Professionals Contacts

In difficult times it is often the case that people find it hard to address other issues and need support to speak up. An advocate can help you to speak up about the things that you may be avoiding or finding stressful. Often the longer things are left the harder it is to deal with. We are not counsellors and cannot provide that but you may need to discuss your health, finances, work or living arrangements as an example and not feel ready or willing to speak to others be that individuals or agencies. We do not advise but we can help you understand your options and put forward your voice and feelings to others as required. Our service is free and confidential.

Orkney Counselling and Support Centre,
The Travel Centre,
West Castle Street,
Kirkwall,
Orkney,
KW15 1GU.

Age Scotland Orkney has been working with and for older people for over 25 years.

Previously Age Concern Orkney, we now work with sister charity Age Scotland to ensure that everyone can love later life.

The aims of the charity are to:

Help and support older people who live in their own homes, to retain dignity, choice and independence and to enjoy a good quality of life.

Work with other groups; both statutory and voluntary, national and local, on issues which will have an impact, in the longer term, on the lives of all older people.

Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Orkney is dedicated to providing community-based support for children and young people up to 18 years facing severe and enduring mental health conditions.

Many people will, at some point, feel overwhelmed by what is going on in their lives – and sometimes things can get so bad that they consider suicide.

Orkney Health and Care and ChooseLife Scotland have joined together in producing two local booklets to let people who have been bereaved or affected by a suicide - or those who may be having thoughts of taking their own life - know that they don't need to cope alone.

Our Crossroads Respite Scheme is here to provide practical help to Carers in the form of a short respite break. Our Care Attendant can go into your home to look after your dependant while you have some time off to go to appointments, shopping or to a leisure activity. We can take the cared for person out of the home for a run in the car, a walk, a trip to a cafe or any other activity they request. Although our service is free of charge there is a small charge for fuel if we take the cared for person out in the car.

Kirkwall Travel Centre
West Castle Street
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1GU

Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00

Various groups held at The Hub in Victoria Street, Kirkwall on different days and times throughout the week. Friendship, social time and good fun. All activities are dementia friendly, everyone welcome.

Mondays 2pm at The Life Centre, Kirkwall

We are here to help - on the waves, on the quayside, or in the home.

We can offer practical, financial and emotional support. We also provide a 24/7 emergency service to assist with accidents or illness at sea.

Ideally these would be better as separate contacts which you could star.

General Practitioners / Nurse Practitioners

Skerryvore Practice, Health Centre, New Scapa Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1BX.
Telephone: 01856 888240.

Heilendi Practice, Scapa Crescent, Kirkwall, KW15 1RL.
Telephone: 01856 872388.

Health Centre, Shapinsay, KW17 2DY.
Telephone: 01856 711284.

Linklet House, North Ronaldsay, KW17 2BE.
Telephone: 01857 633226.

The Surgery, John Street, Stromness, KW16 3AD.
Telephone: 01856 850205.

Flotta Surgery, Springbank, Flotta, KW16 3AD.
Telephone: 01856 701769.

The Surgery, Dounby, KW17 2HH.
Telephone: 01856 771209.

Greystones, Evie, KW17 2PQ.
Telephone: 01856 751283.

Daisy Villa, St. Margaret's Hope, KW17 2SN.
Telephone: 01856 831206.

Geramount, Stronsay, KW17 2AE. 01857 616321.

Heatherlea, Eday, KW17 2AB.
Telephone: 01857 622243.

Islands View Surgery, Rousay, KW17 2PU.
Telephone: 01856 821265.

Flebister House, Sanday, KW17 2BW.
Telephone: 01857 600221.

Hoy and Walls Health Centre, Longhope, KW16 3PA.
Telephone: 01856 701209.

Trenabie House, Westray, KW17 2DL.
Telephone: 01857 677209.

The Surgery, St Ann's Kirk, Papa Westray, KW17 2BU.
Telephone: 01857 644227.

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can't wait.

Home-Start Orkney
7 Main Street
KIRKWALL
Orkney
KW15 1BU

We are a team of caring, non-judgemental staff and volunteers dedicated to providing free, confidential support to anyone affected by missing, alongside our partners and supporters across the UK. Missing People Charity provide a number of supports including a Text Line, chat service and support network to help those who are missing, considering going missing or return from a period as a missing person.

