South West
Wellbeing Together South West Partnership
Space counselling and art therapy
It is good to have different people in your life you can talk to. Sometimes it can be good to talk to someone who is not in your family or one of your friends. You can meet in a place you feel safe and supported, normally either in your school or at the Broomhouse Hub. As you get to know the counsellor or therapist them you might want to share your problems, worries and things that are going on in your life.
If you find it hard to open up and discuss your feelings you can choose activities like drawing, painting, clay, play, and telling stories. This can help you to make sense of your emotions and support your wellbeing.
Contact wellbeingtogether@spacescot.org to find out more.
Schools out
If you are worried about the school holidays because you don’t have much to do or people to hang out with School’s Out might be for you? It is a club run at Tynecastle Park during the school holidays for 5 to 14-year-olds normally in the afternoons. You will get the chance to have fun, play football, do crafts and indoor games. You will also get to meet other people and make new friends in a fun safe environment.
Find out more about TEAMs on our website School’s Out! | 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 is delivered in an accessible, safe and supportive place and will give you time to think and learn about how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours are linked. Understanding these links can help to reduce your anxiety or anger, improve your wellbeing, and build resilience and confidence. The course can be with just you and another adult or as part of a group.
It is an eight session life skills course for 11 to 18 year olds which helps you develop personal tools to deal with life’s challenges. It is for young people who have been referred to CAMHS but not offered specialist support or for young people who need more support than is available in school. It can be offered in schools, community venues or online. Ask your school if you would like to find out more about Time for Me.
Mental health and wellbeing workshops
Learning about how to look after your mental health is an important skill for everyone to have. These workshops are for 11 to 18 year olds and will cover topics on mental health such as Understanding and Managing Stress and Anxiety. You will also learn other ways to look after your own mental health, how to seek help and how to support others. The workshops are offered in a range of venues and times.
Suitable for
- 11 to 18 years
- parents and carers
That’s me
Do you sometimes struggle with your mental health or have strong feelings about things that have happened in your past? That’s me is a teenager service in Edinburgh that can offer you either individual support or support as part of a group. You would meet an adult at Tynecastle Park in a safe and supportive environment, where you can share your problems, worries and things that are going on in your life. This can help you to make sense of your emotions, reduce distress and support your wellbeing.
There is also the option to meet other young people in groups where you can have fun and do physical activities together.
Find out more about our project at That’s Me! Project | Big Hearts.
Welcome through football
If you are a refugee or migrant now living in Edinburgh it can be difficult to make new friends, learn the language and cope with the many changes and challenges. This programme is designed to make settling in easier and happier. You will have the chance to meet other young people aged 15 to 24 to play football and other group activities. You can also get one-to-one support with education, employment and volunteering.
Venue
- Tynecastle Park
- other sports pitches
Find out more about our project at Welcome Through Football | Big Hearts.
Big Hearts Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights offers you a safe place to chill out, have some food, socialise and build positive connections with adults.It is delivered in partnership with Police Scotland, Places for People, Edinburgh Leisure and Community Sports Hubs,
Friday Night Lights is suitable for you if:
- You are finding it hard to stay away from anti-social behaviour that could get you in trouble.
- Would like somewhere to go, offering a wide range of supports.
- Gives you another option with activities and other young people
We want to support young people in Edinburgh:
- Avoid anti-social behaviour especially if you live in South-West Edinburgh.
- Access free activities and support through Big Hearts.
- Help you to build a better relationship with police officers supporting your community.
- Have a local community space to go to.
Friday Night Lights is held within The Shed at Tynecastle Park, the home of Heart of Midlothian FC, every Friday from 6pm – 9pm. You can meet & make friends and it offers you the chance to take part in activities – including playing football, enjoying a bite to eat and it helps you to build connections with the police and other adults in the community.
Friday Night Lights | Big Hearts
Find out more
To find out more about these activities look at our Wellbeing Together website.
To request one of these activities ask an adult to support you with 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.
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.
They can tell you more about the support they can give you and you can contact them at youngcarers@spacescot.org
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 includes;
- 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 or 0131 442 2341
CashBack for Communities SCOREscotland
This project aims to support young people in Wester Hailes and South West Edinburgh who are struggling to stay away from things that could get them into trouble with the police or others. The project offers you weekly sessions on skills for life like leadership, financial literacy, team building and career options.
It can also help you with supports and opportunities like volunteering, improving health and wellbeing through sports and events and ways to access 1:1 support like mentoring, befriending or counselling. For more information email Harry@scorescotland.org.uk or 07534145541