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School Zone - Life Links

Let's face it; choosing careers and courses isn't always the number one priority. It's hard to focus on the future when you have more pressing and immediate worries. Sometimes you need to tackle other issues first before you can even begin to plan ahead. The aim of this section is to help you link up with specialist organisations that are there to support you if you need advice and information on any of a whole range of issues that can affect your life in general, your learning and your future.

One of the most important things to remember is that it's not just you (although it usually feels as if it is). Everyone needs help and support at some time, whether it's with something fairly straightforward like study skills or something much more serious like bullying or depression. Don't suffer in silence, speak to someone.

IssueLinksLeafletsHelpline
Bullying
Anti Bullying Network
Childline: Bullying
Coast Kids (age 10+)
BBC (Bullying in schools) age 11+
BBC Newsround Bullying site (primary school +)
BBC Get a life (30 minute documentary about bullying in school)
Teacher Net
Kidscape
Let's stop bullying: Advice for young people

Let's stop bullying: Advice for parents and families

Bullying - Information for secondary school pupils

You can beat bullying - A guide for young people
Childline: 0800 44 11 11 (a bullying helpline open from 3.30pm to 9.30pm, Monday to Friday)

The Kidscape Helpline is available at a local rate on 08451 205 204 Monday-Friday from 10.00am-4.00pm.
Carers
Coalition Of Carers In Scotland
Carers Scotland
Young Carers Initiative
Carers UK
91 Mitchell Street
Glasgow,
G1 2LN

Tel. 0141 221 9141
Carers UK
CarersLine: 0808 808 7777 (Wednesdays and Thursdays 10.00am - 12.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm) or email info@carersuk.org
Citizenship
Citizenship Foundation
G-Nation
Red Box
Crime
Childrens Hearing
Apex Scotland
Scottish Victims Of Crime
Victim Support Scotland
Children's Hearings System - Learning Resource Pack for Primary Schools

Children's Hearings System - Learning Resource Pack for Secondary Schools

A range of printed leaflets available from Victim Support Scotland
Scottish Victim Support Helpline 0845 603 9213

Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 4.30pm
Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm
Disabilities
National Bureau For Students With Disabilities
National Deaf Childrens Society
RNIB Scotland
Capabiliity Scotland
Scottish Downsyndrome Association
Learning Disabilities
Scottish Consortium For Learning
Speech Impairment Support
Sort it! (RNIB site for 11-16 year olds with sight problems)
All about feeling down: A Booklet for Young People with Learning Disabilities (from Learning Disabilities site) (for 14-25 year olds)

Meeting the emotional needs of young people with learning disabilities
: A booklet for parents and carers (from Learning Disabilities site)

Learning Disabilities and the Family: The Teenager with a Severe Learning Disability
(from Learning Disabilities site) (Written for parents, carers and friends of young people aged 14-19)
Skill Information Service Helpline: 0800 328 5050 (Mon-Thurs 1.30pm-4.30pm) or email admin@skillscotland.org.uk

NDCS Freephone Helpline: 0808 800 8880 (voice or text)
Drugs
Know The Score
Substance Misuse
Scottish Drugs Forum
Scotland Against Drugs
Talk to Frank
Need 2 Know
LifeBytes: Drugs (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Drugs (information for 14-16 year olds)
Drugs: What Every Parent Should Know (from the Know the Score site)

The facts of drugs: a parent's guide
Know The Score Helpline 0800 587 5879

National Drugs Helpline 0800 77 66 00

(Both 24 hours)
Drinking
Alcohol Focus Scotland
Alcoholics Anonymous
Al-anon and Alateen Offices
LifeBytes: Alcohol (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Alcohol (information for 14-16 year olds)
Alcohol and Young People Information for Young People (Alcohol Focus Scotland) Alcoholics Anonymous - National Helpline 0845 76 97 555

Eating
HEBS Healthy Eating
Eating Disorders Association - Young People
LifeBytes: Healthy Eating (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Healthy Eating (information for 14-16 year olds)
National Centre for Eating Disorders
ChildLine: Eating Problems
Diabetes UK Scotland
CBBC Newsround (special feature on eating disorders and negative body image; age 9+)
Worries about weight - Factsheet for parents, teachers and young people

Eating Problems - A Childline information sheet

Go for it. (A magazine giving the low down to teenagers with newly diagnosed diabetes) (BDA-64 pages-£3.00)
Equality
Disability Rights Task Force
Disability Rights Commission
Commission For Racial Equality
Equal Opportunities Commission
Engender
Women and Equality Unit
Anti-sectarianism
Works4me (Equal Opportunities microsite)
EqualFuturz (interactive resources for S1-S4 pupils on gender equality issues)
Educating for Sex Equality: Tackling Gaps and Traps and Stereotypes An EOC Scotland resource pack for use in Secondary Schools.