Call or Text 116 000 (9am-11pm)

We all have mental health, just as everyone has physical health and that can be good or at times not so good. Mental health is much the same. Orkney Blide Trust is a charity dedicated to providing support for those who have, or have had, experience of mental ill health. We offer a range of activities which are reviewed regularly and we respond to ideas and interests of our members. People are encouraged to get involved in whatever way they would like to and, for some this means becoming involved with the work of the Blide; this can be helping to cook the lunches, working in the café or garden or taking part in the work of the admin unit. However, the choice is always yours!

As a student of UHI Orkney, we can offer you support of different kinds. You can chat to your course tutor for advice on your course or you may prefer to get more general help through UHI's support services, but whether it's for study skills, counselling, disability matters or feedback through the red button service, don't forget we're here to help.

Student Support - Telephone: 01856569000.

Email Lynn Tait - Telephone: 01856569343.

Email Derek Aiken - Telephone: 01856569260.

Address: East Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1LX.

The Orkney Youth Cafe is a drop in service funded by various grants and charities. We are currently funded by BBC Children in Need & National Lottery Young Start. We are open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to offer young people from S1-19 a place to socialise with friends and enjoy a wide variety of fun activities. Free Wi-Fi is available. We sell low priced food and drinks served by our young cafe assistants. We also offer a signposting service to various organisations around Orkney and provide youth information. Regular activities on offer include cooking, x-box, wii, board games, basketball, badminton, football, crafts etc. Previous projects include Swan Sail Trip, Mural painting and much more. Some young people have gained qualifications & accreditation for their involvement and learning at the youth cafe.

Kirkwall and St Ola Community Centre, Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DH.

ORSAS provides emotional support for anyone aged 13+ of any gender who has experienced rape or any other forms of sexual violence at any time in their life, in person or online. They also provide information and support to family, friends, partners and professionals who are supporting survivors.

We offer free and confidential one-to-one Support for adults struggling with drug/alcohol use, and specialist Counselling around addiction, the underlying causes of harmful drug/alcohol consumption and associated relationship difficulties. Support is also offered to family members/friends who are impacted by a loved one's drinking/drug use. You can call or email in confidence and we will arrange for you to speak to someone to discuss your situation and how we may be able to help.

We offer a range of free and confidential services for individual adults/young people/children, including: Adult Counselling (for individuals/couples), Family Mediation when relationships have broken down, Child Contact for separated parents, Play Therapy for children, one-to-one Support around personal/family difficulties including loss/bereavement, relationship breakdown, anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem. Our Parenting Apart programme helps separated parents to manage co-parenting. You can call or email in confidence and we will arrange for you to speak to someone to discuss your situation and how we may be able to help.

Our Diploma-qualified and BACP-registered Counsellors work confidentially with young people up to age 25 through any issues they might be experiencing, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, bullying, or substance misuse issues. Counselling can take place in-person, online, or by telephone, at times which suit the young person.

Routes is our youth work programme which supports young people aged 12-26 years affected by alcohol and drugs within their family.

Routes is co-produced in collaboration with the young people it supports. The views of the young people are central to everything we do.

We offer a combination of one-to-one and group support, running alongside a busy programme of activities and trips, which can include cooking, arts and crafts, beauty therapies, paintballing and so much more!

Right There at Home Young Persons' Supported Accommodation (YPSAS) offers supported accommodation for young people, up to the age of 25, who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

YPSAS supports with developing independent living skills, such as cooking, budgeting, maintaining your tenancy and offers practical, emotional, and therapeutic support.

For referral for the service please contact:
Housing,
Homelessness Department,
Orkney Islands Council,
Kirkwall,
KW15 1NY
Telephone: 01856 873535

For referral for the service please contact:
Housing,
Homelessness Department,
Orkney Islands Council,
Kirkwall,
KW15 1NY
Telephone: 01856 873535

Our supported accommodation is for young people up to age 25, who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Our team supports with developing independent living skills, such as cooking, budgeting, maintaining your tenancy and offers practical, emotional and therapeutic support.

Here for you, in your community.

Junction Road,
Kirkwall,
KW15 1AX.

Guidance Teachers are always ready to listen and can find exactly the help you need. If you cannot find a Guidance Teacher, go to the School Office and they will find someone. Other sources of help are listed below, scroll across the tabs for all options. In an emergency, call 999.

