Aberlour welcomes Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP to Mother and Child Recovery House in Falkirk

Today we welcomed the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray MSP to our Mother and Child Recovery House in Falkirk to see the impact of the service firsthand.

Aberlour opened its second residential rehabilitation house in September 2024 in Falkirk, aimed at supporting women and their children through recovery from addiction and substance use. This new facility follows the successful launch of Aberlour's first house in Dundee in January 2023.

The Scottish Government has invested £5.5 million to support the development of both facilities. These houses offer 24/7 support and keep families together by allowing children of women with problematic substance use to stay with their mothers during recovery.

Aberlour Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly OBE expressed her gratitude:

We were delighted to show the Cabinet Secretary our new Mother and Child Recovery House in Falkirk. It was an opportunity for him to meet the mums we support, speak to the team behind it and understand how the house has transformed the lives of mothers and their children.

Both houses, including our first in Dundee, offer a unique service enabling women with alcohol and substance use issues to keep their young children with them as they recover. They provide specialist support that helps women develop skills and build new futures for themselves and their children. 

We appreciate the Scottish Government's funding for this essential new service and look forward to continuing our mission to support families and promote recovery through these vital services.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray MSP said:

I was grateful to see the fantastic services being provided by Aberlour, as well as the chance to speak to women and children living there. It is clear these are life-changing and life-saving services.   

Aberlour does a fantastic job in helping to support women, avoid children being taken into care and keeping families together where possible – work the Scottish Government is proud to support.

This Mother and Child Recovery House does vital work and the Scottish Government will provide a further £1.1 million to strengthen Aberlour’s delivery capacity and capabilities and support for more women and children.