- Multi-year funding to support expansion by 2031
Scotland's Bairns' Hooses will be supported with multi-year
funding from the next year to help them better plan for the
future and ensure that every child who needs its services can
access those by 2031.
Bairns' Hooses bring together essential services such as health,
justice and social work and recovery around a child in a
trauma-informed approach. They provide better support for
children who have been victims or witnesses of abuse or violence
that has caused or is likely to cause significant harm. This
ensures children do not have to repeatedly recount their
experiences while accessing the support they need,
By providing multi-year funding certainty, the Scottish
Government is enabling partners to plan for the long-term and
recruit key practitioners more easily. The multi-year funding
will cover financial years 2027-28 to 2029-30, with the level of
funding being set out in next year's Budget.
Children and Young People Minister said:
"No child should have to face the aftermath of abuse or trauma
alone, or be made to tell their story over and over again to
different people, at what is already one of the most difficult
times in their life. Bairns' Hoose exists to wrap support around
children when they need it most, bringing together the people who
can help.
"The proposed multi-year investment, covering financial years
2027-28 to 2029-30, would build on more than £30 million already
invested in the programme. Nine Bairns' Hooses are currently
operational across Scotland, providing trauma-informed,
child-centred support to children who have experienced abuse or
violence and with a tenth site in Fife expected to be up and
running soon.
"Local partnerships are at the heart of delivering of Bairns'
Hoose, bringing key statutory partners across justice, health and
recovery support services together around the child. We have
listened to feedback from partnerships who asked for multi-year
funding to give the certainty needed to plan, recruit and scale
up services effectively, supporting the Scottish Government's
commitment to ensure every child who needs it has access to a
Bairns' Hoose by May 2031."
Fife Bairns' Hoose Partnership said:
"Multi-year funding provides partnerships like ours with the
stability needed to embed services, strengthen collaboration
across agencies and focus on delivering lasting change for
children and families. A longer-term funding commitment would
also support the development of a sustainable and committed
workforce and effective commissioning arrangements, creating the
conditions for successful implementation and continuous
improvement. This approach would enable our Bairns' Hoose to
fulfil its vision and purpose for children and young people
across Fife, ensuring they benefit from a coordinated,
trauma-informed response that delivers positive outcomes over the
long term."
Background
The Bairns' Hoose model is based on the Icelandic Barnahus
approach. It includes forensic interviews, health assessments and
recovery support, all delivered in a child-friendly,
trauma-informed environment, forming part of the Scottish
Government's wider commitment to improving how the justice and
care systems respond to children who have experienced trauma.
Further detail on the amount of funding that the Scottish
Government will commit to Bairns' Hoose over the next three years
is subject to agreement as part of the budget process and will be
announced early next year.
See further information about Bairns' Hoose at Home -
bairnshoosescotland.com
