By Anton Colella, Chairman, the Salvesen Mindroom Centre
MY career started in teaching in some of the poorest areas in Glasgow. At heart, I remain a teacher – even though my professional life has taken me to the highest level in global business. Helping young people to fulfil their potential is a rewarding mission. That’s why I am delighted to take on my new role as chairman of the Salvesen Mindroom Centre.
We are an independent Scottish charity which provides practical advice, information, guidance and support to the parents and carers of young people who have learning difficulties. Increasingly, we also provide support to the professionals working with these families.
Our vision is that by 2020 every child or young person with a learning difficulty will receive the recognition and help they need to achieve their potential.
When I was approached by Alastair Salvesen and Sir Andrew Cubie to take on this role, I met with Sophie and Robin Dow, the founders of the charity. Straightaway, I understood the passion, determination and commitment that has been the driving force behind this amazing charity. Nearly two decades ago they felt alone and abandoned by “the system” when they needed help for their daughter Annie. Sophie refused to accept that this was the way it had to be for others and set up what was then called Mindroom.
Nearly a quarter of all Scottish school pupils need learning support. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has a target to see 90 per cent of children and young people within 18 weeks of the date of referral. This target is consistently missed. Most recently, only eight out of 10 were seen within the target period. Without the right support, children can become isolated and experience mental health problems.
We need to do something about this.
So, what’s different about our approach? First, we are a unique collaboration where leadership from the business community has come together to help the next generation of valuable Scottish talent. The Salvesen Mindroom Centre is supported by a £5 million donation by the Scottish entrepreneur and businessman, Alastair Salvesen and his wife Elizabeth.
Our “virtual” centre brings together the research skills of the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh with our professional outreach team.
We also work with families whether or not their child has a diagnosis. That is important because sometimes a diagnosis can take years yet families need help immediately.
We believe the time is right to raise awareness about these issues. Not only to destigmatise this in a civilised society but also to promote how we can help children and their parents and carers to understand they are not alone in the challenges they face.
That’s why we have joined forces with the General Teaching Council of Scotland. In November, the GTCS are sending a copy of our key booklet It Takes All Kinds of Minds to all their teachers and students in Initial Teacher Education and to those studying with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This is a practical information resource providing teachers and other professionals with straightforward advice and ideas about helping children and young people with learning difficulties achieve their potential. The Salvesen Mindroom Centre has already helped thousands of families since we first started in 2000. Our job will not be done until every young person in Scotland is receiving the right help and support to fulfil their potential. Only then will we achieve our truly ambitious and transformational goal that there will be “no mind left behind”.
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