Humans of Scotland roundup 2024

Humans of Scotland continues to champion the voices of people, and those providing support and services across Scotland.

Through the art of storytelling, this campaign has continued to raises awareness, challenge misconceptions, and sparks vital conversations about health and social care in Scotland.

During Self-Management week (23 – 26 September), the ALLIANCE spotlighted nominees for the Self-Management Champion Award, showcasing the community leaders providing innovative community-led health and wellbeing initiatives. We heard from Corinne who, after surviving sepsis, lost her hands and legs. She discovered that there was no information available and wanted to provide much needed help and support for people in a similar situation. We also spoke to Nav who saw that his family and community were spending less time together and were drifting apart. He wanted to give them a space to reconnect and set up a walking group to get people in his community back in nature and to help improve their health and wellbeing. Another nominee shared her story of how she uses her life experience to help and support people in her community living with substance use and mental health struggles.
We have worked with parents in East Ayrshire, sharing the difficulties they face finding suitable out of school activities for children with additional support needs and navigating the challenges of the transition stage while transferring from child to adult services:

“It’s been a pretty stressful time recently with transition and guardianship at the forefront…..thanks again for shining a light on our daily struggles as Additional Support Needs families.”

Through Humans of Scotland we also shared the ‘Stories of Caring’ publication – a Concert for Caring Special. Following on from the ALLIANCE Concert for Caring, we have shared stories from people who attended, celebrating the immeasurable work of unpaid carers and the contribution of health and social care staff, as well as third-sector organisations that support people to lead fulfilling lives.

In partnership with the Peer Support Scotland project at Terrence Higgins Trust, we published ‘H is for Human – Stories of strength, courage and hope, 40 years of HIV in Scotland’ a special edition of Humans of Scotland story book collection, with 21 stories sharing a diverse range of perspectives on HIV, from people across Scotland living with HIV, as well as health professionals who have worked in the field. The publication of the book was celebrated at the Self Management Awards, with a speech from a Terrence Higgins Trust representative, as well as an intimate, informal launch event, with contributors and their loved ones in attendance. It has been an extremely emotional and impactful collaboration to capture the history of living with HIV over the past 40 years and using the power of storytelling to challenge the stigma which is still associated with the condition. The book is incredibly hard hitting yet filled with stories of courage and hope. At the launch event it was clear how important this project was to the contributors who shared their stories.

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