Tag: mental health

Street Soccer launches Kitback initiative

TACKLING SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY

Award winning charity, Street Soccer has today announced the launch of Kitback, a new charitable social enterprise designed to combine a collective love of football with social impact through the sale of pre-loved, upcycled football shirts.

All proceeds from the initiative will go towards supporting the life-changing work that Street Soccer addresses including homelessness, mental health, social exclusion, problem substance use and poverty.

Launching across the UK, Kitback will collect pre-loved football shirts from donors at dedicated drop-off points or by post and upcycle them in preparation for resale.

All shirts from teams, leagues, and countries across the globe are welcomed, offering a wide range of options for like-minded football enthusiasts to choose from. Each purchase made through Kitback gives fans a chance to own a piece of football history while contributing to greater causes.

Supporting the launch, football clubs, players and foundations are getting involved. Fulham FC Foundation have become the first professional club to donate to Kitback with others set to follow suit in the coming weeks and months.

As well as addressing key societal issues, the initiative also promotes environmental benefits by reducing waste and the demand for new clothing production, lowering football fans’ environmental footprint and keeping the circular economy moving.

As Kitback grows, another significant impact the social enterprise will have is to create jobs and volunteering opportunities for Street Soccer players and the wider community, helping to develop skills and experience that can be carried forward into the wider employment environment.

David Duke MBE, Social Entrepreneur & Founder of Street Soccer Scotland, expressed his enthusiasm for the new initiative: “Kitback is more than just a campaign; it’s a movement that brings together our shared passion for football and our collective commitment to helping our local communities.

“Football has a unique ability to unite people behind social causes and through Kitback, supporters can make a real difference. By donating your pre-loved football shirts and buying from Kitback when adding a new kit to your collection, you’re not only reducing environmental waste but also helping to empower and enrich people’s lives through everything we do at Street Soccer.”

Football fans, players and clubs are encouraged to come together with businesses and organisations to join the Kitback movement by donating and purchasing shirts, spreading the word, facilitating drop-off points and taking part in kit donation days during the year. Let’s change the world, one football shirt at a time!

Mental Health Foundation: Movement can help with stress

Do you know the incredible ways that movement can help with stress?

Movement has physical and psychological effects on our bodies that relieve present pressure and helps prevent stress.

But, it’s often when we’re most stressed that motivation to find time for physical activity suffers. We may not think we have time, or we may feel too exhausted to plan any physical activity.

But, the stress-relieving effects of movement are so great, that even small moments of movement can have an effect. Going on a walk, doing housework or gardening all count. If you’re struggling to find the time and motivation look for these everyday tasks or find small moments in your day. A five-minute stretching session could boost your mood and improve your focus and motivation.

Why not set aside a few minutes today for an activity you enjoy? See if you can find time for it over the coming days and weeks if stress starts to set in.

Men With Pens

NEW PROJECT AT GRANTON LIBRARY

Men With Pens is a series of creative writing and letter writing workshops for men living with mental health conditions. 

Working with groups in Perth and Edinburgh. Each participant will be paired anonymously with a participant from the other group.  The men will be encouraged to write letters, creating pen pals, to discuss their mental health. 

We will also work together, using reading and creative writing as a tool for maintaining well-being. 

The workshops will be led by Ross MacKay, an award-winning writer with lived experience of his own mental health conditions. 

Monthly Wednesday evening sessions at Granton Library on:

14th May – 5.30-7.30 

11th June – 5.30-7.30 

9th July – 5.30-7.30 

6th August – 5.30-7.30 

7th August – Evening Celebration at Edinburgh International Book Festival 

To book a free place, please email menlibraryproject@gmail.com

Suitable for men aged 16+.

Coalition raises concerns as new figures highlight cuts in specialist support for vulnerable children to a record low

  • Decline in the number of specialist ASN teachers to a record low
  • More than doubling in the number of pupils with additional support needs since 2014

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has raised concerns over cuts in specialist support being provided to those with additional support needs (ASN).

The call comes as new figures from the Scottish Government’s annual teacher census indicate that the number of specialist ASN teachers has fallen to a record low of 2,837 in 2024.1

In contrast, the number of those pupils with ASN has soared to a record high, now amounting to 40.5 per cent of the pupil population. 2 This includes those with mental health problems, learning disability, autism and dyslexia.

