What We Do
The move from primary to secondary school is one of the biggest changes a young person goes through, and for many it’s where confidence dips, friendships fracture and anxiety takes hold. Peeblesshire Youth Trust works with young people at exactly this point, from Primary 6 in schools across Tweeddale through to S2 at Peebles High School, so that support is in place before, during and after the transition.
Our work focuses on outcomes that last well beyond the school gates: stronger confidence and self-esteem, greater resilience, and the social skills young people need to settle into secondary school and thrive there.
We deliver this through a connected set of programmes:
- “Achieve Your Potential” workshops that build self-belief and practical life skills
- Regular group activity sessions that create safe, consistent spaces to form new friendships
- One-to-one mentoring for young people who need more focused support
- Primary–secondary transition sessions that prepare pupils for the move and help them through it
- In-school programmes delivered in partnership with local schools
Our sessions take place in community halls and outdoor spaces across Tweeddale, which means rural young people can take part without travel being a barrier. Every session is free, so no young person is excluded because of cost. Your support directly funds this work, keeping it free, local and available to every young person who needs it.
Our Vision
Our vision is that Peeblesshire Youth Trust will nurture, support, engage and encourage 10-14 year olds throughout Tweeddale to build resilience and help to achieve their potential. We will support our young people to develop good relationships with peers and families and to make a positive impact in their community. We are unique in providing individual mentoring alongside a range of other confidence-building activities to young people throughout Tweeddale.
Some of Our Achievements 2025-26
Young People Supported
- 140
-Volunteers
- 75
-Volunteer Hours
- 750
-Hampers Delivered
- 102
-Our Collaborations
Partners
Peebles High School & Tweeddale Primary Schools
Community Learning and Development
Peeblesshire Foodbank
Peebles & District Round Table
Where’s The One?
PhDFUNdamentals Gymnastics & Trampoline Club
Networks
Peebles Youth Voice
Tweeddale Community Partnership
Tweeddale Volunteers
Scottish Borders Youth & Families Network Scottish Mentoring Network
Scottish Mentoring Network
Youth Borders
Youth Scotland
Build Resilience
Strategic Objective:
Build Resilience
Increase self-confidence
Enhance self-esteem
Programmes:
- Achieve Your Potential workshops with Primary 6 and 7 pupils
- 1-to-1 mentoring
- Group activities for all young people supported by PYT
- Advanced Transition Programme for Primary 7 children moving to Peebles High School
- Community based projects to involve our young people in our area
Outcomes:
87% showed improvement in their ability to take part in group activities.
“He feels a sense of pride.”
“E’s confidence has improved since attending. (She is) more confident with talking and having lots of detailed conversations.” (Parents)
Achieve Potential
Strategic Objective:
Achieve Potential
Programmes:
Address key themes from Curriculum for Excellence in workshops
Goal setting with mentors
S6 Buddies for S1 pupils at PHS
Outcomes:
100% of children showed an increase in speaking with confidence.
99% of children showed improvement in carrying out instructions.
“He’s been more confident in new situations and with new people.” (Parent)
“Always happier on a Friday after he attended (PYT).” (Parent)
Engage Community
Strategic Objective:
Engage Community
Programmes:
Equip young people to be valued in the community
Build relationships with local partners including schools
Outcomes:
“Working with PYT has created a beneficial mix of youth work and teacher led approaches which pupils respond very positively to .” (Teacher)
Form Relationships
Strategic Objective:
Form Relationsips
Programmes:
Help young people to build positive relationships with family and peers
Run S1 transition programme to ease the move to high school
Work within schools to provide nurture for young people, helping them to aim for positive destinations
Outcomes:
“Without the sessions, C’s transition would have been awful…..for that, we will be forever grateful.” (Parent)
90% of parents stated they would contact PYT for future support with their child.