Voluntary Health Scotland partnership

The Open University in Scotland has a well-developed and longstanding relationship with Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS), the national intermediary and network for voluntary health organisations in Scotland.  

VHS act as a conduit between third sector health organisations and policy and decision-makers.

Scottish Government-funded, they develop and contribute to a range of policy and influencing networks and activities.

They provide the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities secretariat, and represent the third sector in various Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland working groups.

VHS also convene topical roundtable discussions and meetings for members and networks, and lead and administer a third sector Health Policy Officers Network. 

Ageing Well talks series

The Five Pillars of Ageing - nutrition, hydration, physical, social and cognitive stimulation - and their implications for older people’s health and wellbeing has been the focus of ‘Ageing Well’, a joint OU and VHS series of online talks and discussions in 2020-21.

Led by public health expert Dr Jitka Vsecteckova from the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, third sector staff, volunteers and older people themselves have participated in discussions and provided input. 

More information about the Ageing Well talks

Five Pillars of Ageing Well on OpenLearn

Mental health policy project

VHS have identified an urgent need to shine a light on difficulties some people experience after age 65, if they either have a long-standing mental health condition (such as schizophrenia), or if they develop one (for example depression or anxiety). 

In 2021 The OU in Scotland and VHS have collaborated on 'Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Serious mental health issues in later life', a small-scale policy project focussed on the over-65 population in Scotland.  

An initial scope by VHS, with Support in Mind Scotland and colleagues from across the third and public sectors, had surfaced issues in what happens to people with mental health conditions other than (or in addition to) dementia once they become 65.  

These include under-diagnosis, under-provision, and poor transitions from ‘adult’ services to ‘older people’ services.  

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic

Due to the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic, there has been considerable impact in terms of mental health-related issues. More evidence and action is needed if policy and practice is to improve, hence the project's second phase. 

‘Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Serious mental health issues in later life’ aimed to re-engage with existing stakeholders via virtual round tables, at which OU experts contributed, and establish how Covid-19 has impacted their ability to access appropriate services and support. 

This stage will also re-evaluate the evidence in the light of experience after the pandemic.

Engagement with policymakers

Our partnership with VHS will enable a wide variety of relevant policymakers to be involved in this project, from inception to completion. 

The OU in Scotland has a plethora of policymaker connections, including the Scottish Government and parliamentarians. We are members of the Scottish Policy and Research exchange and other policy-related networks in Scotland.  

VHS are well placed to have access to both frontline service provider organisations who can describe the issues and test for change, as well as policy and decision-makers.