Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) invites third sector groups and organisations to participate in its new social research project exploring the relationship between gender and health.

This will be the first in a series of research projects looking at different social determinants of health; the research will explore the relationship between health and gender identity, with a particular focus on health inequalities related to gender. It will also explore how gendered experiences of health intersect with other forms of identity, including sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, income and caring status.

VHS acknowledges that the word “gender” has different meanings and connotations for different people, and its team hopes to sensitively reflect this reality in the research. The team is keen to hear about health experiences which are impacted by gender, assigned at birth or otherwise.

The project will primarily draw on evidence generated by VHS member organisations, whilst also referencing a range of national health datasets and relevant academic research. VHS would like to hear from any of its member organisations which believe that they, or the people and communities they serve, have useful insights into the relationship between gender and health. The research team is keen to hear from any member organisation, not just those providing services aimed at particular gender groups.

Please note feedback should come from your overall organisation, not from individuals.

Get Involved: How to Submit Your Evidence

There are several ways groups and organisation can get involved.

Consultation Events

VHS is holding a number of online research consultation events in November, aiming to provide a facilitated discussion for attendees to share experiences, evidence or views related to the research topic. The initial event dates are:

Thursday 20 November 2025, 10am – 11:30am
Tuesday 25 November 2025, 10am – 11:30am

To book your place at either consultation event, visit the Humanitix page (linked for your convenience).

Online Survey

Groups and organisations can also feed into the research through an anonymous survey, which should take a maximum of 15 – 20 minutes to complete. While the survey is anonymous, information shared in responses may be used in the final research report, and organisations should be mindful of any identifying characteristics within their answers.

The deadline for responses is Sunday 30 November 2025; to submit your group or organisation’s response, please visit the online Microsoft Form.

Written Evidence

A third option for groups and organisations is to send VHS any written evidence they might have which explores the relationship between gender and health, directly or indirectly.

Written evidence should be submitted to Sarah Latto by email (using the subject “Gender and Health”): sarah.latto@vhscotland.org.uk

One to One Conversations

Finally, VHS can host one to one conversations with representatives from your group or organisation, or work with you to facilitate conversations with some of the people you serve who have lived or living experience.

To pursue this option, again, contact Sarah Latto by email (using the subject “Gender and Health”): sarah.latto@vhscotland.org.uk

Further Information

For further information (including questions or comments about the research), contact Sarah Latto at the email address above, or view the VHS news article (linked for your convenience).