Jobs created and families supported by new service

A new family outreach service run by Aberlour will launch in the Scottish Borders later this year creating 11 new jobs.

The charity will work with Scottish Borders Council, children, young people, families and local partners to develop the highly responsive service for families

Run by Aberlour Sustain, it will create 11 new jobs for the area with applications now open for the family support team which will help deliver the service.

Throughout the Borders there are approximately 230 children and young people in the care system, with around 40 of those living in costly placements outside the Borders’ local authority.

The new service will help keep children and families together within their local communities and reduce the numbers of children needing to be taken in to care, in turn reducing council expenditure on these services.

Jim Wallace, children and family services director at Aberlour, said: “We know that early intervention works, and if we can reach families soon enough we can prevent them reaching crisis point. Aberlour Sustain is all about providing a service tailored to the needs of each family and their unique set of circumstances.

“It works for our families and communities, and it has positive financial implications through reducing the council’s expenditure had these children required to be placed in care.”

Sustain is one of 40 services provided by Aberlour across Scotland.