Evaluation of the Youth Counselling Service, Airdrie

Children and young people in Scotland have limited access to counselling services. Although counselling is available in some primary health care practices and in a wide range of voluntary sector services, there are very few dedicated services for children and young people, and many other services limit access to those of 18 or over (Bondi et al, 2003). In response to this gap, Airdrie Local Health-Care Co-operative set up a Youth Counselling Service in July 2004. The service is offered at a secondary school in Airdrie and at a local community centre, where young people at secondary school age can access confidential counselling. The Youth Counselling Service gives young people an opportunity to talk about things that concern them in a confidential setting with a qualified counsellor. The Service is funded for two years as a pilot project, during which its impacts and effectiveness are being evaluated.

The evaluation of the Youth Counselling Service Airdrie, began in December 2004. An interim report was presented to the advisory group October 2005.

The evaluation of the Youth Counselling Service, Airdrie aims to address the following central research question:

How successful has the Service been in providing an independent and confidential counselling service for young people in school and in the community, and in supporting young people experiencing behavioural, social and emotional problems in their personal development and in fulfilling their potential?

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