Contact us Search

Driving health
creation across
Scotland

We are a movement for health creation, working to reduce health inequalities and enable the people of Scotland to live well.

We believe that health is more than the absence of illness. We work with our members and partners to address health inequalities and champion preventative approaches.

EXPLORE HEALTH CREATION

Our Purpose

Health Creation Scotland collaborates to provide the national voice for third sector health organisations in Scotland. Learn more about our free membership offer here.

Strategic Plan 2025-2030 Collaboration for Health Creation

Strategic priorities

1. We will grow and diversify our membership, to provide more effective representation for organisations that support people experiencing health inequalities and disadvantage across Scotland.

2. We will amplify the voices, stories and impact of our members and their communities to influence for change.

3. We will play a leading role in advocating for a prevention-first approach, championing the benefits of health creation and living well in our communities.

4. We will utilise digital systems, technology, media and data to improve engagement and effectiveness as we grow.

Our Values

We believe our values challenge us to be the best we possibly can and we strive to continuously improve how we embed and enact our values across our work.

  • Equity: By centring equity in all that we do, we strive to ensure fair access to health, dignity, and wellbeing for every individual and community we serve.
  • Collaboration for change: By sharing knowledge, resources, and responsibility, we create stronger, more sustainable solutions that advance health and wellbeing for all.
  • Bold and Tenacious: We are visible and proactive; speaking up, showing up, and driving change even when challenges feel bigger than us.
  • Our members are at the heart of everything we do: Their passion, voices, and commitment drive our collective vision forwards and ensure that we remain connected to the communities we serve.

Our Governance

The purposes for which Health Creation Scotland was established in 2004 were and remain wholly and exclusively charitable. We are registered with OSCR as a Scottish Charity (SC035482). We are also registered as a company limited by guarantee (SC267315) with Companies House and are governed by our Articles of Association (our constitution). We are wholly non-profit making and publish our latest accounts and annual report on this page each year.

VHS Annual Report and Financial statement 2025 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

We are governed by our Board members, who serve as Trustees and Directors in a voluntary capacity for which they are not remunerated. We also have a small staff team in Edinburgh.

Our registered charitable purposes are:

  • The advancement of health, the advancement of education, the advancement of citizenship and community development, and the relief of those in need, through:
  • The provision of an effective network for voluntary health organisations; Working for sustainable improvements in health and social care services, health improvement and public health;
  • Working to prevent, mitigate and reduce health inequalities, including through education and awareness-raising about the underlying causes of such inequalities, including poverty and discrimination;
  • Supporting voluntary health organisations to improve their knowledge, understanding and skills to engage with health related priorities, policy, systems, personnel and partnerships;
  • Promoting the voluntary health sector’s role, expertise and evidence to a wide audience
  • Working to make effective collaboration and partnerships on health related matters between the public and voluntary health sectors normal and valued.

Join our movement for health creation

Membership is free and connects you with organisations working to improve health and reduce inequalities across Scotland.

Find out more