These numbers have been increasing for years. Indeed, more than doubling(102.4 per cent) over the last decade to 284,448  pupils, a rise from 140,501 in 2014, when those with ASN represented 20.8 per cent of all pupils.

Between 2014 and 2024 the number of ASN teachers (publicly funded primary, secondary, special and centrally employed) has fallen from 3,077 to 2,837, a record low and a decrease of 240 teachers.

In 2014, while each ASN teacher was supporting 40 pupils with ASN, by 2024 this figure had risen to each teacher now supporting 100 such pupils.

Against a background of spending cuts and reduction in specialist support, the SCSC has called for greater resourcing from both the Scottish Government and local authorities to ensure that those with ASN, who are disproportionately drawn from poorer neighbourhoods, are getting the care and support that they need. 

The coalition has also raised concerns about the effectiveness of a presumption of mainstreaming, meaning that all pupils are educated in a mainstream educational environment unless exceptional circumstances apply, without the necessary support.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need. This is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap as we know that those with ASN are disproportionately drawn from poorer neighbourhoods.

“With cuts in support, including in the number of specialist teachers, it is going to be extremely challenging to reduce the current inequalities faced by those with ASN.

“While we also support the presumption of mainstreaming, which means that all children and young people are educated in a mainstream educational environment unless exceptional circumstances apply, it is clearly difficult to see how this is functioning properly given the fall in specialist support and increase in the number of those with ASN.

“The Scottish Government and local authorities need to work together to provide the necessary resourcing to address the needs of those children and young people with ASN, who represent some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. “

1 Scottish Government, Teacher census 2024 supplementary statistics, 25th March 2025, table 6.7. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/ (accessed 25th March 2025).

2 Scottish Government, Pupil Census 2024 supplementary statistics, 25th March 2025, table 1.5.

Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/pupil-census-supplementary-statistics/ (accessed 25th March 2025).

Pilot walk-in mental health and wellbeing service to close its doors

‘NO FAMILY RECEIVING SUPPORT WILL BE LEFT ALONE’

“The Haven passes the baton to SAMH, leaving behind a wonderful legacy, proving Scotland’s mental health crisis can be reversed.” – Roslyn Neely – CEO, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity 

A walk-in wellbeing and resilience pilot, developed to tackle Scotland’s mental health crisis will come to an end in the summer, after demonstrating unquestionably that early intervention can reduce mental health challenges among children and young people. 

The Haven opened at The Fraser Centre, Tranent in September 2023 under Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s ‘No Time To Wait’ strategy. It later moved to bigger premises in Haddington due to demand, and since opening the service has attracted 3,461 visits. Of these, 2,041 were children and young people and 1,420 were their affected family members. 

Roslyn Neely, CEO of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity said: “We are incredibly sad that our pilot wellbeing and resilience service is coming to an end, but that was always our intention, as a charity we couldn’t fund this forever. 

“However we will close our doors with a huge sense of pride in what The Haven has achieved and a promise to all families receiving support that we will not turn our backs on them, we will continue to provide vital assistance, ensuring that the care and connection established through The Haven remain a core part of our work.”

Scotland’s national mental health charity, Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), has recently announced The Nook, a network of mental health support hubs, which will build on the foundations laid by ECHC and the team at The Haven, marking a significant step forward for mental health support in Scotland, and beyond. 

Roslyn Neely continued: “We are delighted that our work will now contribute to a long-term, sustainable national approach to Scotland’s mental health crisis.

“The Haven passes the baton to SAMH, leaving behind a wonderful legacy, proving Scotland’s mental health crisis can be reversed, and we celebrate the fact that a major organisation like SAMH is stepping in to continue this important work. 

“Their ability to advocate for long-term government support means that children’s mental health remains firmly on the national agenda, and we wholeheartedly support this.”

The Haven is a groundbreaking two-year pilot which has successfully supported hundreds of families who have a child struggling with their mental health. Critically, it uses a walk-in format with no waiting lists.

The Haven takes a unique whole family approach, supporting not just the individual struggling with mental health challenges, but their parents, grandparents, siblings and carers.

Improving communities’ mental wellbeing

£30 million for grassroots projects for adults

Community-led mental health and wellbeing projects are to benefit from £30 million Scottish Government funding over the next two years.

The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults – first launched in 2021 – supports local groups to deliver programmes for adults which build resilience and tackle social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities. It is expected the Fund will open to applications this Autumn.

