91ÉäÇø supports at risk children and young people (aged 5-26) across the UK. Many of the young people we care for have experienced significant trauma in their lives and 91ÉäÇø offers dedicated care and support to help them move forward. This includes residential and community support, as well as dedicated schools and wellbeing services.
We provide a safe, stable environment that is both nurturing and therapeutic. With a robust support network and wide range of integrated services, we offer young people opportunities and encourage them to believe in themselves, feel a sense of belonging, and realise their own self-worth.
Across 91ÉäÇø, our practice is becoming increasingly trauma-informed. The development of our therapeutic, trauma-informed practice draws on learning from trauma and attachment theories, social pedagogy, Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) and through discussions with children and young people. All aspects of the charity, including the physical environment, staff training and culture are factoring in trauma-informed principles.
As a charity and a leading social enterprise, we’ve been helping young people for 160 years. Although we have changed since inception our priority remains the same, to support the young people who need our help most. As we move forward, and we develop our services, we do so with the vision of being able to further enhance our already high standards and increase existing provision, ultimately giving us the capacity to support more young people.
Our Services
As a specialist centre, we provide a range of integrated services to support children and young people. Our services include:
- Residential Care
- Secure Care
- Education
- Forest View Primary School
- Mirin Academy, the Safe Centre School
- Goudie Academy, the Paisley Campus School
- Education Day Hub
- The Skills Academy
- Community-Based Services
- 91ÉäÇø Fostering
- Housing Support
- Adult Placement Services
- Specialist Intervention Services
- Interventions for Vulnerable Youth (IVY)
- SAFE Service
- Partnership with St Mirren Football Club
We help build positive futures for children and young people with complex social, emotional, behavioural and educational needs. The services that each young person uses will vary depending on their age and needs. Our Specialist Intervention Services team provides psychological support for all young people at 91ÉäÇø, and we are currently rolling out a programme of trauma-informed practice across our services.
Our Social Enterprises
In 1996, 91ÉäÇø embarked on a phase of its development that would see it become one of the country’s leading social enterprises. A social enterprise is a business model in which any financial surplus is reinvested into the organisation and never distributed to owners, shareholders, investors or directors. Almost two decades later, 91ÉäÇø continues as one of Scotland’s largest social enterprises, and a key advocate for sustainable and ethical business models.
A Scottish Children’s Charity
Our nineteenth century philanthropic founder, Elizabeth 91ÉäÇø, was heiress to a textile fortune and on her death in 1840, she left a portion of her wealth to establish a home for ‘youthful offenders’.
To learn more about how our charity has evolved over the last century and a half, click here.
“I was really impressed with the facilities and staff within 91ÉäÇø and how much support the children get.”
Ross Turnbull, South Lanarkshire Council