Role model
As I grew up and learnt about right and wrong and life in general it was very important to have a role model. One that I could go to and talk about the laughter and squealing in the playground and loud screaming voices in the classroom. Adding to the worry and the fear in my head.
And then I go home. It’s like trying to pull a grape skin over a tomato. Shouting in my face, Shhht, I want to hear this doesn’t help you socialise. TV and music can become your role model. When there is a lot of pain, fear and living inside your head. It’s dangerous struggling to adapt with friends, worried about fitting in, no one to go home to speak to about it. Walking way a lisp and talking way a limp.
Feeling worthless, no confidence, drugs dig you an early grave, drink burns your life away, makes you lonely and keeps you on the edge from dealing with things, worried about actions and consequences on the outside. Very loud on the inside, it’s like the largest freight train in the world with no driver.
As we go on in life, hold them, don’t hold them down.
As my adult life continues everything intensifies and jumping from pillar to post helps in ways but not the ways that matter. A learner driver needs a pilot.
I’m still inside my head, so confused by the past trauma and decisions that affects me still in day-to-day life. Trains needs a captain.
I’m still trying to forgive and forget. The harsh fact is that only I can keep the smile on my face and hope that my soul finds the mate that holds me. Every plane needs a co-pilot.
Because if I get held down, I will surely drown in a love that’s not real, no matter what I feel.
A ship needs a pirate in stormy waters.
A soul with no mate is a lonely race to face.
HOLD ME, DON’T HOLD ME DOWN
This announcement is sent on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Future Pathways is publicly funded. This means that it is funded by the Scottish Government.
Future Pathways has been running since 2016. When a publicly funded service has been running for a long time, a review takes place. This is to make sure the service is working as well as it should.
A review is now taking place at Future Pathways. You can find out more about the review below.
Who runs Future Pathways?
Future Pathways is delivered by the In Care Survivors Alliance. The Alliance is made up of four organisations. These are:
- Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)
- Health in Mind
- Penumbra Mental Health
- Scottish Government
Why has the Scottish Government asked for a review of Future Pathways?
Scottish Government Ministers asked for this review to understand more about how Future Pathways is working.
Reviews like this are a normal part of checking that a service is operating properly. It is important that Scottish Government reviews the services it funds, to check that services are working well and see if they can be improved.
Who will do the review?
Scottish Government has asked an organisation called BDO to carry out the review. They are a finance and business company.
When will the review happen?
The review started in November 2024. This work is expected to finish in the coming months.
What happens during a review?
BDO will look at two parts of Future Pathways work:
- Governance. This means looking at the decisions Future Pathways make. The In Care Survivors Alliance runs Future Pathways. BDO will look at how the Alliance works and the decisions it makes.
- How Future Pathways supports people – BDO will look at how Future Pathways supports the people that are registered with its service.
When BDO looks at governance and support, they will check:
- how Future Pathways is working
- if Future Pathways processes and systems are working well enough
- if the Scottish Government has been clear with Future Pathways about how the service should work and what the service should do. This will include checking how the service runs, and how Future Pathways uses its funding and resources.
How will BDO do the review?
BDO will look at different types of information from Future Pathways. They will look at impact reports, quarterly reports and Quality Framework reports. They will also look at things like guidance and finances.
BDO will speak to staff from different teams at Future Pathways. They will also speak to the Alliance Leadership Team. The Alliance Leadership Team includes staff from each of the Alliance partners. The Alliance Leadership Team also includes people who have been supported by Future Pathways.
During the review, BDO will share information with Scottish Government. This will help Ministers at the Scottish Government to see how Future Pathways could be improved. And it will help to make sure that the service is working as best as it should.
Will support be affected?
No. Future Pathways will continue working as normal. There will be no changes to support while the review takes place.
Improving the service
If BDO and the Scottish Government decide that Future Pathways could be improved, they will make sure that you can be involved. For example, taking part in discussions about any improvements. Scottish Government will share more information about this after BDO have completed their review and after BDO have shared what they have learned.
If you have questions about the review
If you have any questions about the review itself, you can contact the Scottish Government directly by:
- Emailing: SurvivorFeedback@gov.scot
- Writing to: Trauma, ACEs and Resilience Team, Mental Health Directorate, Area 3ER, St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG