A new facility for vulnerable children and young people in Perth and Kinross has opened in Perth, saving one of the city’s most “at risk” buildings in the process.
Belhaven House has been empty for years, ever since the brewer vacated the premises some time ago.
Empty and unloved, the two-storey office building has sat, boarded-up, adjacent to the Fergusson Gallery in the city’s Marshall Place.
Now it has been modernised and saved by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) which will use it to hold all local hearings young people in need of care and protection.
The children’s hearings system aims to protect the safety and welfare of children and young people and, where appropriate, address their behaviour.
At its heart, is the principle that children and young people who offend and those who require care and protection also deserve to be considered as “children in need”.
More than 550 such hearings have been held in Perth and Kinross over the past 12 months, helping such children to make improvements in their lives.
The new building has been designed in conjunction with young people and it’s hoped the welcoming surroundings will make what can be a stressful experience just a little easier.
It boasts a reception area, two brightly coloured waiting rooms and a large hearing room which has been designed in a new, more modern style with comfortable chairs and a coffee table.
Locality reporter manager Anne Gerry said: “Young people who have experience of the hearings system helped us design the inside of the new building.
“They all wanted a welcoming and tranquil place and we hope that’s what we have created.
“It is important during difficult discussions like children’s hearings, where sensitive issues are being discussed, that the environment helps create the right atmosphere.
“We’ve had really positive feedback about the new building so far.
“It is modern and family friendly, and the colours and soft furnishings all help to create a warm and calm environment.”
