New reports: What's needed to deliver on prevention
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 14th October 2026
Two new reports have set out the importance of supporting the third and voluntary sector if Scotland is to deliver on prevention policy.
A recent briefing from Voluntary Health Scotland explores the context of prevention and the vital role that the third sector plays in addressing Scotland's health inequalities, as well as detailing a series of key asks to support this work.
"Despite the national policy narrative around prevention," the briefing notes, "many of our third sector members are still reporting that the preventative activity they deliver is not being prioritised by local decision makers, despite having a proven impact."
Meanwhile, Volunteer Scotland has published a paper on the important link between volunteering and primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, as well as highlighting relevant examples of what this looks like in action.
“Volunteering is already a core component of Scotland’s social infrastructure approach to prevention by supporting health and wellbeing, reducing demand on public services, and delivering preventative interventions," the paper says.
Both organisations, along with SCDC / CHEX, The Alliance, and Edinburgh Community Health Forum, recently published an updated joint statement on prevention, setting out the progress made so far and what actions need to come next if we're to truly shift the dial on prevention in Scotland.