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Author: Graham Scott

Together for Teens – Community Event

Together for Teens – Community Event

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7 to 9pm

 

Pupils are welcome to come for Mike’s part, this will be the first 30 – 45 minutes with Q+A.  As we are going to hold a workshop after this to talk about specifics related to parenting teens, then the second part with be Parents only.

 

Guest Speaker & Workshop Facilitator – November 19th Event

Mike Scotland – Guest Speaker

 

Mike is a passionate mental health campaigner who shares his lived experience with honesty and impact. Having spoken at schools, community events, and national conferences, Mike uses his story to break down stigma, spark conversations, and encourage young people and parents alike to seek support when it’s needed. When Mike visited the Academy earlier this year, his message had a profound effect on the pupils — inspiring openness and dialogue around mental health that we want to continue building on as a community.

 

Laura Simmons – Workshop Facilitator

Laura Simmons is a highly experienced counsellor, counselling supervisor, and trainer. With 26 years of experience in the mental health sector, her career has involved supporting adults facing complex mental health challenges and engaging in mental health advocacy.

Laura began her journey as a volunteer counsellor with Mental Health Aberdeen in 2008 before earning an MSc in Counselling Children, Young People and Adults from the University of Aberdeen. She served as the Counselling Services Manager and Lead Trainer at MHA until its closure in July 2025.

Currently, Laura operates a successful private practice, providing counselling services to clients aged 12 and above, and delivers Mental Health Awareness Training within corporate and third-sector organisations.

Outside of her professional commitments, Laura enjoys reading, weightlifting, spending quality time with her family, and walking her tiny dog along the scenic routes of Deeside.

📧 laurasimmons-counselling@outlook.com

📱 07858 248395

 

Need help getting to the event?

We understand that transport can be a challenge for families living in more remote areas. We now have limited funding available to help with travel costs for those who need it. Please reach out confidentially to discuss support options, we don’t want distance to be a barrier to anyone attending. (Contact us on alfordparentconnection@outlook.com)

 

Railway 200 Inspiration Train – Free Holiday Opportunity?

Railway 200 Inspiration Train – Free Holiday Opportunity?

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We’re pleased to share a unique opportunity for your pupils to experience the Railway 200 Inspiration Train, visiting Boat of Garten station (famous as the location of The Traitors filming), on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th October – right in the heart of the school holidays.

This free travelling exhibition is part of the nationwide Railway 200 celebrations and is designed to engage young people with the fascinating world of railways. It offers a hands-on look at the history of rail travel while showcasing the wide range of modern career opportunities available in the railway industry—from engineering and environmental science to digital technology, logistics, and customer service. Railway 200 website: https://railway200.co.uk  Railway 200 Official Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zJXQl3o36g

The visit also coincides with the Strathspey Railway’s double centenary celebrations, running from 16th to 18th October, featuring an intensive three-day heritage service. This is a fantastic chance for pupils to see historic Steam and Heritage Diesel locomotives in action and explore how railways have shaped—and continue to shape—our communities.

We encourage pupils at your school to take advantage of this free opportunity to inspire  and broaden their horizons. The train will be open to visitors between 10am and 4pm each day. Pre-booking is recommended (https://railway200.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/69622?catID=66018).

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions about this special trains’ visit to Boat of Garten station.

We look forward to welcoming your pupils aboard the Railway 200 Inspiration Train.

House of Hormones – Thursday 9 October, 5:30-7pm, online – Free

House of Hormones – Thursday 9 October, 5:30-7pm, online – Free

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House of Hormones – Thursday 9 October, 5:30-7pm, online

Join Parenting Across Scotland and Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution as they delve into the issues households can face when generations within a family enter puberty and perimenopause at the same time. Joined by Lyndsay Harrison, General Nurse Practitioner and founder of Workplace Menopause Support, we’ll break down what’s going on in perimenopausal and teenage bodies and brains – and how to return the House of Hormones to peace.

Keeping children safe online

Keeping children safe online

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Keeping children safe online – Wednesday 22 October, 5:30-6:30pm, online

 

This webinar is being delivered in partnership with Police Scotland’s Cybercrime Harm Prevention Team to explore how you can help keep yourself and your loved ones safe whilst online – there will be a short presentation by Police Scotland, followed by the opportunity to ask questions.

KPMG Thrive – A Virtual Event Celebrating Disability Inclusion

KPMG Thrive – A Virtual Event Celebrating Disability Inclusion

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Join us for Thrive, a welcoming and open virtual event designed to help you explore what it means to bring your full self to work.

At KPMG, we believe that everyone should feel valued and supported to thrive at work. During this event, you’ll hear stories from colleagues with disabilities, neurodiverse colleagues, or those with long-term health conditions. They’ll openly discuss their unique career journeys, what life at KPMG is really like, and how they’ve successfully navigated their professional paths.

Whether you identify with any of these experiences or simply want to learn more about how inclusion shapes a better workplace, you’re warmly invited to attend.

The definition of disability is very wide. It covers physical, sensory, neurodivergent, mental health, and long-term health conditions. If any of these definitions feel correct for you or you’re curious to understand more, Thrive is for you.

We will endeavour to provide any support and/or adjustments you may require to be able to attend and fully participate in this event. Please call us on 0800 328 5764 or email apprenticeships@kpmg.co.uk to discuss how we can support you.

Time: Wednesday 24th September 2025 at 16:30 – 17:30
Location: Microsoft Teams

To secure your place, register today!

