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9 March 2007 SMC expands children and young people's
support services Children, young people and young parents living in Falkirk and Dundee will soon have access to specialist relationship support services provided by Scottish Marriage Care (SMC). Funded by Big Lottery and in partnership with One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS), SMC will deliver youth counselling, peer education workshops, relationship education workshops and workshops focusing on teenage pregnancy and substance abuse from April 1st 2007. The project mirrors the structure and content of SMC's community project, REACT, which has had great success with children, young people and young parents in Greater Easterhouse, Glasgow. All the participants on REACT's Yong Parent's Project have moved into employment, further education or training and teachers have noted an improvement in the attainment levels of participants on the Young People's Project. "We are delighted that Big Lottery has agreed to fund this joint SMC/OPFS project and we have high hopes for its success," said SMC Chief Executive Mary Toner. "There is a real need for this type of service, not just in Dundee and Falkirk but throughout Scotland. Many young people today face multiple hardships as they grow and this was certainly high lighted last month by the Unicef report into Childhood Well Being in Rich Countries. "The principal objectives of this project are to develop participants' relationship skills, self-esteem and improve their overall mental health and well-being. In providing these types of services we hope to help our children, young people and young parents develop and flourish." A high teenage pregnancy rate and disproportionate number of children and young people who are NEET (not in education, employment or training) has seen the Scottish Executive designate Dundee as a pilot area for change. Funding for the project has been approved till December 2008 and includes the establishment of three full-time posts and the creation of a Local Services Directory that will provide residents with contact details and information about the different types of services available to them and how best to access them. Young people from both Dundee and Falkirk were consulted on the project proposal during the funding application stages. They indicated that there was a gap in service provision and it was vital this was filled. "After consulting young people in both areas we have developed a proposal that best meets the needs of the service users. This consultation will continue throughout the project and help us evaluate this service, influencing future service delivery," said Mary Toner. For further information, please contact: April Mitchinson, Research and Communications
Manager Phone:0141-222 2166 |
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