Care charity will run service until next year

Kibble is to take over a specialist youth service facing closure.

The Paisley-based young people’s care charity will run the Vital Interventions for Vulnerable Youth (IVY) service, which is due to close at the end of October, on an interim basis.

IVY, which has the only dedicated team of its kind in the UK, has provided support for over 220 children and young people referred by 31 Scottish local authorities during its six years of existence.

Kibble will run the service until the current year’s Scottish Government funding ends on March 31 2020.

Kibble chief executive, Jim Gillespie, said: “IVY is a perfect fit with Kibble’s vision, ethos and expertise and we are excited at the prospect of delivering, and indeed expanding, the service in partnership with the Scottish Government and Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice (CYCJ). It is imperative that this well-respected project should continue, and I would like to thank the Scottish Government for its continued support of the service.

“All young people currently involved in the service will continue to be supported. Uncertainty over IVY’s future had led to a moratorium on referrals however I can reassure Scottish local authorities that in the near future we will again be accepting new referrals. It is absolutely vital that all young people who need the IVY service are able to access it without delay.”

Maree Todd, minister for children and young people, said: “This announcement will provide reassurance to parents, carers and local authorities that IVY’s services will continue in the short term, with Kibble’s efforts ensuring a smooth transition and uninterrupted care for the young people.

“Discussions around the future direction of the project beyond April 2020 continue and we are working closely with Kibble and CYCJ with the shared vision of prioritising the young people’s welfare.”