Equal Opportunities Guide for Parents from EOC website. (also available in various ethnic minority languages)
EOC Helpline 0845 601 5901
Ethnic Minorities
Commission For Racial Equality
Refugee Council
Asylum Support
CARIS (for children and young people who are asylum seekers or refugees)
Patch of Blue (racism 'test' for 16+)
Real Histories Directory (events, publications and resources relating to race relations and cultural diversity)
Brit Kid
Diverse Routes ( routes into higher education for asylum seekers, refugees and new migrants)
Women
Scottish Business Women
Engender
Rape Crisis Scotland
Scottish Womens Aid
Dometic Abuse Helpline - 0800 027 1234

Muslim Women's Helpline: 020 8904 8193

Meridian Black and Ethnic Women's Information and Support Centre,
30 Clyde Place,
Glasgow,
G5 8AQ
Tel: 0141 429 6034

Threshold (Women): 0808 808 6000
Exams
Childline: Exam Stress
Exam Revision: Standard Grades
Exam Revision: Higher Grades
My Study Guide
HSN.uk.net (Notes for Higher Maths, Chemistry, Economics, Info Systems and Business Management)
International Stress Management Association
BBC Bitesize (Standard Grade PE materials)
Exam stress (and how to beat it)! Leaflet from Child Line
Health (Emotional, Physical and Mental)
Healthy Living
HEBS
Channel 4: Health
Mental Health
Young Minds
The National Society for Epilepsy
Boots Learning Store
British Heart Foundation (Your Heart)
Breathing Space (Mental Health)
Well on the web (Mental Health)
Depression in Teenagers
Stop Spots
Student Health
Need 2 Know
RU-Ok
LifeBytes: Emotional Health and Wellbeing (information for 11-14 year olds)
LifeBytes: Health Conditions (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Emotional Health and Wellbeing (information for 14-16 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Health Conditions (information for 14-16 year olds)
Headroom - Cubby House (Australian site, explores common mental health problems; games and activities; age 6 to 12)
Talking2ourselves (mental health issues for young people aged 12 to 14)
Stress and Anxiety in Teenagers (Help to identify the signs and symptoms of stress and practical steps to help you deal with it)
Depression in Teenagers (Activities to help you spot the signs of depression plus self-help tips and sources of advice)
Dealing with Feelings
Improving your self confidence (BBC)
Headsup Scotland (Mental Health Issues)
R U OK? – A Supporting Guide Available from HEBS

Surveys and Quizzes Interactive Zone on Mental Health Foundation website

Well on the web. You can get a copy of the Well? magazine, which is published twice a year, from the site.
Breathing Space Helpline: 0800 83 85 87 (operates from 6pm to 2am every day)

Samaritans: 08457 90 90 90

Healthy Living Helpline: 08452 78 88 78

Saneline: 08457 678 000

Young Minds: 0800 018 2138

NHS Direct: 0845 46 47
Homelessness And Housing
Shelter Scotland
House Mate
Citizen Advice Scotland
Work With Us
Scottish Council For The Single Homeless
Scottish Youth Housing Network
Young Scot: Housing
Leaving Home (information on leaving home, housing and homelessness)
Shelterline: 0808 800 4444
Homework
BBC Bitesize
Channel 4: Homework
South Ayrshire Homework Club
BBC Onion Street
Money
Young Scot: Money
Citizens Advice: Young People, Money And Consumer Rights
learnaboutmoney.org
Money Matters to Me
BBC`s Cashwise
BBC One World (The World of Work)
For a free copy of the printed BBC Cashwise magazine, call freephone 0800 022 022. National debtline: 0808 808 4000
Legal Issues
Legal Info For Young People
Young Scot: Law
Need 2 Know
Scottish Child Law Centre:
Under 18 - 0800 328 8970
+18 - 0131 667 6333
(Mon Tues Wed & Fri 9.30am-4pm and Tuesday & Thursday 6pm-7.30pm)

