An official launch to celebrate a new partnership between East Lothian Council and the award-winning charity The Place2Be will be held at Sanderson’s Wynd Primary School on Friday 1st April. A celebratory cake made by Place2Be staff will be cut at 12.30pm.

The charity, which offers emotional and therapeutic support to pupils, parents and teachers has been operating in Edinburgh since 2001 and is now based in six East Lothian primary schools.  The East Lothian work is managed by The Place2Be’s Frances Griffin.  She looks after six School Project Managers who are based in St Martin’s, St Gabriel’s, Sanderson’s Wynd primaries, Prestonpans Infant and Prestonpans Primary and Wallyford Primary.  Once fully operational, 24 Place2Be-trained counsellors will volunteer their time in the schools for a minimum of one day a week.

Frances Griffin, Manager of The Place2Be’s East Lothian project says:
‘Since August 2010 The Place2Be team in East Lothian, along with school staff and other agencies has been working to embed The Place2Be service into the day-to-day life of each school. The Place2Be is an early intervention service focussed on  promoting  resilience, raising aspirations and improving future outcomes for the whole community and we are delighted to be able to extend our presence in Scotland through this exciting new partnership.'

Cabinet member for Education and Children’s Services Peter MacKenzie adds:
‘Making sure that the most vulnerable children in our communities get all the support they need to help learn well, achieve well, enjoy school life and social interaction is the most important thing that we as a council can do. The work with The Place2Be is will have a very positive impact on children’s personal lives and their education now and as they go through school.’