Children and young people living with a health condition can often face social isolation, anxiety, and missed opportunities due to their health challenges. Many are navigating trauma and are at increased risk of poor mental health, social exclusion, and disrupted education.
Now, thanks to the generous support of The Pixel Fund, Children’s Health Scotland will be able to offer greater access to their award-winning Self-Management Skills (SMS) Programmes and SMS:HUB – a lifeline for these children and young people.
“We are living in challenging times, with the cost-of-living crisis and increasing demand for mental health support placing pressure on services,” said Helen Forrest, Chief Executive of Children’s Health Scotland. “We’ve been told that our Programmes offer a lifeline—helping the children and young people we support to build confidence, connect with others, and learn how to manage their emotional health and wellbeing. The need for this work is growing, and we are so grateful to The Pixel Fund for supporting our work.”
SMS Programmes support a wide range of physical, mental, and neurodevelopmental conditions including anxiety, autism, ADHD, long COVID, and chronic illness—no diagnosis is required. Health professionals across Scotland can refer children and young people to these programmes, and a self-referral process is also available.
SMS Programmes are delivered by a trauma-informed, rights-based team, and shaped by the voices of Health Rights Defenders—young people with lived experience who help design and improve the support that is offered by Children’s Health Scotland. One Health Rights Defender shared:
“I helped make the programme better for people like me. It feels good to know my ideas are helping others feel less alone.”
Children and young people who participate in the six week programme receive free resource packs, travel support if needed, and tailored 1:1 engagement. Family workshops will include wellbeing toolkits and facilitated group sessions, helping families build resilience together.
Thanks to The Pixel Fund, more children and young people will now have the opportunity to learn how to manage their health and wellbeing, connect with others who understand, and feel empowered to take charge of their own journey.