How we help children and young people

Who are we?

We are the only Scotland wide charity dedicated to promoting and championing the needs of all children and young people and their families at times of illness. We also supply information and resources, support and advice with the aim of helping families access the best possible health care.

Action for Sick Children (Scotland) is an independent organisation and that means we are not part of any health board or hospital and can give information and impartial advice on any aspect of children and young people’s healthcare. This will sometimes involve signposting enquirers to other organisations as sources of help.

 Who do we work with?

We work in partnership with parents, carers, professionals and children and young people to help them meet their healthcare needs when they are sick/ill. This means we work with:

The Scottish Government health department
Health boards and community health partnerships
Children’s hospitals and general hospitals which treat children, health centres and child development centres
Any healthcare professionals
Schools  and special schools
Other organisations and agencies which are connected with children and young people’s health and disability such as Contact a Family or Enable. See the Useful links page
Children and young people who have a healthcare need/problem and different family members

What we do?  As well as providing   

on any aspect of a child or young person’s healthcare we also have a range of projects operating in different parts of the country, each of which deals with a specific topic of children and young people’s health. These are:

Special Smiles Dental Project in Tayside, a dental project for children and young people with additional support needs.

Self Management Project Staying Well in Lanarkshire, a self-management project for young people in transition affected by a long term condition.

Community Play Specialist Pilot Project in Forth Valley, a registered Hospital Play Specialist (HPS) will take referrals to see children and young people in the Forth Valley community who require specialist (tertiary) health services and are not using hospital play services locally.

Children and Young People In and Leaving Care healthcare project in Forth Valley and Fife, looking at the health needs and rights of children and young people, looked after away from home when they are sick.

Tayside Child Health Rights Project supports vulnerable families including young mothers and their babies, in the Tayside area, by raising their awareness of their healthcare rights and responsibilities.

ASCS Greater Glasgow Her work for sick children, young people and their families includes a range of organisations and groups in and around the Royal Hospital for Sick Children Glasgow (Yorkhill) and across the Glasgow area.  

Children and young people’s healthcare rights resource pack for anyone working with children and young people from P1 to S6 to help them understand the nature of healthcare services, how to access them and what their rights are in relation to them.

 Why contact us? 

We can: