Kirkcaldy charity adapts support to youngsters affected by substance abuse
A Kirkcaldy charity has overcome the difficulties of delivering its service to youngsters during lockdown by switching from face to face meetings to meeting remotely.
Clued Up Project provides a comprehensive ‘youth friendly’ substance use support and information service for young people under-25.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt also aims to provide education, prevention, early intervention and diversion for young people affected by their own, or someone else's, substance use.
Since the start of the spread of Covid-19 the charity has had to drastically change the way it works.
With the easing of restrictions means that some vital services that Clued Up offer in the community have been able to return to normal.
Jayne Preece, development worker said: “The first 13 weeks of lockdown all of our services were delivered remotely over the telephone, social media and Zoom calls.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"Most of the young people were happy to join the Zoom calls, we would host a drop in session every Friday night instead of us going out on the street. We offered the youngsters the chance to catch up over a video call to make sure everyone was doing good.
"The last online drop in session we held was the Friday before the schools went back.”
Kev Scott, outreach team leader said: “We secured an opportunity through discretionary funding to provide technology for young people to access to make sure that no one was in total isolation and that they were able to connect to us and join in on our weekly Zoom call.”
With lockdown restrictions easing the charity have been able to hit the streets again in an effort to engage with young people.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdKev adds: “With the easing of lockdown we have been able to get back to what we have always been doing, good old fashioned street work, where we get out and about to meet with young people.
"The feedback that I have been getting back from the young folk that I work with is that they have been struggling throughout lockdown.
"Being off school for them has been great, but being stuck at home and not being allowed out has been a nightmare for some of them.”