<h1>Positive Transitions</h1>

Positive Transitions

What is Positive Transitions?

Positive Transitions supported children, young people and their families in the transition from primary and secondary school across Edinburgh and the Lothians. The service was designed to support them to feel valued and understood, improve their self-esteem and peer relationships, and enable them to fulfil their potential.

Our work with children and young people began in 2014 when we consulted over 700 young people about what it’s like to live in Edinburgh. The transition to secondary school was one of the biggest challenges young people faced, and the area we chose to focus on first. Our work was established as the ‘Positive Transitions’ service in 2016.

Interventions

Positive Transitions spanned a wide range of interventions that offered support both on a one-to-one basis and through group projects. We provided holistic support and youth work that aimed to support not just children and young people, but also their parents, carers and families. We did this by working directly with schools, teachers, families and other agencies to identify and offer the most suitable and appropriate support, as well as collaborating with social work and arts therapies programmes in universities across Scotland.


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“Me and my befriendee are getting on really well and enjoying some online activities which often include a quiz along with other types of games. Everything is well and I feel really supported especially when it comes to new activities we can do and getting resources to my befriendee when needed.”

Cody McSkimming
Befriender

“Who wouldn’t want to go on a barge trip down the canal? Paint graffiti walls? It’s a chance to learn new skills…and it’s also a lovely way of meeting, not only young people, but other people who are in the same boat; other befrienders, the staff in here. We have so many befrienders, and whether that be the social work students, whether that be the art befrienders, People Know How just feel like part of the Hermie family now!”

“Curiosity Club is the best thing that’s ever happened to me!”

Pupil, Lorne Primary School

“The support People Know How provides for our most vulnerable students is invaluable. They treat all our pupils fairly, respectfully and with genuine care for their well-being.”

“The benefits of Art therapy are far reaching…Art therapy gives [children] a voice. I have seen it have a positive effect on lowering anxiety and stress, as well as improving self-awareness and self-esteem.”

“The services offered from People Know How are invaluable at Hermitage Park.”


Read our service leaflet

Read our Positive Transitions Report 2015-2023

Positive Transitions youth work

Youth & Family Work

Supporting children, young people and families through one-to-one support and sessions designed based on the experiences and input of young people themselves. Themes range from art, sports, music, science, transitions and more!

Positive Transitions befriending

Befriending

Matching young people with a befriender, providing them with a positive role model and a safe environment to chat and engage in activities based on their interests, including arts, crafts, science, cooking and games.

Positive Transitions family support

Family Support

Supporting families and helping young people to engage with family, schools and the community. We hosted social work students on placement from universities across Scotland who considered the needs of the young people, and how best to support them.

Positive Transitions arts therapies

Arts Therapies

Providing opportunities for young people to explore and express their emotions through the arts. We hosted students on placement from universities across Scotland who provided a supportive environment in which to use a range of materials and artistic methods.

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Our guide to transitioning to high school

The move to high school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking and can bring up a big mix of emotions. We created a guide with advice, tips and activities to help young people have a positive transition. This is a big time of change and we know there can be a lot of other things going on in life during this time that young people may also need a bit of help or support with, so we also included a directory of where to go to find support if needed.

If you're a parent or carer of a young person making the transition to high school, don't forget to also check out our Top Tips for Parents & Carers.

Read the guide
Young people at school drawing at a table
A coordinator and a young person at a table at a Positive Transitions session
A young person at a Positive Transitions session
A coordinator and a young person at a table at a Positive Transitions session
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A coordinator and a young person at a table at a Positive Transitions session
A coordinator and three young people at a table at a Positive Transitions session
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    Research

    We partnered with the University of Edinburgh on a multi-disciplinary participatory action-research project on positive school transitions.

    Using our learning from delivering Positive Transitions, the project evaluated and reflected on what made a positive transition, with the aim of creating a model of practice to influence and improve pupil transitions into secondary school across the country, enhance theories on school transition, and explore intersecting issues such as class, ethnicity, gender, culture and disability, to ensure any practice model meets the needs of all children and their families.

    Find out more
    Befriending Networks: Quality in Befriending Excellence AwardGetting it right for every child

    Our funders & supporters

    Community Fund
    The Robertson Trust
    Edinburgh Council
    East Lothian Council
    Queen Margaret University
    NHS Lothian
    Wellcome Trust
    RS Macdonald
    University of Edinburgh
    BBC Children in Need
    The Henry Smith Charity
    Together Scotland
    Children in Scotland
    Scottish Children's Lottery
    Walter Scott logo