2 weeks Ago
A facility which offers therapy to vulnerable children in Glasgow has warned it is in danger of closure after its funding was withdrawn. The Notre Dame Children’s Centre in Glasgow provides vital support to around 100 families caring for children who have experienced trauma through abuse, neglect or bereavement. However, the charity has warned parents that it will have to shut its doors within 90 days after its main income streams – provided by Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – were cut.
A letter sent to parents and carers urging them to put pressure on councillors and MSPs to reverse the decision states that the centre will close on 30th June unless more money can be found. The facility has been running for almost 100 years and first opened its doors in the city’s West End in 1931. Notre Dame Children's Centre was founded to respond to the needs of extremely vulnerable children who were experiencing poverty and deprivation.
At the time the work done was innovative as psychotherapy and play therapy was virtually unheard of. The centre opened in Glasgow in 1931 (Image: NQ) Today the charity provides assessment and ongoing weekly support to troubled, vulnerable and in some cases bereaved youngsters. Their parents or carers also receive support to allow them to understand and cope with the child's issues.
Each year, Notre Dame works with children aged between five and 18 and their families with a small team of play therapists, psychologists and social workers. Many of the children are living in foster care, have been adopted or are living with grandparents as they own parents are unable to look after them. Children who use the service typically have experienced trauma through abuse, neglect, loss, domestic violence, poor attachment, drug and alcohol misuse or parental mental ill health.
One source at the Centre said: “This has all come as a shock and it’s really hard to work out what the next step will be for us. “We are scrabbling around for funds and to find other backers, but if the position doesn’t change, the centre will have to close.” One parent who spoke to The Herald, said that the facilty had helped his child “flourish”, and changed their lives “beyond recognition”.
READ NEXT: Students camp on University Avenue and vow not to leave until demands are met READ NEXT: Council submit plans to build 17 new affordable homes The parent said: “The short-sightedness of this decision is mind-boggling and will leave a scar on this city for years to come and result in a large number of children not being able to rely on carers who will understand what they are going through and respond in a compassionate and child-centred way.” They added: “The shock announcement this week of the withdrawal of funding from such a specialist and family orientated service is not only significant in terms of the impact on children but also on parents & carers. “This is the only service that provides the parallel support, that responds to the needs of parents as well as the child and provides an ongoing framework for parents to develop the skills they need to nurture the children who most need them every day.
“To wrench this funding away from those families, including my own, is devastating.” A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “Glasgow City Council has invested in a significant and expanding range of services for children and young people in order to support their mental health and wellbeing. “Due to the availability and effectiveness of alternative provision through our new Embedded Supports Contract framework, and a shift towards providing support in schools and local community hubs, accessible even during school holidays, the current contract will not be extended.
“A three-month period has been agreed to arrange alternative support for existing service users.” A spokesperson for NHSGCC said: "NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Specialist Children’s Service (SCS), in partnership with Glasgow City Social Work Services and Glasgow City Education , previously commissioned the Notre Dame Centre to deliver therapeutic services for children and young people. "The two-year contract included the provision of services to improve the mental health, relationships, functioning and well-being of children and families affected by issues relating to neglect, trauma and family breakdown.
"This was a fixed term contract which commenced on 1st April 2023, and as such has come up for review." They added: "In recent years, NHSGGC’s SCS has developed preferred and enhanced clinical pathways for dealing with children referred for therapeutic support. As a result, we, along with the other two commissioning partners, have decided not to continue with the current arrangement with the Notre Dame Centre.
"By integrating services within local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, we will ensure that therapeutic support is accessible to all children and families within the health board, regardless of their location. "We have agreed and extended the notice period to the end of June to ensure the completion of interventions for children currently engaged with Notre Dame.".
