Bairns’ Hoose pathfinders will provide coordinated child-centred and trauma-informed support from all agencies who support children and young people who have been harmed or who are witnesses to harm, with services including child protection and justice, healthcare, education and therapeutic support, as a blueprint for full implementation across Scotland in 2025.

Funded by the Scottish government, the Bairns’ Hoose is based on the ‘Barnahus’ child advocacy model first implemented in 1998 in Iceland.

Dundee City Council’s Children, Families and Communities Depute convener Roisin Smith said: “This project will ensure that alongside our partners in Tayside, take a child-centred approach to supporting children who have experienced trauma.

“Through this work, we want to have the right support and services in place to support child victims and witness of abuse and harm. I look forward to taking this project forward and improving outcomes for our young people and families.”

Angus Council’s convenor of children and learning, Cllr Lynne Devine, said: “Bringing the Bairns’ Hoose pathfinder to Tayside is an exciting opportunity to connect services around the needs of the young person and their family. It gives Angus Council the chance to further develop our approach to ensuring young people get the support they need at a particularly difficult time in their lives.”