Meeting description: To discuss the joint work between the Scottish Government and Children 1st to advance the action contained within Equally Safe (the Scottish Government's strategy to tackle violence against women and girls) and to consider how a Barnahus (Child's House) model may work in Scotland. Colin McAllister was informed on progress that has been made to deliver this action since a meeting with senior Government officials at the beginning of May and discussed the possible inclusion of this in the forthcoming Programme for Government. They highlighted the importance of communicating with all stakeholders and of connecting the many positive streams of ongoing work relating to child witnesses in Scotland. The meeting also highlighted Children 1st's support for John Finnie MSP's Members Bill on Equal Protection and had a conversation about mental health the national family support service ParentLine and also Children 1st's Family Wellbeing Service in East Renfrewshire. The importance of investment in early help for families was highlighted in order to prevent children needing to access a more medicalised model of mental health support. They agreed to send further information about the service to Colin McAllister and the new Minister for Mental Health.
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