Project name: CashBack for Brighter Futures
Age range: 10-25 years
Our project provides targeted early intervention for children and young people, age 10-25, affected by parental substance use.
Young carers affected by parental substance use experience multiple adverse childhood experiences including emotional distress, neglect, social isolation, domestic abuse, and being taken into care – leaving them vulnerable to school exclusion, youth offending and poor mental health. We aim to intervene before these patterns become entrenched by supporting young carers towards positive destinations and reducing the risk of long-term disengagement or offending.
On nomination to the project, a Development Worker, in collaboration with school and/or family, supports the young carer to create a Young Carer Statement and a development plan to address their particular challenges. This plan incorporates interventions and activities aimed at improving confidence, wellbeing, and decision-making.
Our flexible support model includes intensive support for mental health such as one-to-one sessions and counselling, small groupwork tailored to individual needs, and themed groups designed to build core life skills and issue-based awareness. Alongside these, we offer issue-based peer support sessions on topics like harm reduction, identity, self-esteem and social skills as well as respite breaks to enable a complete rest from caring responsibilities. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that all sessions are safe, inclusive, and paced to suit each young person.
Our whole-family, wraparound approach helps to stabilise the home environment, reduce stressors, and reinforce positive change.
By addressing these challenges early, we help prevent future harm and create positive pathways into education, employment and community involvement.
Local authority areas:
Edinburgh City