Here to listen, not to judge

Counselling is a conversation with someone who is trained to listen and help you with issues such as stress, anxiety, low mood, anger, bullying, relationship or family difficulties, self harm or anything that doesn't feel right and is causing you to be upset or distressed.

This conversation is private, confidential and the counsellor is there to listen, not to judge. A counselling session usually lasts for one period of the school day, and is done on a one to one basis. Sessions are usually a weekly commitment and last until you and your counsellor decide that it is OK to stop. We have measures in place to protect your privacy and confidentiality and these will be explained to you the first time you meet your counsellor.

Your counsellor may be qualified to work creatively, if that is something you would prefer, rather than simply talking. Although face to face work would always be preferable, we have recently developed ways to work online, as well as on the school premises. This means that you can still have access to a counsellor if, for any reason, you are not able to be in school. We are hoping to develop some group based work too, in the coming year, and this may be something you would find helpful.

The Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) is a multidisciplinary team based at The Balfour in Kirkwall, offering a community-based service to the whole of Orkney.

The team work primarily with people who have complex, acute and/or enduring mental health needs. Our CAAP practitioner works proactively with people who have a lower intensity of need, and is tasked with developing local capacity within Primary Care services and other sectors to grow and consolidate evidence based support for this Service User group.

The Kirkwall Branch of the Legion was formed at a meeting of the Comrades of the Great War held in Kirkwall on 2nd March 1921,
the Branch's first meeting being held on 30th March.

The original Committee were quick off the mark, with clubrooms up and running by 17th June 1921. The premises comprised a reading room and billiard room, but there was no license for the sale of beer or spirits.

The branch and club ran quite successfully through the Twenties, but by 1931 it was found that insufficient funds could be generated to meet club rent and heating costs. It was finally wound up on 25th November 1931.

The work of the branch however carried on, including welfare work and the disbursing of funds from the Earl Haig Fund, until 1939, when meetings ceased during the Second World War years.

In November 1945 the branch was brought back to life, with a full complement of newly demobbed young members. Until the late 1950s the branch carried out all the normal welfare work and had many meetings every winter season.

In the years from 1957 onwards much fund raising was carried out with the object of providing the members with licensed club premises. On Friday 29th June 1962 our first proper licensed club opened its doors and since then the branch has never looked back.

The present Committee have adopted a clear policy of providing the membership with a full welfare and entertainments system, while also providing a clean, comfortable and welcoming club for their use.

The Committee also have a policy of welcoming any Legionaires visiting Orkney to our club, where they can take part in any of its activities.

. . . . AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, AND IN THE MORNING . . . .

Junction Road,
Kirkwall,
KW15 1AR.

Various hobby type groups such as scrabble, walking, photography, book club, craft groups etc

VAO supports the third sector in Orkney by providing advice, information and practical services. The third sector is made up of voluntary, community and charitable groups, social enterprises and volunteers. VAO is a Third Sector Interface (TSI), part of a national network with four main aims:

Central Source of Knowledge: third sector locally; local and national policy and how it might affect the local third sector, communities and citizens; how third sector can contribute to these agendas.

Voice: ensuring a strong third sector voice at strategic level within local planning structures and nationally

Capacity Building: developing the capacity of volunteering, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises to achieve positive change

Connect: providing leadership, vision and co-ordination to the local third sector to better respond to local priorities, including through partnership and collaboration

Anchor Buildings, 6 Bridge St, Kirkwall, KW15 1HR

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Vital Talk offers a safe place to talk about the things that may be overwhelming you, weighing you down. Talking opening and honestly about your thoughts and concerns, to one of our professionally trained counsellors can help you find ways of getting through this.

Orkney Counselling Centre,
The Life Centre,
East Road,
Kirkwall,
KW15 1LX.

Orkney frequently hits the headlines for being the safest local authority area in Scotland or the best place in the UK to raise children. However, we know that despite its remoteness and uniqueness Orkney is like everywhere else in the UK. We know that the beauty of remoteness can soon become the prison of isolation. If you feel afraid, alone or feel like there is no way forward, watch this video to find out how Women's Aid Orkney can support you - we listen without judgement. You are not to blame!

Our office hours are 9am - 4.30pm.

