Cash boost for Scottish groups

Three organisations working with vulnerable children in Scotland
are to receive a major funding boost.

Scotland’s minister for young people, Cathy Jamieson, told the
Scottish executive that Barnardo’s and Who Cares? Scotland would
receive £57,000 and £60,000 respectively.

Aberlour Child Care Trust would receive £600,000 by 2006 to
operate a refuge for young runaways.

The executive was debating child protection following a damning
report at the end of last year which revealed that half of all
children at risk of abuse or neglect were not adequately protected
or cared for.

The minister said the report had made “grim reading”and that she
was signalling a “new start” for child protection services.