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01506 460403
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angela.constance.msp@parliament.scot
Unit 4, Ochil House, Beveridge Square, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QF
CONSTANCE WELCOMES MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENT IN WEST LOTHIAN SCHOOLS
CONSTANCE WELCOMES MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENT IN WEST LOTHIAN SCHOOLS
Angela Constance MSP has welcomed news that the Scottish Government will invest £2,151,000 in West Lothian schools over the next four years.
The investment will mean that professional counselling services will be available to all secondary school pupils who require it by September next year. The Scottish Government is investing £60 million across Scotland.
School counsellors help support young people’s emotional, behavioural and mental health. Importantly, pupils will also have access to counsellors during school holidays, providing vital continuity of care.
Commenting, the MSP for Almond Valley said:
“Children and young people can face many issues growing up and must have the right support available at the right time.
“It is hugely welcome that every secondary school pupil who needs it will have access to professional counselling services by next year.
“This is a significant step forward to improve the mental health support available for children and young people.”
ENDS
Background
Announced on 4 September 2018, The Scottish Government is investing over £60 million in additional school counselling services across all of Scotland. £12 million will go to local authorities for 2019/20, rising to £16 million a year thereafter.
The funding is being distributed based on a fixed sum of £45,000 allocated to each Local Authority (LA) (the equivalent of a team leader for each LA), 7% on “schools located in remote rural areas” (as defined by the Scottish Government’s urban/rural indicator), and the remainder distributed on secondary pupil numbers.
The Scottish Government has developed a suite of aims and principles in partnership with COSLA to provide a framework on which local authorities can develop and design the access to a school counselling service.
LAs are currently considering and developing their plans for implementation of the access to counsellors in secondary schools programme. To support this, the Scottish Government have provided a guidance document for local authorities to draw upon.
Earlier this month it was announced that college and university students are to benefit from a £20 million investment in additional mental health counsellors.
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Funding distribution and allocations - Scottish Government funding for delivering access to counsellors in schools
|
Local Authority |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
Total four year funding |
|
Aberdeen City |
350,000 |
466,000 |
466,000 |
466,000 |
1,748,000 |
|
Aberdeenshire |
574,000 |
774,000 |
774,000 |
774,000 |
2,896,000 |
|
Angus |
264,000 |
346,000 |
346,000 |
346,000 |
1,302,000 |
|
Argyll and Bute |
286,000 |
377,000 |
377,000 |
377,000 |
1,417,000 |
|
Clackmannanshire |
131,000 |
164,000 |
164,000 |
164,000 |
623,000 |
|
Dumfries and Galloway |
385,000 |
514,000 |
514,000 |
514,000 |
1,927,000 |
|
Dundee City |
299,000 |
395,000 |
395,000 |
395,000 |
1,484,000 |
|
East Ayrshire |
287,000 |
378,000 |
378,000 |
378,000 |
1,421,000 |
|
East Dunbartonshire |
308,000 |
407,000 |
407,000 |
407,000 |
1,529,000 |
|
East Lothian |
242,000 |
317,000 |
317,000 |
317,000 |
1,193,000 |
|
East Renfrewshire |
311,000 |
411,000 |
411,000 |
411,000 |
1,544,000 |
|
Edinburgh, City of |
705,000 |
955,000 |
955,000 |
955,000 |
3,570,000 |
|
Eilean Siar (Western Isles) |
140,000 |
177,000 |
177,000 |
177,000 |
671,000 |
|
Falkirk |
352,000 |
468,000 |
468,000 |
468,000 |
1,756,000 |
|
Fife |
738,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
3,738,000 |
|
Glasgow City |
955,000 |
1,300,000 |
1,300,000 |
1,300,000 |
4,855,000 |
|
Highland |
754,000 |
1,022,000 |
1,022,000 |
1,022,000 |
3,820,000 |
|
Inverclyde |
195,000 |
251,000 |
251,000 |
251,000 |
948,000 |
|
Midlothian |
220,000 |
286,000 |
286,000 |
286,000 |
1,078,000 |
|
Moray |
208,000 |
270,000 |
270,000 |
270,000 |
1,018,000 |
|
North Ayrshire |
329,000 |
437,000 |
437,000 |
437,000 |
1,640,000 |
|
North Lanarkshire |
765,000 |
1,037,000 |
1,037,000 |
1,037,000 |
3,876,000 |
|
Orkney Islands |
146,000 |
185,000 |
185,000 |
185,000 |
701,000 |
|
Perth and Kinross |
328,000 |
436,000 |
436,000 |
436,000 |
1,636,000 |
|
Renfrewshire |
389,000 |
519,000 |
519,000 |
519,000 |
1,946,000 |
|
Scottish Borders |
263,000 |
345,000 |
345,000 |
345,000 |
1,298,000 |
|
Shetland Islands |
197,000 |
255,000 |
255,000 |
255,000 |
962,000 |
|
South Ayrshire |
253,000 |
332,000 |
332,000 |
332,000 |
1,249,000 |
|
South Lanarkshire |
709,000 |
961,000 |
961,000 |
961,000 |
3,592,000 |
|
Stirling |
262,000 |
344,000 |
344,000 |
344,000 |
1,294,000 |
|
West Dunbartonshire |
226,000 |
294,000 |
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01506 460403
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angela.constance.msp@parliament.scot
Unit 4, Ochil House, Beveridge Square, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QF