SUPPORTING THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR'S WORK WITH LEARNERS WHO ARE VULNERABLE OR EXCLUDED

Supporting pupils' positive mental health

On Thursday 27th October 11am, log in to Glow to listen to pupils at Canal View Primary explain how The Place 2 Be and strategies such as circle time, mentoring, and talking to friends are helping them cope with the worries in their lives so they can get the most out of school. Hosted by The Place 2 Be and Enquire. Not got access to Glow? Look out for the report on this event on the Enquire blog HERE

Count Us In: Mind Over Matter

One in 12 children and young people in Scotland have mental health difficulties that are so substantial that they may have difficulties with their thoughts, their feelings, their behaviour, their learning and their relationships on a day-to-day basis. HMIE report on the strengths and best practice in implementing inclusion and equality across education in Scotland, and sets out what needs to be done now to improve. Go HERE

Checking it out

This report highlights the findings from a consultation which was undertaken with specific groups of children and young people in order to inform the NHS Health Scotland draft framework for children and young people’s mental health indicators.  For more information download the pdf document HERE

Narrowing the gap in educational achievement and improving emotional resilience for children and young people with additional needs

Emerging evidence on what works from the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and |Young People’s Services. For more download the pdf HERE

Promoting young people's social and emotional wellbeing in secondary education

Feb, 2010. This is one of the Scottish Perspectives on NICE public health guidance and gives recommendations for Scotland. To read the PDF document go HERE

Time Trends in Adolescent Wellbeing

This report published by the Nuffield Foundation finds that the number of teenagers with mental health problems in the UK has plateaued after an "alarming" 25-year increase. Despite this, teenagers are still more likely to experience emotional and conduct problems than young people in the 1970s and 1980s. To read the pdf briefing paper go HERE

The HandsOnScotland Toolkit

This is an online resource for anybody working with children and young people. It is a one-stop shop for practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour, build up their self-esteem and promote their positive mental wellbeing. Take me to this resource HERE

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, physical activity and mental health in children and young people

Explores the relationships between physical activity and mental health improvement in children and young people. The summary presents evidence on the relationship between physical activity and both promoting mental wellbeing and preventing mental health problems in children and young people.  The Practitioners’ Briefing  is a practical guide which outlines the evidence and provides pointers for practice. This is aimed at a wide range of practitioners who work with children and young people.

Evidence briefing summary can be accessed HERE
Practitioners’ Briefing can be accessed HERE
Full research report can be accessed HERE

feeling like crap: young people and the meaning of self esteem

The book explores how a young person’s self is constructed and what might really help that self to feel more valued and confident. Take me to more about this book HERE

samaritans youth pack

This pack helps introduce young people to a range of issues that affect emotional health and wellbeing and addresses emotional confusion commonly associated with puberty and adolescence. Provides resource materials and suggests ways these may be used. It contains a series of practical workshops and information in the following areas:

• Helping you to help Young People
• Emotional health and wellbeing
• Stress Anxiety and Fear
• Isolation

Take me to this pdf resource HERE

young scotland in mind

Led by Barnardos, this forum helps bring together voluntary sector organisations across Scotland to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Their website includes an online forum. Take me to this resource HERE

bebo social network site for young people’s mental health

In collaboration with Penumbra and a group of young people, Well Scotland’s National Programme has created a profile page on Bebo where young people can chat and share information. The aim of the forum is to raise awareness of positive mental health and wellbeing, and help to create a young people’s ‘mental health movement’. It is targeted at young people aged between 13-18 years old. Take me to this resource HERE

Nutritional Guidance for Children and Young People in Residential Care Settings

This guidance adopts a holistic approach to health and wellbeing and acknowledges the concept of a 'health promoting environment' similar to that established within health promoting schools. This guidance is relevant to anyone who has a part to play in the health and wellbeing of children and young people living in residential care. Go HERE

As part of the process. Who Cares? Scotland researched the experiences of children and young people living in residential care. Young people’s views go HERE

Growing Up in Scotland (GUS): Food and Activity Summary Report

This report uses data from the Growing Up in Scotland study to explore issues related to, food and activity in Scotland specifically in relation to young children. Take me to this report HERE

beat - eating disorders website

Beat is a UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. Beat is the working name of the Eating Disorders Association. Take me to this resource HERE

new nutritional requirements for schools

A guide to implementing nutritional requirements for food and drink in schools was issued by the Scottish Government in September 2008. Take me to this resource HERE

‘eat well, be well’

The Food Standards Agency website has sections on children and on teenagers, with quizzes, menus, hints on worries (e.g. spots, for teenagers). Take me to this resource HERE

Teenage drinking cultures

This report investigates the influence of friendship groups on teenagers' drinking. Go HERE

Young people and alcohol: influences on how they drink

The report highlights that excessive alcohol consumption is the norm for many  in young adulthood; today's young adults find it difficult to imagine alternatives to the excessive drinking that supports group socialising; the ways in which alcohol is sold to young people contributes to the narrowing of their options; and pricing is more of an influence on decision-making than perceptions of health or risk. To download the pdf go HERE

Drugs research: An overview of evidence and questions for policy

In 2001 the Joseph Rowntree Foundation embarked upon a programme of research that explored the problem of illicit drugs in the UK. The research addressed many questions that were often too sensitive for the government to tackle. In many cases, these studies represented the first research on these issues. This study gives an overview of the projects in the programme. The topics covered include the impact of drugs on the family and drug testing in schools and in the workplace. For more go HERE

Young people and substance use: understanding key influences

NHS Health Scotland commissioned research to provide an integrated picture of young people’s substance misuse in order to help inform the development of educational programmes and materials for use in the school setting, and to identify gaps in the current literature. For more go HERE

Children, young people and alcohol: how they learn and how to prevent excessive use

30 Oct 2009 from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This research looks at what influences how children and young people behave towards alcohol. From two linked research reviews which examine how young people acquire their knowledge, attitudes, expectations and intentions about alcohol, and what interventions work best to prevent excessive use of alcohol. To download both reports or a summary go HERE

SNAPY is the Scottish Network of Alcohol Practitioners for the Young

It is estimated that at least 65,000 children in Scotland are living with the effects of parental alcohol misuse. Studies have identified that improved, earlier identification, better multi/inter-agency working and better informed practitioners will be key to improving these children’s lives. The Network will allow for the sharing of good practice, skills and resources and the advancement of new and innovative approaches to service development when working with children and young people affected by alcohol misuse. Take me to more information HERE

educ’alcool

This pioneering campaign from Quebec is influencing Scotland’s responses to our relationship with alcohol – the site includes resources and ideas about working with children and young people Take me to this resource HERE

'drugs - what every parent should know'

Information booklet suggests ways to engage with young people, gives information about drugs and identifying drugs use, and what to do in an emergency. Visit Know The Score website for general information,  or call the helpline on 0800 587 5879, for copies of the leaflet.

Underage and Pregnant packs

BBC Learning has compiled resource packs featuring footage from the BBC programme ‘Underage and Pregnant’.  Both the Teacher's Pack and the Youth Pack (designed for use in more informal settings) contain exercises that address different aspects of teenage pregnancy, sexual health, relationships and parenting. More HERE

Teenage pregnancy figures published

The teenage pregnancy rate has been fairly steady for the past decade with a small drop over the last three years. More HERE

New information on Sexual health among young people

The Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit have produced the following briefing papers:

• Sexual health among young people in Scotland
• Sources of sexual health information among young people
• Attitudes towards condom use amount young people

Go HERE

Supporting sex and relationships education for looked after children and young people

There a number of actions that can be taken at a local level to support learning for this group. Go HERE

Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Resource for Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This resource aims to help everyone involved in delivering sex and relationship education to those with an autism spectrum disorder. Go HERE

