Every fortnight we highlight the work of our member organisations and outline how other individuals and NGOs can support them.

Tell us about the work of Salvesen Mindroom Centre?

Salvesen Mindroom Centre provides support to children and young people living with learning difficulties, their families and the professionals who work with them. We offer advice, information and 1:1 support as well as advocacy services. The organisation also supports young people in connection with planning for transition from school. Furthermore, we undertake and participate in research related to neurodiversity and have created a range of practical resources for children and young people, parents, carers and professionals. We offer training for parents, carers and professionals.

We have been a member of Together for over 5 years.

What projects are you currently working on?

We are currently developing some new resources for children relating to neurodiversity as well as a guide for professionals to support their work with parents and carers. These will be available in the Spring. More recently, we published our Neurodiversity Manifesto.

With our various research partners, including Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, we are involved in creating teaching resources through the LEANS project, and in funding applications relating to mental health and the sharing of health data.

How do you support children and families to learn about their rights?

Our advice and information is based in current legislation and the UNCRC, which we try to make as accessible as we can.

How can children and young people make their views heard to influence your work?

We work directly with children and young people and seek their views on the services that they have received to inform and improve our practice. We also consult with children and young people when we are creating resources.

Does Salvesen Mindroom Centre influence policy development on issues affecting children and young people?

We have created a Neurodiversity Manifesto and participated in round-table meetings with parties writing their manifestos for the upcoming Holyrood election. We have participated in the review of mental health law in Scotland and regularly respond to Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament consultations, such as the Equalities and Human Rights Committee enquiry into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on families.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of Together?

The sense of common purpose, opportunities for collective advocacy and being kept up to date on human rights issues.

How can other organisations or individuals get involved or support your work?

Make use of our resources, freely available on our website www.mindroom.org.

Spread the word about the services we can offer.

Follow our social media pages on twitter and Facebook.

Support our fundraising activities.

Finally, if Salvesen Mindroom Centre was an animal what would it be and why?

An Octopus – our tricky quiz question is how many senses are there? Answer: 8 (if you don’t know them all look out for our next resource to find out more…)