In the first three years around 4,800 grants were made to a wide range of grassroots community projects focused on connecting people and providing peer support through activities such as sport, outdoor activities, and the arts.

The charity, Empower Women for Change, has secured grant awards in all rounds of the Fund to date. This year, the group is using its grant to support lone parents, families with a disabled family member, Minority Ethnic families, and young mothers.

Visiting their office in Glasgow Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “I am pleased to meet staff and service users at Empower Women for Change and hear more about the valuable work they do in the community they support. It is inspiring to see first-hand the impact that this funding can have.

“Since the fund was established, we have invested £66 million, reaching a variety of groups supporting those at increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing – including people facing socio-economic disadvantage, older people and ethnic minority communities.

“I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this further £30 million investment will make to the wellbeing of people and communities across Scotland.”

Empower Women for Change CEO and Founder Asma Abdalla said: “We are delighted and honoured to welcome the Minister Maree Todd to our organisation. The Wellbeing Fund has played a transformative role in improving the lives of our service users of ethnic minority women and girls and our volunteers, members, and staff.

“Through our Inspired Women projects, we have provided vital mental health support, resilience, and community connection, changing lives and strengthening communities. We are looking forward to continuing this work, with support from the Wellbeing Fund.

“We welcome this unique opportunity to share Inspired Women participants’ testimonies, their voices highlight the urgent need for sustained investment in grassroots wellbeing services. Please join us in amplifying their stories and celebrating the power of community-led change.”

Partnership Manager at Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector Sheena Arthur said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is continuing. This fund delivers small grants which make a positive difference and so far, has supported over 900 Third Sector organisations and community groups across Glasgow.

“In increasingly challenging times, the Third Sector plays a crucial role. This fund enables the development of existing projects as well as emerging ideas from the community. It helps to bring people together- contributing to better health and wellbeing of people and families, strengthening social connections and tackling inequality and poverty.”

Within the first three years, the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults has provided around 4,800 grants to community organisations delivering mental health and wellbeing support.

SCSC: New figures highlight 145 children waiting more than a year for mental health treatment

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has raised concerns that 145 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for mental health treatment.

These figures were highlighted in the latest waiting time statistics from Public Health Scotland published yesterday (4th March), indicating that 145 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the quarter ending December 2024.1 

This is an increase from 115 in the previous quarter ending September 2024.

In addition, 4,362 children and young people were waiting to start treatment at quarter ending December 2024, which is an increase of 3.1 per cent (131) compared to 4,231 in the previous quarter

On a more positive note, 90.6 per cent of children and young people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral. The Scottish Government target, dating from December 2014, states that 90 per cent of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS. This has been achieved for the first time.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, cases of poor mental health in children and young people were at unprecedented levels, with under-resourced services struggling to keep pace with growing demand, leaving an increasing number of vulnerable individuals unable to access support

However, it should be noted that despite this greatly increased demand, only 0.82 per cent of the total frontline NHS budget was spent on CAMHS in the 2023/24 financial year, amounting to £134.188 million (real terms). This equates to just 82p in every £100 of the NHS budget. 

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “The latest figures highlighting that 145 children and young people have been waiting over a year for mental health treatment is extremely alarming.

“We are facing a mental health emergency, and many of our children and young people are at breaking point, with stress and anxiety reaching alarming levels as they battle with the long shadow of lockdown and the rising cost of living.

“This is also having a major effect on classroom behaviour, impacting the young people concerned, their fellow pupils and staff.

“Each one of these statistics is an individual, and we would urge the Scottish Government ensure the adequate resourcing of mental health services for our children and young people so that they can get the care and support they need, without lengthy waits.”

Samaritans Scotland: Small Talk Saves Lives

·       Samaritans’ Small Talk Saves Lives campaign, in partnership with Network Rail and British Transport Police, launches as over half of adults in Scotland (68%) would appreciate someone checking on them, offering words of support, if they were struggling to cope

·       New campaign film reminds the public that when it comes to saving a life, you already have a life-saving kit available to you – your words

·       Samaritans branches across Scotland are holding pop-up events at railway stations across the country to raise awareness of the campaign.

New research released by Samaritans reveals over half of adults in Scotland (68%) appreciate someone checking on them, by offering words of support, if they were struggling to cope.

