09-06-2025
Glasgow sees highest referrals to youth trauma service SAFE
The SAFE Project, run by child and youth care charity Kibble, offers support to children and families affected by crime, including those who have witnessed violence or abuse.
Since launching in 2021, SAFE has seen referrals triple, with 46 per cent coming from Glasgow.
Kibble said the high number of referrals in Glasgow highlights the link between crime, social inequality, and the need for trauma-informed services.
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Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire accounted for 24 per cent of referrals, followed by Renfrewshire and East Ayrshire.
Dan Johnson, executive director and forensic psychologist at Kibble, said: "The trauma caused by crime in childhood can affect every part of a young person's life, from relationships and learning to their long-term mental health.
"The SAFE Project is designed to wrap around the whole family, offering therapy, advocacy and practical support when it's needed most.
"What we're seeing is a level of unmet need that's both sobering and deeply motivating.
"We're proud that SAFE is already changing lives and that families from Glasgow to the Borders are finding their way to us."
To date, the project has reached more than 400 young people and their families across 22 local authority areas in Scotland.
Earlier this year, the charity secured funding from the Scottish Government's Victim-Centred Approach Fund to continue the SAFE Project into 2025/26, with indicative support for 2026/27.
Mr Johnson said: "Supporting young people affected by crime isn't the responsibility of one service alone, instead it takes a network of professionals working together.
"That's why a core part of SAFE is helping educators, social workers and police navigate the impact of trauma.
"By equipping those on the frontline with psychological insight and practical advice, we're building a more joined-up, trauma-informed system that can respond more effectively and compassionately to the needs of young victims and witnesses."
