The Improving Life Experiences Award recognises the commitment and expertise of those who have made a significant difference to improving life experiences of a child or young person. Our judges were looking for nominees who have made a difference to the confidence and resilience of a child or young person, to help them deal with difficulties. Our winner is the Young Person’s Team at Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (FRASAC).
Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre is an independent voluntary organisation that offers a range of free and confidential time-limited support to anyone 12+, who has been affected by rape and sexual assault. The service includes counselling and advocacy. The team assist young people in many aspects of their life as well as helping them navigate the criminal justice system. In order to offer a full support service, they take a flexible approach, seeing young people where it suits them; be it school, in the community in the team’s office or over video calls. It’s aimed at being as inclusive as possible – with the preferences of the young people at the heart.
On receiving the award Zoe Henderson, a Team Leader at FRASAC, wanted to recognise the Young Person’s Team for their dedication. “Trauma work is hard, and the team show up every day for the young people who often struggle with their mental health. They see a lot of young people who have been shut down, not believed, carry guilt and shame – and the team listens, believes and respects them and gives them a safe space to explore their feelings and emotions.”
An experienced team, who are trauma informed, FRASAC offer 24 support sessions to help rebuild young people’s confidence, work through their trauma and see a future where they can manage it in a way that helps them move on with their lives.
Jan Swan, FRASAC Manager, was delighted to win the award in recognition of the team’s hard work and dedication. “We are so chuffed to be recognised in this way. The team constantly strives to ensure that quality services are available to young people. We regularly get feedback stating that the support the young person has received has been beneficial to their mental health and wellbeing and of the value of having someone – who’s not family or a friend – being there to listen without judgement.”
Those who have used the service and experienced the team’s support have told how it enables them to build up their confidence. They are given the tools to cope with their trauma and anxiety and to use coping strategies to help them feel more in control of their emotions and to feel more comfortable in day-to-day situations once more. Jan says the most fulfilling part of their work is, “the privilege to get to walk alongside and support our young service users as they explore and understand the impact sexual violence has had on their lives”, and says the strength, courage, resilience and determination they see from them is commendable.
The team are delighted to have won the award and hope the Young Person’s Service can be expanded in the future and ensure that support is available when required to assist in reducing suicide and mental health conditions.
“It means a lot for us to be recognised for the hard work and commitment that our team members provide in ensuring that young people have quality services to access and opportunities to improve their self-esteem, confidence, and outlook for their future.”
On selecting their winner, the judges said they how impressed they were with the work undertaken by this team, supporting individuals who are often hard to reach, and so a high level of flexibility is required, meeting young people where and when it suits them. They remarked:
Often the team is not able to provide the complete solution themselves, as that often necessitates supporting victims through the criminal justice system. We very much admire the work of this team and believe it is a great example of providing much needed support to young people who are hard to reach and in great need of their amazing help!
Congratulations to the Young Person’s Team at Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre on winning the Improving Life Experiences Award.
