Opening of Mother and Child Recovery House

Aberlour Children’s Charity is proud to have officially opened its first new dedicated mother and child recovery house today at Cowan Grove in Dundee.

This national residential rehabilitation service, opened by Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance, is designed to support women with problematic substance use whilst enabling their young children to stay with them during their recovery.

Developed in partnership with Hillcrest Homes, Cowan Grove admitted its first residents in December and can support four women and their children up to the age of five at any one time.

The recovery house is the first of its kind in Scotland. It provides support in a nurturing environment, sensitive to past traumas or adversities the women may have faced. Mothers are assisted to stabilise their drug and alcohol use in order to prevent drug deaths, avoid their children being taken into care and keep their families together.

Therapeutic and emotional support will be given to the mothers for as long as they need it including before they stay in the house and when reintegrating back into their own communities. Mothers are encouraged to regain control of their lives to create the best possible future for themselves and their young children.

The Scottish Government has committed £5.5 million in funding over this parliamentary term to support the development of this facility and a further house in Central Scotland.

Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said: “We know there is a strong link between women having children removed from their care and risk of drug related death. Keeping mothers and their children together can enhance the effectiveness of treatment and lessen any harmful impact on children.

“That is why I am very pleased to officially open Cowan Grove which further improves the provision of residential rehabilitation services.

“Supporting people into recovery is a key part of our national mission and our commitment to Keep the Promise, which aims to give families the support they need to stay together.”

Aberlour Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly OBE said: “We are proud to be opening our Mother and Child recovery house in Dundee. It offers a unique rehabilitation service enabling women with problem drug and alcohol issues to keep their young children alongside them as they recover.

“Too many women with these issues were previously unable to engage with support agencies for fear of their children being removed and taken into care. The house will help to improve outcomes for these women and children, reduce deaths of mothers with problem drug use, avoid family breakdown and increase the likelihood of children being cared for by their parents.

“There has already been a very positive response to the new recovery house with applications from all across Scotland and we are very grateful to the Scottish Government for funding this much needed but wonderful new facility. We look forward to opening another in the next year in Central Scotland.”

Hillcrest Homes Director of Property Mark Percival said: “We are delighted to partner with Aberlour to deliver this life-changing facility in Dundee. Over the past 12 months we have worked hard to redesign one of our supported accommodation units to create the space required to effectively support women and their young children through recovery.”

A mother currently living in the new house said: “There needs to be more places like this. It’s a one in a million chance, an amazing place.”