The findings come as Samaritans launches Small Talk Saves Lives, in partnership with Network Rail, ScotRail, British Transport Police and the wider rail industry. The campaign encourages people to start a simple conversation if they think someone doesn’t look OK on the railway network and other public settings.

Of respondents in Scotland, nearly half (38%) admit to avoiding someone who didn’t look OK because they were afraid of making small talk with them.

From this group, 23% said they weren’t sure what to say, while 42% said they were worried their help would not be welcomed. But small talk is no small thing, and we’re all better at it than we think.

A new campaign film has been released to remind the public that when it comes to saving a life you already have a life-saving kit available to you – your words.

Executive Director of Samaritans Scotland, Neil Mathers, said: “We can’t underestimate the power of our words when it comes to supporting someone who’s struggling. Our words really matter and could save a life.

“Small Talk Saves Lives is a campaign to empower people to start a conversation with somebody if they are worried about them or feel something isn’t quite right. We want to help people turn everyday conversations into moments that matter.”

Samaritans volunteers are holding a number of events at railway stations across Scotland between 4th and 25th of March, including pop-up stalls to provide information and engage with people who want to find out more about how to start these conversations.”

Ross Cunningham, representative on Samaritans Scotland’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, said: “From my own experience, I can’t emphasise enough how much talking helped in my own recovery from suicidal thoughts and depression

“When I went through a severe depression it felt extremely lonely, like I was the only person going through what I was. Speaking to others helped me put things in perspective and by feeling heard it helped me feel like I wasn’t alone.

“If you’re worried about someone, please don’t hesitate in asking them how they’re doing and letting them know you’re there for them.”

With nearly two in three people in the UK (69% of the UK) saying they don’t currently have any go-to phrases to start small talk, Samaritans Head of the Rail Programme, Olivia Cayley, is reminding people that saying even a few words will mean a lot to those who are struggling to cope.

Olivia Cayley, Head of the Rail Programme at Samaritans, said: “We know that people can worry about saying the wrong thing or feel like it’s not their place to step in, but it’s always better to say something than to say nothing at all.

“A little small talk and a simple question like ‘Hey, are you alright?’ can be all it takes to interrupt someone’s negative thoughts.”

Sir Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “We can all have good days and bad days and that’s why it’s so important to look out for one another. This campaign is a powerful reminder for all who use the railway, passengers or staff, that small talk can be life-saving. 

“I’m so proud we’re able to join Samaritans and British Transport Police once again to inform the public that starting a little conversation can go a long way to help someone in need of support.”

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan, British Transport Police (BTP), said: “Our number one priority at BTP is to protect vulnerable people from harm, and with just a few words you can help us.

“From experience, we know that making small talk at the right time can really be enough to save someone’s life, but if you don’t feel comfortable or safe to intervene, please tell a member of rail staff or a police officer.

“You can text British Transport Police on 61016 or call 999.”

For more information and tips, visit Samaritans.org/smalltalksaveslives or join the conversation on social media using #SmallTalkSavesLives

‘Encouraging progress’ as child mental health waiting times target met

The national standard on waiting times for children and young people accessing mental health services has been met for the first time.

Latest Public Health statistics show 90.6% of those who were referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) were seen within 18 weeks from October to December– the Scottish Government standard is 90%.

The figure is an increase from 89.1% for the previous quarter and from 83.8% for the same quarter in 2023.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1896869761587273986

Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “This continued progress is testament to the dedication of the staff who work so hard to help the children and young people they care for.

“We want everyone to get the support they need, when they need it. Clearly, reaching the national standard is encouraging but I know there is much more to be done if this is to be sustained and consistent across Scotland.

“However, we are on the right path and the £123 million we have allocated to NHS Boards this year will mean the quality and delivery of all mental health services – including CAMHS – will continue to improve.”

Responding to the latest CAMHS referral figures, Children First chief executive Mary Glasgow said: “While the progress on meeting CAMHS waiting times should be applauded, it shouldn’t deflect attention from the still growing mental health crisis among Scotland’s children and young people.

“Numbers of referrals to CAMHS have risen by almost a fifth and our teams across Scotland are seeing rapidly rising levels of worry and anxiety among the children and young people who come to us for support.

“The fact remains that children are often not getting support until they are in severe distress. This must stop.  

“The Scottish Government must invest more in early help and support to prevent children reaching crisis point.” 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times – Quarter ending December 2024 – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times – Publications – Public Health Scotland