Interested in jobs?  Search and Apply for our Apprentice roles today

Career support in school  

Career support in school  

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Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the national skills agency, and we deliver Scotland’s career service.

SDS careers advisers deliver career information, advice and guidance in schools to pupils from S1-S6. We are there to help you understand the world of work and to develop the career management skills you need as you move through school and beyond. 

Your school careers advisers are: Christine Stidolph and Amy Healy

     

       

You can ask for an appointment by speaking to your guidance teacher or school reception or you can email us.

Your careers adviser can speak to you about:

  • understanding and developing yourself, your strengths, and your skills 
  • making your option choices
  • career choices
  • courses, training, and volunteering
  • CVs, applications, and interviews
  • apprenticeships
  • local and national job opportunities.

You can also visit Scotland’s careers website My World of Work. 

  

Kooth

Kooth

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Information for Parents/Carers

Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous wellbeing resource for all 10-26 year olds living in Aberdeenshire, commissioned by the local authority. The online platform offers many different features including a Kooth magazine, discussion boards, mini self-care activities and journalling/goal setting tools – all to help support better emotional and mental health for our young people.

This service also offers direct text chat with qualified mental health workers, available 365 days of the year. The messaging service is always available, or young people can join the queue for a live text chat from 12pm-10pm on weekdays and 6pm-10pm at weekends.

All Kooth services are BACP accredited and available without a waiting list or referral. Kooth can offer support with anything that is worrying or bothering a child or young person. All community spaces on the platform are pre-moderated, ensuring that everything that is posted is checked before going live on the site, and there is no way for users to send direct or private messages.

With no thresholds, waiting lists or referrals required, children and young people can access support for any issues they may be experiencing. Sign up is quick and free, and most importantly doesn’t require any identifiable information, to protect children and young people’s anonymity. It’s possible to sign up and use Kooth on any device at www.kooth.com.

If you think Kooth might be a useful resource for your child or young person, we encourage you to talk to them about it, or have a look together at the tools we provide on our site.

For any questions about the service, please reach out to parents@kooth.com

SAMH Parent/Carer Free Workshops

SAMH Parent/Carer Free Workshops

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Dear Parent/Carer

 

We are pleased to be able to offer, in conjunction with SAMH, a number of free parenting workshops. These will be delivered online with occasional face to face sessions in school. Each session is offered across several dates and times to make it as accessible as possible.

 

The list and description of workshops is below and booking is via the attached flyers. Each QR code takes you to Eventbrite where you can book on the workshop of your choice. If you have any questions please contact tiana.francis@samh.org.uk and she will be happy to answer any queries.

 

We hope you find these useful.

 

Listening To & Supporting My Child

This workshop has been specifically developed to provide parents and carers with the knowledge and skills to have mental health conversations with their child.

It explores the different stresses that children and young people experience in their lives, and which can impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

The workshop helps parents and carers learn how to start conversations, including finding the right time, place and way to communicate, and how to support their child even when do they do not want to talk about how they are feeling

 

Managing My Wellbeing

This course aims to provide adults with an understanding of self-care both for themselves and for the young people in their care.

It introduces mental health and wellbeing and the importance of us looking after it.

Learners are introduced to the many strands of self-care and the SAMH 5 Ways to Better Wellbeing. They are supported to consider what forms of self-care they can introduce into their lives. Learners are invited to take part in guided mindfulness activities.

 

Mental Health Awareness

This workshop is an introductory session to mental health and wellbeing awareness.

This course aims to provide the adults around CYP with a grounding in mental health awareness. It defines mental health and the mental health continuum, discusses current prevalence of mental health problems in children and young people, explores the two most common mental health problems, addresses mental health stigma and discrimination, and offers self-care tips and techniques that can be used to help manage their own mental health, as well as supporting others.

 

Understanding & Managing Stress & Anxiety

This course aims to provide the participants with an awareness of stress and anxiety, and introduces tools that they can use to manage these. 

It encourages them to consider the worries and stress that young people experience, and how they can develop into anxiety. They are introduced to coping strategies, breathing and grounding activities.

 

Spotlight on PSE

Spotlight on PSE

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Here at Alford Academy we have a varied curriculum for PSE (Personal and Social Education). PSE covers aspects of planning for choices and changes, substance misuse, relationships, sexual health and parenthood across S1 to S4.

We work with a number of partners including Skills Development Scotland, Robert Gordon’s University, ALEC, Rape Crisis Grampian, Grampian Fire & Rescue/Coastguard, Alcoholics Anonymous, DSM Foundation and the Wood Foundation.

Out curriculum is flexible and agile, adaptable when required to meet the needs of our pupils and is taught in a thoughtful & supportive manner by our Guidance Team. Below is an outline of the topics that may be covered across the years:

S1

  • River of Life
  • Road Safety
  • Keeping myself Safe
  • Internet Safety
  • Relationships
  • Diversity
  • Diet, Rest & Sleep
  • Planning for Choice & Changes
  • Substance Misuse

S2

  • Puberty
  • Cyberbullying
  • Keeping Myself Safe
  • Bullying
  • Knife crime
  • Diversity
  • Substance Misuse
  • Planning for Choice & Change

S3

  • Relationships & Sexual Health
  • Parenthood
  • Planning for Choice & Change
  • Substance Misuse

S4

  • Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI)
  • Study Skills
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