The Junction, Edinburgh
(An interview with coordinator Sam Anderson)
Summary
The Junction is renowned for its confidential drop-in service. The Junction offers youth-focused health services including:
- Advice, advocacy, support and referral to other agencies
- Age-appropriate counselling
- Peer education training and support
- Comprehensive sexual health services
Background
One of The Junction's most popular services is its confidential drop-in clinic that offers access and support to young people on a range of health issues. The drop-in now receives more than a 1000 visits a year, mostly from young people aged 16 years and under. Half the young people using the drop-in are aged 12-13.
Why set up the service?
The idea for The Junction came after a local action research report called Safe and Sorted, Not in Leith (external link. The report highlighted the need to tackle health inequalities for young people in North-East Edinburgh.
Coordinator Sam Anderson says that young people are often wary of visiting a GP practice in case they are seen by someone who knows them: "They are not certain about the nature of confidentiality at the doctors. If your Auntie Jessie sees you going in, she'll wonder what you're going in for. And if you're in the waiting room, someone who knows your mum might be there."
Sam says the high number of young people using the drop-in reflects trust in the centre's confidentiality policy, which is displayed prominently and set out in very simple terms:
"Rather than any jargon, the statement we've got up on the wall is: 'The Junction is a confidential service. We won't tell anyone anything you tell us unless you or someone else is at risk or in danger. We have a responsibility to keep you safe. We are here to help.’"
Who is involved in the service?
Sam says: "A bid was put in to the Health Improvement Fund, which got funding for my post as a development worker. I had a remit for young people's health work in north-east Edinburgh. One of the things that became apparent was there was a lack of appropriate premises – hence The Junction."
The Leith-based centre now provides health services, education and advice to young people aged 12-21 in a safe, friendly and confidential environment, reflecting the good practice guidelines outlined by Walk the Talk.
Designing the service
The Junction’s services have been developed through close consultation with young people to find out their needs and preferences. Sam adds that everyone who works at the centre believes in the importance of listening to young people.
"The action research project really looked at sexual health services, but young people said they didn't want purely a sexual health service. They didn't use the term “holistic”, but they did talk about being treated as whole folk, and not being labelled by one particular thing, whether that is drugs, sex or mental health.”
Outcomes and future developments
Sam says: "Young people can pretty much come though the door to get information and support. We run a drop-in most days from folk with youth work skills as opposed to heath skills – again, that was something that was identified through the report and through Walk the Talk."
Subject to funding, Sam says they hope to be able to expand The Junction's services, introducing clinical services and more counselling.
Contact details
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