoming Glasgow day.

Tickets for the event on 19th June, which is being led by Healing Arts Scotland Leadership and Jameel Arts and Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), are on sale now, as are tickets for all other events across Scotland that week.

The ALLIANCE is just one of a number of organisations hosting Healing Arts Scotland Glasgow Day, and join Glasgow.Life, Scottish Ballet, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Voluntary Health Scotland, Scottish Opera and other national and local organisations.

The Glasgow Day is a bold, energising event created to inspire and inform anyone working at the intersection of health and creativity, whether you come from health and social care, the arts, or anywhere in between.

Join links workers, healthcare professionals, creative industry practitioners and leaders across our field from the UK and internationally for a day packed with inspiration, connection and performances.

Dive into panel discussions and challenge sessions rooted in the core themes of Healing Arts Scotland. Be moved by live performances. And take time to network and build relationships with people who share your passion for the transformative power of the arts.

The HAS Glasgow Day tickets are now on sale: https://www.healingartsscotland.org/events/glasgow-day