IT'S AN EMERGENCY? Call the police on 999.

Friendship & fun for people living at home with memory problems and their carers.

1st & 3rd Thursday of each month 3-4.30pm at The Life Centre, Kirkwall

The Young People's Befriending Project works alongside young people (aged 8-18) by offering them support through a volunteer Befriender. Our Befrienders are caring and thoughtful people who are invested in bringing out the best in their young people and building an intentional trusting relationship with them, centered on personality compatibility and shared interests. Our young people and their Befrienders meet in their pairs once a fortnight to take part in activities that they choose together, from swimming or cycling, to crafting or comic book writing, to baking or BBQing, to rock pooling or rock climbing. Over these sessions the volunteer's aim is to offer support and encouragement, introduce new activities, build the young person's confidence and self-esteem and offer real friendship to them. Time and time again, we see that this support can being real lasting difference to a young person's life.

We offer an extensive range of support services designed to help control anxiety rather than letting it control you.

Services available for both members and non-members include:

• Access to a community of other like-minded people
• Discounted one-to-one therapy services from our network of Anxiety UK Approved Therapists
• A wide range of helpful resources to help you understand and overcome anxiety
• Access to anxiety support groups
• Discounted Art for Anxiety Relief (AfAR) courses
• Discounted anxiety management courses

CALM's helpline and livechat are open from 5pm to midnight every day. 365 days a year.

If you or someone you know needs help right now, call 999.

Our helpline and livechat are for everyone over the age of 15. If you're under 15 and need support, you can find more information here.

For some of us it can be hard to return to normal life after a death. Extra support from a grief specialist can be really valuable.

We offer one to one sessions with one of our trained bereavement supporters. These usually take place over the phone or via a video call. You'll normally see one of our volunteers between one and six times.

Support Services are also available for children. Children and young people experience the same sorts of feelings as adults when someone dies. But they may express them differently.

FC United To Prevent Suicide (FC United) is Scotland's second team. Our goal is to unite the nation in helping one another to talk, listen and save lives. FC United has lived experience at its heart and the Meaningful Conversations films encourage people to talk, to seek help and help reduce the stigma of talking about suicide and mental health issues.

If you're worried about how gambling makes you or someone else feel, we can help.

Men don't talk, we're told. So for Men's Health we're encouraging men to share their stories

We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Mountains Mend Minds is a project started in January 2020 with the aim of encouraging more people to take up hiking mountains and hills. The benefits of hiking include improved mental and physical health, learning new skills, discovering parts of the country you would never have visited before and meeting new people!

This website and its linked social media platforms will try to inspire people through sharing stories from people – in the form of blogs, video content and articles – on a weekly basis.

We are Narcotics Anonymous in the United Kingdom & Channel Islands. If you have a problem with drugs, we are recovering drug addicts who can help you get and stay clean.

Calls open 10:00am to midnight.

No Panic specialises in self-help recovery and our services include providing people with the skills they need to manage their condition and work towards recovery, enabling them to lead more fulfilled lives.

We improve the lives of everyone severely affected by mental illness. Because everyone deserves a good quality of life.

We're here to listen, no judgement, no pressure, and help you work through what's on your mind. We'll never tell you what to do.

Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

We have taken more than two million conversations with people who are sad, worried, lonely or suicidal and who need urgent, in-the-moment support.

As a digital service, Shout became vital during Covid-19, as one of the few mental health services able to operate as normal at this time. We have seen the need for our support remain high through the UK's cost of living crisis.

TEXT 85258

If you're struggling and you're not sure if you want to live or die, can you, just for now hold off making this decision and keep reading and watching the videos for some ideas about how to get through.

There may be things that you - and other people - can do to make things better.

“OUR VISION IS THAT EVERYONE BEREAVED OR AFFECTED BY SUICIDE IS OFFERED TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE SUPPORT”

The Support After Suicide Partnership brings together suicide bereavement organisations and people with lived experience.

This website have been developed with the help of both individuals with experience of suicide and professional bereavement organisations so you can explore practical information and find emotional support if you have been impacted by suicide.

Togetherall is a peer-support digital community that encourages you to be open about what is on your mind, learn more about yourself and work through what is troubling you. This space is anonymous for your protection and as a way to allow you to express yourself more freely.

We're the UK's leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health.

We want to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and all young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.