Our award winning Self-Management Skills (SMS) Programmes are back in 2025 with our first in-person ones of the year returning to Edinburgh this month. Our SMS Programmes are for children and young people aged 9-17 living with a health condition or concern – no formal diagnosis is required.
Its been amazing, honestly, to have a programme like this that is child-led for children and young people with health issues is just amazing, especially post-covid when they have so much more going on now. I’ve been telling everyone about it!
There are over 20 young people aged 9-17 signed up for six weeks of learning and fun, with our team very excited to get to continue our child-led Programmes which feature self-management skills, health rights, and health-related play. Children and young people can self refer for our SMS Programmes or professionals can refer children and young people who they think might want to take part. You can check out our referral form here. You can also email sms@childrenshealthscotland.org with any questions.
Who can take part in a SMS Programme?:
- Are a child or young person aged 9-17.
- Live in Scotland.
- Have a health condition or concern – you don’t need a formal diagnosis.
- Have the ability to self-manage given the opportunity to learn the techniques.
So what happens when I refer for a SMS Progamme?
- When you refer for a SMS Programme one of our team gets in contact with your family. If you are a professional referring then we get in contact directly with the family.
- We will send a text message, letting you know we have received your referral and to arrange a time that suits you to have a chat over the telephone. This is to discuss the SMS Programme, what is involved, dates and timings, when the next Programme starts, and to discuss if the Programme is a good fit for your child and young person.
- We then arrange a 1-1 Zoom call with yourself and your child or young person. This call is all about having fun and is a chance for your child or young person to get to know us and see if the SMS Programme is something they’d like to try – after all it is their SMS Programme and they are the ones doing it.
- You might have more 1-1 calls in the lead up to a SMS Programme, as well as check ins, if the SMS Programme is something that’d benefit your child or young person. We will work with you and your young person to get prepared for the SMS Programme.
- If the SMS Programmes turns out not the be beneficial for your child or young person we would always look for other forms of support.
What happens on a Self-Management Skills (SMS) Programme?
- Our Self-Management Skills Programmes focus on the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
- We focus on how to cope with stress.
- We talk a lot about friendships and how we manage those with a health condition.
- We learn all about our health rights and that children and young people have the right to the best possible health.
- Lots of fun and games! It’s not like school, we are all about games and fun.
- You meet friends, build confidence and learn how to self-manage to help you with your health condition.
Children and young people who take part in our SMS Programmes then get invited to join our SMS:HUB which meets once a month online – sometimes with in person meet ups. Our SMS:HUB also gives opportunities for our children and young people to join our Health Rights Defenders who inform our work and have their voices heard.
Do you want a bespoke SMS Programme? We offer SMS Programmes that charities, organisations, schools, hospitals, NHS Health boards and others can purchase. Get in contact with Michelle at sms@childrenshealthscotland.org if you’d like to chat about a bespoke SMS Programme.
