Sparking healthier futures: Celebrating the impact of Health Issues In the Community
World Café and Workshop information
At our recent event, HIIC tutors shared their learning on the myriad ways in which HIIC can be used as a catalyst for community action with adults and young people across Scotland.
World Cafés
Intergenerational HIIC – bringing HIIC groups together
Two HIIC groups from Castlemilk came together to host an intergenerational table at the cafe, exploring the importance of community, shared learning and positive action.
The groups came from Castlemilk Youth Complex: Community Youth Work Skills Class, the only school in Scotland offering HIIC as part of a subject choice, and Cassiltoun Housing Association, where adults are sharing their knowledge, skills and lived experience with our young people.
Together, they have a shared passion for community development and creating positive change. Our delegates really enjoyed the opportunity to connect across generations, share stories and experiences, learn from the fabulous HIIC community, and celebrate our collective strengths, knowledge and ideas.
Glasgow Life – Delivering Health Issues in the Community to Young People within Glasgow
Over the past three years, Glasgow Life has committed to training youth work staff as HIIC tutors. This has resulted in the HIIC pack being delivered within schools and voluntary organisations throughout the city. Young people are benefiting from having an opportunity to explore their own health issues and those of the community they live through discussion, debate, research, and group work.
In addition to this, and still in the early stages of implementation the HIIC Part 1 course at SCQF level 6 is being delivered within schools, with currently five schools participating from the North West of Glasgow.
This session shared the Glasgow Life journey, including thoughts from young people and teachers on the impact of HIIC, the next steps in development and roll out of HIIC, and it definitely sparked some interest from those embarking on their own HIIC journey too!
History, strength and impact of HIIC in Dundee
The Community Health Team has been delivering Health Issues in the Community course for over 20 years. It is a key component of our work, supporting local people to increase their knowledge, build confidence and enable individuals and communities to identify issues and take action.
Delegates learned about the current delivery of HIIC within Dundee, the impact it has had on participants and communities, and how this work continues to influence practice and partnership working. Also for discussion was the support that underpins the programme and a vision for expanding access and opportunities in the future.
HIIC with New Scots
In this popular session, we heard how HIIC is being delivered with New Scots in a range of settings. Delegates discussed the challenges, learning, and positive impacts experienced by both participants and tutors, and tutors shared their first-hand experiences of delivering HIIC and reflect on the difference it has made to people’s lives.
Workshops
Poverty, Our Hidden Shame 10 Years On: The HIIC Journey
This workshop explored how the Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) approach has been used to support young people to investigate, understand and take action on poverty. Participants will watch the BAFTA short-listed documentary Poverty: Our Hidden Shame and heard how HIIC helped young people share their lived experiences and influence policy and practice.
The session reflected on the original project and introduced Hidden Shame: 10 Years On, which reconnects with original participants while supporting a new generation of young people to explore poverty in their communities through the new HIIC youth short course with accreditation via Youthlink’s Participatory Democracy Certificate.
AI and the HIIC Tutor: Opportunities, Challenges and Practical Applications
This engaging workshop explored the fundamentals of AI, including popular tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, looking at what AI can do, where its limitations lie, and how tutors can use it responsibly to support learners, save time, and enhance learning experiences.
The session included practical demonstrations, discussion of ethical considerations, guidance on recognising AI-generated content, and an opportunity to explore the potential impact of AI on teaching, assessment and learner support.
Getting your HIIC students through their qualification: From the inside
Some lucky folks were able to step inside an assessor's shoes and see what they are looking for from HIIC students! This workshop was a sneak peek into the assessment process, with detailed and practical tips and advice for tutors.
This hands-on workshop for accredited tutors gave valuable insight into the assessment process and provided some very relevant and tailored advice to help prepare participants for submitting their work for accreditation.