“When young people feel heard, understood and safe, they begin to understand themselves.”
ELSA stands for Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. It is an evidence informed approach developed by Educational Psychologists to support the emotional wellbeing, confidence and resilience of children and young people. ELSA sessions provide a safe, supportive space where individuals can explore their thoughts and feelings, build emotional awareness, and develop healthy ways of coping with challenges. ELSA focuses on empowering young people to understand themselves, make sense of their experiences, and find their own solutions. This helps to build long term confidence, independence and emotional strength.
What Support Does ELSA Provide?
ELSA support is tailored to each individual and can help with a wide range of emotional and social needs, including:
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Anxiety, worries, or feeling overwhelmed
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Low self-esteem or lack of confidence
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Friendship difficulties and social skills
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Managing emotions and behaviour
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Life changes, transitions, or uncertainty
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Grief and loss
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Motivation and problem solving
Sessions may include a mix of conversation, creative activities, and structured emotional learning, depending on what works best for the young person.
At AIMCommunity, ELSA support is delivered in a flexible, person centred way to meet the needs of each individual.
What You Can Expect from ELSA Support:
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Flexible environments – sessions can take place in calm, dedicated spaces, community settings, or environments where the young person feels most comfortable
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Consistent support – sessions run over a planned period (usually a minimum of 8 sessions) to build trust and meaningful progress
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Tailored approach – Each ELSA session is tailored to the individual’s needs.
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Safe, supportive relationships – building trust is at the heart of the work
We work closely with young people, families, and referring professionals to ensure support is appropriate, effective and meaningful.
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Who delivers ELSA support?
ELSA sessions at AIMCommunity are delivered by Anya, an ASPACE Mentor with a background in emotional wellbeing and counselling informed practice. Alongside her mentoring role, Anya is a qualified Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), bringing a calm, supportive and reflective approach to working with young people. Her practice is grounded in active listening, emotional safety and empowering individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences at their own pace. ELSA support is delivered as part of AIMCommunity’s wider commitment to supporting the emotional wellbeing and personal development of the individuals we work with.
If you feel ELSA support could be helpful, or would like to find out more, please contact our referrals team at: referrals@aimcommunity.org