Aberdeen’s innovative Bairns’ Hoose project has secured a further £500,000 in Scottish Government funding. .
The funding, in addition to the £300,000 already received, for the Bairns’ Hoose collective of partners and approaches providing protection, justice and health support and services for child victims and witnesses of abuse and harm, was discussed at yesterday’s Education and Children’s Services committee.
Committee Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: "This is tremendous news and the funding will do much to strengthen our commitment to the rights of children, especially vulnerable young people, in Aberdeen.
“My thanks go out our staff who made the successful bid for additional funding. I look forward to paying a return visit to the Bairns’ Hoose site in Linksfield once it is completed.”
Vice-convener, Councillor Jessica Mennie, said: “This is fantastic news and securing an additional £500,000 from the Scottish Government is crucial in establishing a facility here in Aberdeen that will help support young people who have witnessed of experienced abuse as well as their families and carers.
Aberdeen is one of only six localities in Scotland to become a Bairns’ Hoose pathfinder site , sharing in a £6million Scottish Government fund to connect services across the justice system.
Aberdeen City Council, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland, the Third Sector and other partners will deliver the project, drawing on existing resources.
The results of the pathfinder phase will inform the development of a national ‘Bairns’ Hoose Blueprint’ and provide the basis for a full pilot in 2025.
Further information on Bairns’ Hoose.
Photograph shows: Councillors Martin Greig (centre) and Jessica Mennie with Graeme Simpson, Interim Chief Officer, Children's & Family Services on a visit earlier to the Bairns’ Hoose site in February.