Children, Family and Education Services

Across our children, young people, family and education services we provide mental, emotional, social, and practical care and support.

We support children from birth into adulthood and across our services we help children and young people gain confidence and independence so that they can realise their potential plus lead happy and healthy lives.

SCHOOL-BASED COUNSELLING

For a number of years, VSA provided a school-based counselling service, offering pupils one-to-one sessions to cope with a wide range of social and economic issues such as bullying, self-harm and family separation.

In 2022, when reviewing services in the city, Aberdeen City Council transferred the service to another provider who have a wider infrastructure to meet counselling professional standards. Counsellors supported 287 children across 3 schools.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDS ADVISORY SERVICE (ASNAP)

ASNAP’s aim is to help staff have a better understanding of children who may need additional support or children who experience difficulties in managing and integrating into the learning environment.

During lockdown, many of the early years’ settings were closed or unable to allow visitors to their settings. Our ASNAP team, therefore, in collaboration with key stakeholders, used this time to review and enhance our training modules and upskill staff.

Following this review, a new ASNAP online training course which early-year providers can now access was set up. This has been completed by 54 staff over 6 settings.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE CLUB

Our Friends for Life Clubs (FFL) are designed to help children and young people living with an additional support need (ASN) the opportunity to flourish.

11 children and young people attended our Friends for Life Clubs, providing them with an opportunity to socially interact, hang out and have fun with other children and young people who also have an ASN.