Penumbra Youth Project

If you are:

• Feeling Worried
• Depressed
• Suicidal
• Lonely
• Confused
• Needing to talk

Contact Penumbra Youth Project on 01896 751177

Penumbra Youth Project is a community based Mental Health Project working with 16-21 year olds in the Scottish Borders.
The Project offers advice and support to young people who experience a range of difficulties such as stress, isolation, family breakdown, suicide and self harm, homelessness, sexual abuse, pregnancy, anxiety and panic attacks, drug and alcohol issues, peer pressure and exam stress. It allows young people to talk about their problems on their terms, in a friendly non-judgemental atmosphere.

We have developed a range of services which include:

• Drop-in centres in Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso and Eyemouth where young people can call in for a chat, advice, meet people their own age and have a coffee.
• Self Help Groups on:
  Bereavement
  Sexual Abuse(Female)
  Eating Problems
  Telephone 01896 751177 for more details.
• 1:1 Counselling
• Peer Education on Mental Health in Schools
• Volunteering/Befriending
• Supported Accommodation

We also visit young people in their own homes or at a venue of their choice.

Community Drugs Action Project

Funded by TSB Lloyds, the main aims of the Community Drugs Action Project are to:

• Support young people who missuse drugs and alcohol in finding an alternative to their existing lifestyles through 1:1 Support; Outdoor Action Weekends and Lifeskills Groups.
• Assist the young people to focus on their future Education, Training, Work and Leisure needs by identifying individual action plans and helping them develop the skills required to carry these through.

Support Group - Saturdays 12noon-2pm
Anyone interested should just come along or contact Wendi Kelly on 01896 751177 for more details.

Supported Accommodation

Homelessness continues to be a major problem for young people with mental health difficulties living in the Scottish Borders. For some young people living on their own would be very difficult adn Penumbra's Supportive Flatmate Flats have filled a big gap in services. The Supported Accommodation allows the young people the independence with additional "live in" support and is proving to be popular and successful.

For more details contact our Supported Accommodation Worker Matthew Blair on 01896 758217.

Supported Tenancy Project

This new project as been set up in conjunction with Scottish Borders Council Social Work and Housing Departments. The project is designed to tackle the needs of socially excluded and disadvantaged young people in the Borders. The overall aim of the project is to reduce the likelihood of a young person becoming homeless as a result of being unable to maintain their own tenancy because of difficulties in coping with the demands of independent living.

Who is eligible?
Young people aged between 16 & 21 who may be identified as bein g socially excluded under the terms of the Social Inclusion Partnership and who are living in the Scottish Borders.

For further information contact Simon Park or Annie Purnis (Tenancy Support Workers) on 01896 668660.

Young People's Voice / Peer Education

In January 1997, Penumbra received 3 years funding from the Oxford based Lankelly Foundation to develop the Young People's Voice Project. The main aim is to encourage young people to have a voice in mental health issues which affect them. The newsletter group was one of the first projects developed through Young People's Voice. The newsletter is produced by the young people who use the project ans is compiled mostly from their creative work.

The Peer Education project was successfully piloted in Eyemouth High School and continues to be run there as well as at Selkirk High School.
The main aims are:

• to raise awareness of mental health issues
• to share responsibility and make collective decisions within the group
• to educate their fellow peers about mental health issues

For more information contact Eve-Marie Haydock on 01896 75117

The Volunteer Project

Funded by the Unemployed Voluntary Action Fund, The Volunteer Project seeks to recruit, train and support volunteers to work within Penumbra Youth Project. Volunteers are offered the opportunity to become involved in a range of activities undertaken by the Project. These include:

• The Supportive Flatmate Scheme where volunteersm live in the flats with young people in return for rent free accommodation and a monthly participation payment.
• 1:1 Befriending work
• Community Drug Action Work
• Drop in Sessions
• Support Groups
• Outdoor Action Weekends

For more information contact John Brown (Volunteer Co-ordinator) on 01896 758217

Remember: Contact with the Project is completely voluntary - you decide how often and how long you attend.
The Project will try to respond to any difficulties you are experiencing.
We provide a safe place which allows you an opportunity to talk about what is causing you concern.
We will treat you with respect so that you can become involved in decision making and have an influence over the service you receive.

Drop in Times and Places

Galashiels - 38 Gala Park
Mondays 11am - 1pm
Wednesdays 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Fridays 11am - 1pm

Hawick - 6a Howegate
Tuesdays 10am - 1pm
Thursdays 10am - 1pm

Self Help Support Groups

Wednesdays 4.30pm - 6pm
38 Gala Park, Galashiels
1st Wed in the month - Bereavement Group
2nd Wed in the month - Sexual Abuse Survivors
3rd Wed in the month - Eating Problems
4th Wed in the month - Sexual Abuse Survivors(Female)
For more details telephone 01896 751177

Penumbra Youth Project

38 Gala Park
Galashiels TD1 1EU
Tel: 01896 751177

6a Howegate
Hawick TD9 0AB
Tel: 01450 373226

48 Overhaugh Street
Galashiels TD1 1DP
Tel: 01896 668660

Or you can contact the Manager, Fiona McCall, directly on 01896 750622.