A Health and Wellbeing Summit was held today at the Town House to discuss how best to support children and young people in Aberdeen following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Elected Members, MSPs, the education service and children’s social work were joined by representatives from organisations across the North East including from NHS Grampian, Public Health Scotland and Sport Scotland. All partners worked together to identify strengths and areas for development.
During the summit in the Town and County Hall, professionals shared what they have learned with others and emphasised the resilience shown by children and young people in the region throughout the pandemic.
A parallel summit is also being held at the same time to ensure that children and young people had a clear voice in the direction of travel by having an opportunity to link directly with the professionals and Elected Members attending the summit.
Aberdeen City Council Education Convener Councillor Martin Greig said: “In recent years, young people in the city and across the UK have been coming under growing emotional pressures. It is vital to do as much as possible to look after their wellbeing.
“We have to listen to their voices and find out more about the stresses that they are experiencing. The summit meeting is an important opportunity for professionals to develop their positive partnership work in support of young people. We have to keep up focus on tackling these welfare and mental health concerns.”
Education vice-convener Councillor Jessica Mennie said: “The resilience of our children and young people throughout the pandemic has been inspiring. As we get back to pre-covid normality, it is vitally important that we continue to work with them and our partners to ensure that they are receiving the best support going forward.”
Throughout the day, children and young people had the opportunity to experience a hands-on QiGong Session and participate in a Dance Workshop with a focus on body image and allowed them to share key messages and strategies to support physical and mental wellbeing.
Attendees were then given the opportunity to collectively come together and identify the next steps in providing long-term solutions for the wellbeing of Aberdeen’s children.