Bringing Bairns Hoose to Scotland
Bairns Hoose Timeline
Children First recovery services for children who experience abuse and violence begin to show how traumatising the current system is for children.
Justice for Children campaign group established. Children First is a leading member.
First Barnahus opens in Iceland.
Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014
Children First launches Stop to Listen! Campaign.
Lord Carloway publishes his Evidence and Procedure Review which found the court system risked further trauma and did not support accurate and reliable evidence from children.
Children First hosts Justice for Children - Getting it Right for Child Witnesses Conference. It's time to transform our justice system shares the experiences of children and young people.
Scottish Court and Tribunal Service (SCTS) Evidence and Procedure Review – Child and Vulnerable Witness Project – Proposal to implement Norwegian style of ‘Barnahus’ in Scotland.
National Joint Investigative Interview Project team established to develop a new evidence-informed approach to Joint Investigative Interviews in response to the recommendations of the Evidence and Procedure Review.
European Barnahus Network Exchange launched – Children First participate.
Children First lead high level international visit to Barnahus Iceland with Ministers, Scottish Government, Police Scotland, COPFS, Social Work Scotland and Health.
Scottish Parliament hosts a visit by Bragi Guðbrandsson, founder of the Icelandic Barnahus and Director General, Government Agency for Child Protection, Iceland.
Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
Victims’ Code for Scotland – Children are recognised as vulnerable and should have special measures to protect them when testifying in court.
North Strathclyde pilot of new Scottish Child Interview Model – with Children First providing recovery support to children and families.
Scottish Government Victims Taskforce – Children First join to ensure the experiences of children are considered.
Child Rights and participation project starts to gather voices and views of child victims and their families about current systems.
Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019
Children First lead international visit to Barnahus Iceland with North Strathclyde partners – child interview team (police, social work, health, Crown Office).
Children First secure funding thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery through the Dream Fund to develop Scotland's first Bairns Hoose with the University of Edinburgh, Victim Support Scotland and Children England.
Children First become an Associate Member of the European Barnahus Network.
Scotland commits to the Promise that by 2030 all its children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected— so that they will realise their full potential, based on the recommendations of the Independent Care Review.
Building work begins on Scotland's first Bairns Hoose.
Children First sets up the Delivering the Vision strategic group of national and international leaders to help guide the development of Scotland’s first Bairns Hoose.
The University of Edinburgh sets up the International Advisory Group to guide the evaluation of the Children First North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose.
Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) based on international best practice and protocols for interviewing children is rolled out nationally. North Strathclyde is a first pilot site for the new model. Children First provides recovery support to children as part of the pilot in North Strthclyde.
Legal opinion by Janys Scott KC considers legal compatibility of European Barnahus Quality Standards with Scots law.
Children First publishes Sharing Stories for Change sharing the experiences of 28 children and young people and seven parents and advocating for radical change of the justice system.
The Programme for Government commits the Scottish Government to ensuring that all children who need it will have access to a Bairns Hoose by 2025.
Children First campaign for recognition of children as having different needs to adult victims in the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021. The campaign has limited success.
Children First establish the Changemakers group for young people with experience of the justice, care and protection system to share their voices and views.
Young people win Young Scot award for Sophie’s Song.
Bairns’ Hoose Standards published by Health Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate. Children First Changemakers play a key role in the development of the Standards. Views from young people on what should be included in the national Bairns' Hoose standards.
The University of Edinburgh publishes the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose Evaluation: Phase one report.
Scotland’s first Bairns Hoose opens in partnership with North Strathclyde.
Opening of the Bairns Hoose is celebrated at a reception in the Scottish Parliament. Speakers include the Lord Justice Clerk, the Right Hon Lady Dorrian PC, KC,.
The Scottish Government announces funding for six Bairns Hoose path finder pilots and four affiliate projects to develop learning to support the roll out of Bairns Hoose across Scotland.
Launch of the University of Edinburgh Evaluation: The story so far: North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose at the Playfair Library, Edinburgh with the Minister for Children.
United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024
Children First awarded full member status of the European Barnahus Network.
