One Aberdeenshire service brings child support under one roof

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-09-04 11:04 2 min read

Princess Anne shakes hands with a woman on a street lined with parked cars.

Children, parents and carers were among those who met The Princess Royal during her visit to Aberdeenshire Bairns’ Hoose. Aberdeenshire Council reported the visit in September 2026, using it to highlight how the service supports children affected by abuse, neglect, violence or other trauma.

The Hoose brings together professionals who would otherwise work across different parts of the child protection and justice systems. Its purpose is to give children and their families coordinated help in one safe setting, from disclosure through to recovery.

Support from disclosure through recovery

The service combines child protection, criminal investigation, healthcare and recovery support. Police Scotland, social workers, paediatricians and health leads are among the professionals involved, alongside representatives of Scotland’s reporting, court and prosecution services.

One Aberdeenshire service brings child support under one roof

This coordinated model is designed to limit the additional distress children may experience when dealing with several agencies. It also allows professionals to plan support around the child rather than requiring the child to navigate separate services and settings.

A space shaped around children and families

Children and young people helped design the Aberdeenshire Bairns’ Hoose as a safe, welcoming environment. Its trauma-informed approach recognises that the surroundings and conduct of formal processes can affect a child’s recovery.

Parents and carers receive support to understand what the child has experienced and how they can help with recovery. The service also extends specialist provision to children living in rural parts of Aberdeenshire, where access could otherwise be affected by distance.

During the visit, The Princess Royal heard about the model from Children First assistant director Iona Mitchell and Aberdeenshire Council head of children’s services Andrew Dick.

Aberdeenshire joins Scotland’s six pathfinder projects

The approach is based on the Barnahus model developed in Iceland. It was introduced in Scotland in 2023 when Children First opened the country’s first Bairns’ Hoose in North Strathclyde.

Aberdeenshire’s Hoose is one of six Scottish Government pathfinder projects testing how child-focused support can work in different places and circumstances. Its partners include Aberdeenshire Council, Children First, Police Scotland, NHS Grampian, justice agencies and the University of Edinburgh.

Source: Aberdeenshire Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

The report was checked against Aberdeenshire Council’s account of the royal visit and the service model presented there.

Checks

Confirmed the stated purpose and range of support offered by the Bairns’ Hoose.
Checked the names and roles of the principal people mentioned.
Confirmed the listed partner agencies and the project’s pathfinder status.
Kept descriptions of the Barnahus model within the context supplied by the council.

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