Beat has received over £400,000 from the Scottish Government to support carers, adults and young people coping with eating disorders across Scotland.
The funding follows the National Review of Eating Disorder Services in Scotland, which generated recommendations for treatment across the country. These recommendations will be taken forwards by the Eating Disorder Implementation Group, who are responsible for planning and delivering improvements to eating disorder services over the next decade. The Group will report to the Scottish Government.
The funding will go towards a variety of Beat support services including:
Dr Charlotte Oakley, who co-led the National Review and previously worked as a Clinical Lead at CAMHS NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, is a new Co-Chair of the Eating Disorders Implementation Group. Also joining as Co-Chair is Dennis Robertson, a former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire West.
Emma Broadhurst, Beat’s National Officer for Scotland commented: ‘We are delighted to receive over £400,000 of funding from the Scottish Government. Over the past 18 months, demand for our eating disorder services has increased by 283% in comparison to the previous year.
‘With the Scottish Government’s support, we will be able to further our services for carers, adults and young people across the country. This will give people the tools they need to make a full, sustained recovery, and ensure that carers can access support for themselves as well as their loved ones.’
Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart said: ‘I welcome Dr Charlotte Oakley in her new post as a Clinical Lead and Co-Chair of the Implementation Group with Dennis Robertson, and I am looking forward to our work to support people with eating disorders in Scotland.
‘I am also pleased to confirm that we will be providing over £400,000 to Beat to provide the following services for children, young people, adults and their families. This is a part of our additional funding of £5 million to respond to the National Review of Eating Disorder Services’ recommendations.
‘This additional funding will go some way to making sure that children, young people and adults needing treatment for eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, have the support they need.’