Strengthening young minds through community
Across Scotland, community spaces are helping young people build resilience, find their voice and move towards brighter and hopeful futures.
Mental health challenges among young people in Scotland are becoming increasingly complex. Hope can be found at the heart of our communities. Whether it’s a local youth club, a skills programme or a mentoring session, community settings are helping young people feel seen, supported and capable of overcoming life’s hurdles.
These environments aren’t just physical spaces – they are places where young people are empowered to believe in themselves, explore their potential and take steps toward a brighter future.
safe spaces for growth
Community settings offer far more than a roof and four walls. They create safe, welcoming spaces where young people can learn vital life skills, develop resilience and build the emotional tools they’ll need for adulthood.
Early intervention programmes focused on mental health make a critical difference. By providing targeted support around resilience, coping strategies and emotional wellbeing, these initiatives ensure young people manage challenges and thrive beyond them.
The Bridges Project in East Lothian shows just how transformative this work can be. It supports young people with the aim of transitioning to positive destinations, whether through further education, employment or other personal milestones. By removing barriers that might otherwise hold them back, The Bridges Project empowers young people to move forward with confidence. In 2024, the Your Resilience programme was embedded within their youth work approach, adding valuable tools and strategies for building mental resilience.
Grant Hamilton, Development Worker at Bridges Project, explains:
“Poor mental health and wellbeing can be a huge barrier to young people progressing in life and indeed can be fatal without the right questions being asked and the right support being provided at the right time.”
This highlights how crucial it is to offer timely and appropriate mental health support within community settings, ensuring young people receive the help they need when it matters most.
Similarly, the West Lothian Skills Training Programme demonstrates how community settings provide tailored support to young people. Their 26-week programme helps young people aged 16–24 progress into employment, training or further education. By embedding the Your Resilience programme into their approach, participants gain a deeper understanding of mental health and resilience-building techniques, which are essential for both personal and professional growth.
“The Your Resilience project aimed to aid young people with the knowledge, understanding and toolkit to support them in the future. This allows them to build on their own resilience, which, in return, supports their positive mental health.”
Lynne Wishart, Training Programme Officer at West Lothian Skills Training Programme
listening and responding to young people’s needs
Community settings are invaluable in supporting young people who face barriers that traditional educational environments may struggle to address, such as disengagement from learning, mental health struggles and limited access to personalised support. For these young people, a ‘positive destination’ can look different for everyone – from pursuing further education to securing employment or training opportunities.
One of the greatest strengths of community-based work is the power it places directly in the hands of young people. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model, youth workers and programme facilitators collaborate with young people to identify the issues that matter most to them. Through open discussions, workshops and interactive activities, young people set their own goals, create strategies for managing anxiety and social pressures and feel ownership over their futures.
The impact of embedding community-based support programmes such as Your Resilience is clear in the outcomes they help achieve. Workshops tackle issues such as social pressures, anxiety and decision-making, offering young people practical life skills while addressing the emotional and mental health challenges they may face. Through activities like action planning, goal setting and identifying support networks, young people leave these settings better prepared to handle challenges in their lives.
Importantly, community-based programmes also support youth workers themselves, improving their ability to address young people’s needs in a more informed and effective way. This collaborative approach strengthens the overall support system, ensuring that young people receive consistent holistic care across various environments.
By responding flexibly to individual needs and celebrating each young person’s journey, community organisations are not just supporting mental health. They are laying the foundations for stronger futures where young people feel confident, capable and hopeful about what comes next.
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Want to find out more about young people’s mental health resilience and the support we deliver to schools, colleges and youth centres across Scotland?
If you need further information about Young People’s Programmes or want to enquire about online training, resources or how we can help your school or college, contact our team.
Do you have any more questions about the support Change Mental Health delivers across communities in Scotland? Contact our Advice and Support Service.
