Keeping kids close to home

The charity is expanding its services for children and young people in the region and in partnership with Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) and the Robertson Trust, has secured funding for the next four years for its Sustain service, which works with families to prevent children having to go into care.

And the new facility will enable other children and young people to remain in the Borders, keeping them closer to their families.

Jim Wallace, director of children and families at Aberlour, said: “These new initiatives are a great example of how effective partnership working can benefit local communities.

“We are extremely excited to be working together to improve the lives of so many Borders’ children and families.

“We are very grateful to all three agencies for recognising the strengths that Aberlour can bring to these key strategic developments for the area.

“We look forward to working closely with each of them.”

Julia Mulloy, chief executive of SBHA, which will build the facility, told us: “Developing this project has been an exciting opportunity to think creatively together to enable children to live locally.

“The new homes and services will build on our joint commitment to supporting the lives, prospects and future of young people with complex needs in the Borders. ”

The design of the new facility includes four residential beds for children and four independent living homes for young people, helping them to gain life-skills and independence.

Tracey Logan, the counci’s chief executive, said: “Both these initiatives directly support our commitment to transforming the way support is provided in the Borders as well as building on well-established partnerships with both Aberlour and Scottish Borders Housing Association.

“The complex needs facility is an exciting and innovative venture which we believe will provide the best outcome for our children and young people and their families, certainly in terms of their quality of life but also for the sustainability of services and overall value for money.”

Aberlour Sustain is proven example of providing flexible support in the community and it is important that this work continues.”