Primary pupils across Glasgow are to be given access to emotional and mental health services, under a £1.2m deal with a children's charity.
The partnership between Place2Be and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC) and Glasgow City Council will see services funded in 15 primary schools, offering support to up to 4000 5-11-year-old children.
It will almost double the charity's impact in Scotland – Place2Be currently works in 18 primary schools in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Glasgow, reaching 5167 children.
The charity's work has recently been piloted in two Easterhouse primary schools and involves offering counselling and therapeutic support to some of Glasgow's most vulnerable children. Of 600 children supported under the pilot, 97% receive free school meals, 16% have special educational needs and 50% are from lone parent families but the charity says providing children with tailored support can turn the lives of vulnerable children around: in 2011/12 teachers saw an improvement in emotional and behavioural wellbeing for 58% of Glasgow children after Place2Be counselling.
Gillian Kierans, headteacher at Aultmore Park Primary School in Easterhouse, said: "Place2Be has added a positive dimension to the emotional support we provide for our pupils. We're able to provide immediate support for those pupils in crisis. The children see Place2Be as a part of daily school life and parents have praised the benefits it has already brought for their families. Many other parents who have not yet used Place2Be have stated their approval at having the service in the school, with trained people being there to support their children when they need it."
Anne Hawkins, director, Glasgow Community Health Partnership (CHP), said: We are delighted to jointly commission Place2Be to provide this service in 15 Glasgow primary schools. This decision demonstrates the commitment of NHSGGC and Glasgow City Council to support children and families. I look forward to seeing the improvements in children's mental health and well being evidenced in the two pilot schools extended to 4000 children in Glasgow."
Benita Refson, Place2Be chief executive, said she was delighted with the partnership. The charity's model was proven and cost-effective: "Place2Be helps 5000 [Scottish] children to cope with issues that range from bullying to domestic violence, to family breakdown, neglect and trauma. Beyond that we also support children's parents, carers and their teachers.
"From our work to date we are all too aware of the significant need of children across Scotland to be able to access in-school support right from when they start primary school," she added. "We know from our results to date that we can make a positive difference to these young lives when we are there to support them and the adults around the child."
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