Be Content – Dundee
Information for Parents/Carers
Scottish Government announced funding in September 2020 for Dundee to meet the following objective;
Every child and young person in Scotland will be able to access local community services which support and improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Every child and young person and their families or carers will get the help they need, when they need it, from people with the right knowledge, skills and experience to support them.
This will be available in the form of easily accessible support close to their home, education, employment or community.
Perth Autism Support are working in partnership with Dundee City Council to deliver a project called Be Content as part of a broader package of support to be delivered within Dundee.
What is Be Content?
Be Content is a 6 week programme for secondary school aged young people which supports learning to identify, understand and manage anxiety or worry.
Young people may be living with mental health issues that may have been historical or particularly enhanced due to Covid-19.
The programme aims to help young people understand and support anxiety and emotional regulation, developing resilience and a personalised plan for self-managing anxiety that can be shared with school, at home and other support services
Be Content – Who will be suitable for the project?
The young people we are looking to support must be in secondary school in Dundee City, be autistic (or been referred for an autism specific assessment) and have a level of anxiety that is preventing from them engaging in learning, attending school, or have an impact on their daily lives.
We understand for some of these young people, engaging with new people can be difficult and therefore we have created some time for staff to build a relationship with the young people in whatever way works for the young person, prior to the programme starting.
The young people must be able to attend a small group setting of up to 10 young people on a weekly basis for 6 weeks.
What can your young person gain from this project?
- Support young people with their anxiety and increase resilience and confidence in self-management of anxiety
- Create a personalised plan for managing anxiety
- Increase sense of self
- Increased peer support network
- Increased resilience and confidence
When and where?
We have 4 opportunities for young people to join a programme that suits them:
| Programme/Dates | Day and Time | Venue |
| 1 – w/c 30 August – w/c 4 October | Each Wednesday 11.00am-1.00pm (6 weeks) | PROGRAMME FULLY BOOKED |
| 2 – w/c 1 November – w/c 6 December | Each Wednesday 11.00am-1.00pm (6 weeks) | TBC (will be Dundee City) |
| 3 – w/c 1 November – w/c 6 December | Each Wednesday 6.30pm-8.30pm (6 weeks) | TBC (will be Dundee City) |
| 4 – w/c 14 February – w/c 21 March | Each Thursday 6.30pm-8.30pm (6 weeks) | TBC (will be Dundee City) |
How do we apply?
Schools can make referrals for suitable young people for the programme, you should ask your young person’s Guidance Teacher or Support Department to make the referral for you. Schools can only apply with parental consent.
What happens next?
Once the application form is received, the Perth Autism Support project staff may contact you for further information. If your young person is accepted onto the project, they will be allocated a space on the next available programme and we will contact you with all the relevant information you need to support your young person.
All young people will engage in pre and post programme evaluation so we can monitor the individual progress.
This information will also help us understand the personal barriers to learning and help us build a bespoke plan of support.
Perth Autism Support project staff will liaise with the key school contact and parents/carers to share assessment and planning information and to work together for the benefit of the young person.
Where do I get more information?
If you have any questions or further information and full programme outline contact:
Elaine Finnie, Community Development Manager on 01738 451081 or email elaine@perthautismsupport.org.uk
You can find out more about Perth Autism Support at www.perthautismsupport.org.uk or connect with us on social media.