Sexual health interventions targeted at children and young people

Which approaches have been proved to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of children and young people? Go HERE

Learning Together: A review of sex and relationship education resources for parents and carers

The comprehensive review includes resources and publications suitable for 3 – 18 year olds and will help professionals provide information and support to parents in this area of children and young people’s learning. To order a copy, email nhs.healthscotland-wish@nhs.net

New sexual health leaflets

New information leaflets on chlamydia, vaginal health, genital herpes, gonorrhea and genital warts are now available form NHS Health Scotland. Translations available soon. Take me to this resource HERE

sexual rights

The International Planned Parenthood Federation has produced a declaration on the sexual rights that every person should have. Take me to this resource HERE

no place like home

This is a US based web site that promotes the parents role in sex and relationship education. More HERE

ru thinking about it: sexual health and relationship website for young people

RU thinking has a new look to it’s website HERE

Dance is good for Scotland

The Federation of Scottish Theatre report makes key recommendations to improve the health, happiness and skills of Scotland through dance, and to further the art form. More HERE

Start Active, Stay Active

Start Active, Stay Active is aimed at professionals and policy makers and is the first link in a chain of communication to inform behaviour change. Download the PDF HERE

Curriculum for Excellence through outdoor learning

Explore how your school or centre can deliver Curriculum for Excellence through outdoor learning. Go HERE

Online Resources for Outdoor Learning

Includes best practice and health and safety guides. Go HERE

World Health Organisation Physical Activity

A new website launched by WHO Regional Office for Europe features information about the importance of physical activity for health and how it can be promoted. Take me to this resource HERE

Taking Learning Outdoors: Partnerships for Excellence

This report considers how to prove the value of outdoor learning and how to improve its quality, capacity and access. Take me to this report HERE

playing it safe: A study of the regulation of outdoor play for children and young people in residential care

This study describes and explains the barriers to outdoor play and recreation that exist in residential childcare services. Produced by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People and SIRCC. Take me to this REPORT

Physical Activity and Mental Health: The Role of Physical Activity in Promoting Mental Wellbeing and Preventing Mental Health Problems

This report has a particular focus on children and young people, was published in August 2008. Available HERE

Health and Well-Being in Schools Project: Final Report

The Health and Well-Being in Schools Project targeted children and young people aged 3-18 years particularly those at transition stages. Amongst findings is that better use of and investment in support staff brings added-value to health care teams in schools, freeing others to focus on early intervention and prevention programmes. Support staff also acted as health links between home and school. Teachers reported better classroom attentiveness from children whose families had received support from a family support worker. More HERE

Children’s wellbeing in the UK

In 2007 the UK found itself bottom of the child wellbeing league table. This new report delves deeper into why this might be the case with a focus on the role of materialism and inequality in UK, Spain and Sweden. Download the pdf HERE

World report on disability

The first ever World report on disability, produced jointly by World Health Organisation and the World Bank, suggests that more than a billion people in the world today experience disability. The report provides the best available evidence about what works to overcome barriers to health care, rehabilitation, education, employment, and support services, and to create the environments which will enable people with disabilities to flourish. The report ends with a concrete set of recommended actions for governments and their partners. Download the PDF HERE

Cancertalk

The Cancertalk website is Macmillan’s resource guide for teachers and youth group leaders. Here you'll find all the information, support and resources you need to talk about cancer with children and young people. Take me to this resource HERE

tobacco education resources

Tobacco use kills 13,500 people in Scotland every year and remains Scotland's greatest public health challenge. ASH Scotland raises awareness about the impact of tobacco in Scotland’s health. A range of resources to support work with children and young people are available. Take me to this resource HERE

youth health talk

This website with video and audio clips from interviews in which young people describe their experiences of health and illness. It is operated by the charity DIPEx. Sections include: Epilepsy, Sexual Health, Long Term Health Conditions. Young people can also join forums. Take me to this resource HERE