NTSF ProjectScotland

ProjectScotland has a track record in engaging at stage 1 with those who suffer from poor mental health.  As the result of a co-design consultation in conjunction with Napier University, Young Scot and SAMH, Project Scotland amended their method of delivery.  This study demonstrated the stigma attached to a service when it was advertised as being for those with mental health issues.   The study helped Project Scotland build a service that promotes positivity.  In recent years the area of mental health has grown significantly.  It is recognised that without this volunteering project a number of the young people we work with would have been unlikely to engage with traditional mental health services.

Project Scotland actively seeks participants for the programme. They focus on engagement across social channels to show the positives of engaging in volunteering. These include reducing social isolation, engaging in community activity and ‘getting started’ with their next step in life. They seek out people to engage with through social media who might not otherwise engage in services in the pipeline. This is particularly important in rural areas where physical barriers impact on isolation when confidence is lost. Referrals can come from other agencies.

In areas where needs are more complex, Project Scotland works with local partners to provide more specialist support. The partners differ depending on the presence in each area. They include Apex Scotland for support for those with criminal convictions. SAMH for those with much more complex, long standing mental health conditions. These young people need a particular type of expertise and support beyond Project Scotland’s skill levels. This positive approach allows engagement for those with mental health issues who need more complex support but who wouldn’t seek it out for themselves.

Project Scotland works with a number of charity partners and provide a range of volunteering activities. This includes volunteering outdoors where participants develop practical skills such as building paths. Office-based activities which develops administrative and financial skills. Craft based activities which includes joinery and ship building trades. Working with people through retail or tour guiding activities. The diversity of the volunteering opportunities available helps the participants identify the path best suited to their skills. The volunteering intervention is vital to providing a safe and less pressurised environment for the young people. This lets them experience the workplace and assists with the removal of barriers. The combination leads to a better targeted intervention at stage three, or in seeking employment, and leads to a greater chance of a positive outcome.