Support for under 12

South West

Wellbeing Together

Space counselling and art therapy

Sometimes it can be good to talk to an adult who is not in your family. They can listen to you, and you can do something fun together Art therapists and counsellors will listen to you, and you can tell them about your feelings, worries and things that are going on in your life.

You can spend time with them at your home, the Broomhouse Hub or in school and do activities like drawing, painting, clay, play, and telling stories. It is good to have different people in your life you can talk to and have some fun at the same time.

Play therapy - With Kids

Sometimes when something happens to you that is sad or difficult it can be hard to know how you think or feel about it. You can have strong feelings that makes you worried, angry or sad. Other times you might not feel much at all. If something like this has happened to you it can be good to talk to an adult who is not in your family. Play therapists will listen to you and you can do something fun together. As you get to know them you can tell them about your feelings, worries and things that are going on in your life. It is good to have different people in your life you can talk to and have some fun at the same time.

Play therapy takes place in; Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, Currie Library, PentlandCommunity Centre, St Brides Centre

Schools Out

Schools Out is a fun club run at Tynecastle Park during the school holidays for 5 to 14-year-olds. You can have fun, play football, do crafts and indoor games. You will also get to meet other people and make new friends. We especially want to invite you if you have not been able to go on holiday or do other activities with your families.

Find out more about TEAMs on our website School’s Out! | Big Hearts.

TEAMS Together Equality Achieves More

Everyone being different is a great thing but sometimes it can be hard. Especially if you feel different because of how you look, speak, your family traditions, or the money your family has. Speaking to other people who understand can really help. This group is for 8 to 12-year-olds to have fun together and make new friends at Tynecastle Park after school.

Find out more about TEAMs on our website T.E.A.M Project | Big Hearts.

Time for me

Sometimes it can be good to talk to an adult who is not in your school or home. Especially if you have lots of difficult feelings and worries. Time For Me will give you time and space to think about and learn how your thoughts, feelings and what you do are all linked. Practicing understanding these links can help you to feel better and have more confidence in dealing with life’s ups and downs. The course can be with just you and another adult or as part of a group

This is an eight-session life skills course for 11 to 18-year-olds which helps you develop skills to deal with life’s challenges. It is for young people who are struggling with their mental health but not accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). 

The groups can be in your school, you local area or online. 

Wellbeing Together Support and Activities

To find out more ask an adult to look at our website. To request one of these activities ask an adult to use this form.

Once we have your request, someone will be in touch with the adult who helped you within 2 weeks to discuss it further.

SCOREscotland (Strengthening Communities for Race Equality Scotland)

SCOREScotland support Black and Minority Ethnic children and young people in Wester Hailes and South West Edinburgh.

They offer support for children and young people in Wester Hailes which include;

  • Knots and Crosses children and youth clubs for 7 to 10-year-olds and 11 to 17-year-olds
  • Community Youth Voice’s Ambassador’s Project
  • Employability and Careers Guidance Project
  • Bike library service for children and young people, cycle training and bike maintenance

To find out more and get involved contact them at info@scorescotland.org.uk  

Young Carers

There are an estimated 29,000 young carers in Scotland. Being a young carer can mean different things to different people. Perhaps you might support a relative or a friend from time to time or be responsible for providing care for an adult at home for most of every week. If you think you might be a young carer it can be helpful to speak to an adult you trust about it. If you aren’t sure if you are a young carer check out this young scot article for information on the kinds of things being a young carer might involve.

If you are a young carer you are entitled to support. There are three young carer services in Edinburgh. They work together across the whole of Edinburgh and each service covers a different area. SPACE offers support to children and young people aged from five to 25 in South West Edinburgh who care for their family members. Some of the ways they can support you include one-on-one support, school-based support, groups and other activities.  for young people with a caring role, please contact 

They can tell you more about the support they can give you and you can contact them at youngcarers@spacescot.org