Young Scot Legal Advice Centre: 0800 11 12 13
(open 24 hours)

Disability Law Centre: 020 7791 9800
Parents
Children 1st: Parentline
BBC Scotland: Parents
One Parent Families Scotland
Learning Teaching Scotland: Parentzone
Step Family Scotland
Parent Network Scotland
Parents Centre
NCH Childrens Charities
Enquire - The Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning
Parenting Across Scotland
End of my tether For parents struggling to cope with adolescents

Parent of a Teenager? Read This - Common sense ways to deal with teenagers

How to Cope with Difficult Parents (Book by Dr Wendy Dryden & Jack Gordon (Sheldon Press)

The terrible teens: what every parent needs to know (Book by Kate Figes, Viking)
Parentline Scotland: 0808 800 2222 (Mon,Wed,Fri 9am-5pm, Tue & Thu 9am-9pm)

National Lone Parent Helpline: 0800 018 5026

Step Family Scotland Helpline: 0845 122 8655
Self Harm
Self Harm
NCH Childrens Charities
Self Harm or Self Injury Self Harm Advice Leaflet

Youth and self harm: Perspectives Self Harm Report

Self Harm A Childline information sheet
Childline: 0800 11 11

NHS Direct: 0845 46 47

Parents Information Service: 0800 018 2138

Samaritans: 08457 90 90 90
Part-time Work
Legal Info For Young People
Relationships And Sexuality
Healthy Respect
Young Scot: Relationships
Caledonia Youth
RU thinking about it?
Family Planning Association
The Sandyford Initiative
Need 2 Know
LifeBytes: Sex and Relationships (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Sexual Health (information for 14-16 year olds)
Teenage Health Freak
Smoking
ASH Scotland
HEBS: Smoking
LifeBytes: Smoking (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Smoking (information for 14-16 year olds)
Project Tobacco - leaflet designed to support schools project work on tobacco, aimed at 11 - 13 year olds and featuring cartoons. Available in English and Gaelic versions. (ASH Scotland) Smokeline 0800 84 84 84
Sport And Leisure
Sport Scotland
Facilitating Access Breaking Barriers
Duke Of Edinburgh Award
Direct Gov
LifeBytes: Physical Activity (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Physical Activity (information for 14-16 year olds)
BBC Sports Academy
Stress
International Stress Management Association
LifeBytes: Emotional Health and Wellbeing (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Emotional Health and Wellbeing (information for 14-16 year olds)
Travel
Scottish Youth Hostels Association
Scottish City Links Discounts
Youth Rail
Young Scot: Travel
Scotrail
Megabus
Need 2 Know
Volunteering
Work With Us
Scottish Council For Voluntary Organisations
Youth Scotland
Year of the Volunteer 2005
General
Young Scot
Childline
Samaritans
National Grid For Learning
Need2know
SocInc-Net
Get Connected (Free, UK wide, email and telephone helpline)
BBC Schools
Scottish Parent Teacher Council
LifeBytes (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul (information for 14-16 year olds)
Get Connected Helpline is 0808 808 4994 (1 to 11 pm daily)

Child Protection Line: 0800 022 32222
Internet Use
Quality Information Checklist
Young Scot: Web Safety
Superhighway Safety
Be Safe Online
ChildLine: Safe Surfing
Kidscape: Staying Safe Online
The Quality Information Checklist (QUICK) helps you to tell if websites are any good
ThinkUKnow (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre's site)
Myguide (basic introduction to computers and internet safety)
Health and Safety
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Child Accident Prevention Trust
Track Off (Railway Safety)
Children and Safety Education in Glasgow
Healthy Kids Inside Outside
The Bicycle Helmet Trust Initiative
Fire Safety Toolbox
LifeBytes: Safety (information for 11-14 year olds)
Mind, Body and Soul: Safety (information for 14-16 year olds)
Road Code
Safelearner (Health and Safety information by the Learning and Skills Council)
Working with Others
Learning and Teaching Scotland (Core Skill: Working with Others)
Junior Treck
Transition to secondary school
Kidscape: Moving Up
The Literacy Trust
Student Life
Uniaid (advice on finanial issues for students; great Student Survivor multimedia game)
All About U (advice and information on student life)
Woodyswebwatch
Study Skills
Study Skills for Students with Dyslexia (University of Sheffield - writing, reading and referencing tutorials for prospective university students, audio required)