A charity that has been providing youth sexual health services in the capital of half a century has launched a new preventative service for 18-25 year-olds

A new service to support vulnerable young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians has been launched by relationship and sexual health charity Caledonia Youth.

CY4You will provide intensive one-to-one support, including up to 10 one-hour counselling sessions, for those under the age of 25 who are struggling with the transition into adulthood.

The new project comes after the charity was forced to close its long-running sexual health clinic, which had operating for 46 years in the capital, when the local council withdrew funding.

Hawys Kilday, Caledonia Youth chief executive, said the new service is a fundamental part of the charity’s strategy to increase preventative service in Scotland.

“It builds upon years of experience delivering specialist one to one support and counselling services, which have benefited hundreds of vulnerable young people,” she said.

“It supports them by providing sessions tailored to suit each individual’s personal circumstances.

CY4You was launched on behalf of the charity by Rachael Mulhern, 18, and Stacey Burns, 24, (pictured above with MSP Kezia Dugdale and Kilday) who have both been supported by Caledonia Youth.

Rachael had suffered from serious confidence issues leading up to her leaving school and moving into employment. With the help of the charity she completed a retail apprenticeship with Next and was kept on at the end.

Stacey experienced relationship difficulties, stemming from a brain tumour she suffered age five. She is now looking forward to getting back into education to learn British Sign Language at West Lothian College.