Children 1st, the charity managing the pilot project, says 169 children and 109 family members have received support from the North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose so far.

Based on the international Barnahus model, the centre is a trauma-informed, child-friendly space where children can give evidence, take part in child protection processes and get all the support they need to recover from abuse and trauma under one roof.

The Children 1st North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose was only made possible thanks to £1.5 million of initial funding from the Postcode Dream Fund, which was raised entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. It was developed as a multi-agency partnership led by Children 1st, Victim Support Scotland and the University of Edinburgh.

Earlier this month, the Children 1st North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose celebrated a special milestone when a child gave evidence from the Bairns’ Hoose to court via a live link for the first time.

At the Bairns’ Hoose the Children 1st recovery team works alongside local partners to deliver all the support that children need from the moment they disclose they have been harmed.

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children 1st, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the first birthday of Scotland’s first Bairns’ Hoose alongside our local, national, and international partners.

“It is only thanks to their dedicated commitment and sheer hard work that we have been able to help so many children and young people and their families recover from the worst things imaginable, including sexual and physical abuse and domestic violence.

“Transforming long-established systems, including a court system which dates from the Victorian era, isn’t easy, but to uphold children’s human rights it must be done.

“With the ongoing help of partners, funders, and supporters we are determined to continue testing, developing and sharing learning from our Bairns’ Hoose until the day that every child can get justice without going to court and can receive all the support they need to recover from trauma and abuse.”

Kate Rocks, chief officer of health and social care at Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “It is fantastic to reflect on the positive impact the Bairns’ Hoose has made to children and families affected by trauma and abuse in North Strathclyde this past year.

“Joint leadership with the third sector has been crucial to this success, and it shows how transformative it can be when partners come together with a strong commitment to a shared vision.

“We are proud to be part of this collaborative and transformative approach that ensures children’s needs and best interests are at the centre of all decisions made about their safety.”

Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, said: “Victim Support Scotland is proud to be a key partner in such an important initiative as Bairns’ Hoose.

“Our focus is on supporting victims of crime and helping them to give their best evidence is a key part of that. Children who have been impacted by crime are particularly vulnerable, and so we have welcomed seeing Bairns’ Hoose evolve as a beacon of best practice in this area.

“We are proud to have been a part of the first year of Bairns’ Hoose and look forward to seeing how it develops and grows to provide more children with life-changing support.”