What We Do - Strategic Aim 2

To strengthen and support the voluntary and community health sector in Scotland to develop its strategic role in health improvement and health care policy and service delivery.

• VHS supports the information, policy and lobbying needs of the voluntary and community health sector.

• We provide an information briefing service for our members, both in hard copy and through e-news bulletins, giving up-to-date information on Scottish health and releated public policy, consultation opportunities, new funding opportunities and events of interest. To view the latest Briefing, visit the Briefings page.

• We facilitate consultations with the voluntary and community health sector on emerging Scottish Executive and NHS policies and strategies - to view current and recent consultations visit the Consultations page.

• We hold events of interest to members and the wider voluntary and community sector. In 2005 our conference addrerssed Equality and Diversity: working in partnership for fair access to health; in 2006, the theme will be progress in Community Health Partnerships.

• We work in partnership with The Community Health Exchange (CHEX) as well as with NHS Health Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to promote learning and development for health improvement in the voluntary and community sector workforce.

• We work in partnership with NHS Health Scotland to promote opportunities for evaluation of voluntary and community health sector work, promoting the added value brought by the sector to government.