EVOC and LAYC conducted a survey to capture the experiences and journeys of children, young people and families who used voluntary sector mental health and wellbeing services from 2021 to 2024. We asked respondents to tell us what children, young people, parents and carers said about their experiences, and to share staff observations, drawing on data from regular monitoring.
We have produced a report from the survey results, exploring the evidence to identify themes and then summing up with a list of critical issues for consideration:
The report focuses on evidence from the voluntary sector, but we present it within the multi-agency partnership approach that is essential to support children, young people and families.
We want to inform discussions about how the community mental health and wellbeing framework funding from the Scottish Government could be used in Edinburgh. However, we also intend for this report to contribute to wider planning beyond that single funding stream.
This ‘snapshot’ is based on a relatively small sample, but we hope that readers will connect with our themes and that it will inspire further reflection, research and conversations.
Respondents: There were 24 responses to the survey representing a range of services: counselling, early years, girls’ health and wellbeing, hospital based, mental health specialist, mentoring, neurodiversity, outdoor activities, parent and carers, play therapy, sleep specialist, universal youth work, youth equality agency and whole family support.
