5 March 2021

New Youth Navigator Service Launches In Lothian

Tagged by

Share this

Medics against Violence, a charity founded and led by senior clinicians, is partnering with NHS Lothian and NHS Lothian Charity to deliver Youth Navigator, a Youth work based community outreach service which will be based in the Acute Receiving Unit at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and St John’s Hospital, Livingston.

Youth Navigator aims to support young people through a joined-up hospital and community youth work approach with some of the life challenges they face that can bring them into contact with health services. Presentation to hospital at a time of crisis is known to be a ‘reachable moment’. This is when people are more open to accepting support. The Youth Navigator will work alongside the medical and nursing staff to make sure that those important opportunities are not missed.

Dr Christine Goodall, Director of Medics against Violence said:

“We are really looking forward to being able to offer the Navigator service to younger people. We will also have the opportunity, with the adult and youth Navigator services co-located in Lothian, to offer holistic support to the whole family should they need it.”

Tam Begbie National Co-Ordinator for the Navigator service said:

“Starting up a Youth Navigator service just makes sense to us, we’ve seen many people within the adult service who would really have benefitted from this had it been available to them when they were younger. We hope it will give the young people who are supported by the service the connections and tools for a happier and healthier future.”

Dr Alison McLuckie, Lead Clinician for Youth Navigator in NHS Lothian said:

“We are really excited to be able to offer this new service to our adolescent patients which will build on the success of the adult Navigator service and be based around the ethos of one trusted adult and community based outreach to provide the right care at the right time’.”

Sanjay Singh, Head of Funding Programmes at NHS Lothian Charity, said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with NHS Lothian and Medics against Violence to provide match funding for this innovative programme. Having the Youth Navigator service available at such a critical point will really benefit vulnerable young people, particularly during these times of increased stress and anxiety.”

Donate today

Support NHS Lothian patients and staff

nurse explaining something to a patient in hospital
Volunteers from the Fundraising Group who support our Fighting Against Cancer Edinburgh (FACE0 fund, celebrating 30 years of the group

1 May 2024

NHS Lothian Charity’s Fighting Against Cancer Edinbu…

NHS Lothian Charity says a special thank you to celebrate three decades of fundraising from dedicated volunteers who support FACE, a cancer fund that is part of the Charity.

Read more
Clean energy wind turbines beside a shore

22 April 2024

NHS Lothian Charity’s new investment ethos strengthe…

As a long-time responsible investor, NHS Lothian Charity is now pushing its consideration beyond avoidance of harmful investments and significant Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks, to a more intentional approach that aims to deliver positive impact.

Read more
Isla watching the virtual reality film beside an NHS Lothian member of staff

14 February 2024

NHS Lothian Charity supports children to prepare for s…

NHS Lothian Charity has supported the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) to become one of the first in Scotland to use a virtual reality headset to help children prepare for surgery.

Read more
KennedyWilsonWifiWGHFeatured

16 January 2024

Kennedy Wilson helps keep patients connected at the We…

Global real estate investment company, Kennedy Wilson, has generously donated £10,000 to NHS Lothian Charity to support free enhanced WiFi for patients at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh for one year.

Read more