Date: December 2009

Dear Colleague

HEALTH INEQUALITIES SEMINARS 2009/10

Health Inequalities Seminars are designed to encourage partners from a broad range of backgrounds to participate in the debate on ill health amongst excluded groups across Lothian. It is intended that this debate will help inform future work on addressing a wide range of health inequality issues and help inform the community planning process.

We would like to encourage participation from your organisation. We believe that your representation and input is vital to the debate. The seminars are useful for participants on three levels:

Educational and awareness raising

Information sharing

  • Network building

The next Seminar in this series is ‘Support from the Start’ and will be held on 26 January 2010 at The Engine Shed, at 12.30pm. As lunch will be provided please inform Linda Head if you would like to attend the session on 0131 536 3505, returning the slip at the foot of this letter or email by

The seminars are supported by Lothian Health Promotion Service.

Yours sincerely

The Health Inequalities Seminar Group

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Support from the Start (tackling health inequality – Equally Well) 26 January

Name:______

Organisation:______

Email & phone contact details: ______

Geographical Remit Area:

Edinburgh East Lothian Midlothian West Lothian Pan Lothian

Please reserve me a place on the seminar:______

Please add my details to the mailing list:______

Please delete my details from the mailing list:______

Please return slip to:

Return slip to:Linda Head

Health Promotion Service, Third Floor, LauristonBuilding, Lauriston Place, EDINBURGH, EH3 9HA: Fax 0131 536 3501 or email

Health Inequalities Seminars

Seminar Series 2009-2010

Health Inequalities Seminar

26 January 2010

12.30pm– 2.30pm

Support from the Start

(at The Engine Shed)

Speakers: Steven Wray – Support from the Start lead officer

(NHS Lothian/East Lothian Council)

John Boyce, Public Health Practitioner (NHS Lothian)

Professor Susan Deacon, External Advisor

(QueenMargaretUniversity)

What is Support from the Start?

East Lothian is one of eight ‘test sites’ for the Scottish Government’s strategy for tackling health inequality – Equally Well. East Lothian Council, NHS Lothian and community organisations are working together to improve access to support and services which will help close the health gap that begins in the early years of life.

What difference has it made so far?

  • Redesign of early years play in one community
  • Redesign of oral health promotion in two communities
  • Fast tracking of ‘forest school’
  • Planning for a multi-agency early intervention pilot
  • Targeting of breakfast provision
  • Capacity building through champions network

This presentation will provide an overview to Support from the Start, its origins, current and future projects and the evaluation plans.

Bookings must be made through Linda Head
Tel: 0131 536 3505. Fax: 0131 536 3501
Email: