Young adults working together around a table, looking at health information in a bright community room in Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire

Your health, your hands — confident from day one

Vibrant Health Advocates – Slate works with care leavers and young adults in Irvine, building the everyday health skills they need to look after themselves with confidence. From registering with a GP to understanding a prescription label, we give the tools, knowledge, and support that independent life demands.

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340+
young people supported
91%
report greater health confidence
18
referral partners across Ayrshire
About Slate

A community built to help young people thrive

Moving into your own place is a milestone — but for many young people who have grown up in care, it can also be the first time no-one is there to book the doctor's appointment, remind you about medication, or explain what to eat on a tight budget. Vibrant Health Advocates – Slate was founded in Irvine to close that gap.

Working from our base in the heart of this North Ayrshire new town, we run practical, hands-on programmes that turn health literacy from an abstract idea into a genuine life skill. Our participants leave knowing how to register with a GP, what their rights are in a consultation, how to cook a balanced week's meals on a benefits income, how to recognise when stress has crossed a line, and how to keep working when a health challenge arrives.

We are embedded in the Irvine community — partnering with North Ayrshire Council's leaving-care team, local housing associations, and NHS Ayrshire & Arran — so the support young people receive from us connects directly to the wider network around them.

Our story →
Slate staff members outside a red sandstone community building in Irvine, with the harbour partially visible behind them
What we do

Three pillars of practical health support

Young people in a health session learning to navigate NHS services
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Navigate the NHS with confidence

We walk alongside young people as they register with a GP, access dental and mental health services, and learn how to get the most from every appointment. Knowing how the system works changes everything about how a young person experiences their own health.

Participants in a hands-on cooking session at a community kitchen in Irvine
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Real food skills on a real budget

Our Nourish sessions combine hands-on cooking with practical nutrition guidance tailored to the realities of low income and solo living in North Ayrshire. Participants leave with recipes, skills, and the sustainable habit of feeding themselves well.

Volunteers and young participants talking outdoors at Irvine Beach Park
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Mental health without the jargon

We use plain, direct language to help young people recognise stress, anxiety, and low mood — and know exactly where to turn when things get hard. Building emotional literacy early makes a measurable, lasting difference to long-term wellbeing.

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340+
young people supported
91%
report greater health confidence
18
referral partners across Ayrshire
A hands-on cooking workshop in a community kitchen — the heart of Slate's Nourish programme

"It wasn't like being taught at. It was more like someone finally just explaining how things work."

— A Slate programme participant, Irvine

Ready to make a difference in Irvine?

Whether you're a care leaver looking for support, a professional wanting to refer someone, or someone who'd like to volunteer or donate, we'd love to hear from you.

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