The latest edition of the Community of Practice for Siblings newsletter has been published.
This issue includes sign-up for our next in-person Community of Practice for Siblings event will take place on Thursday 1 October 2026, National Vision for Kinship Care – an update from the Scottish Government and lots more.
To find out more and get involved, please visit the Community of Practice web page.
Family Journeys have recently launched a fantastic new space for families in Edinburgh.
Alongside their venues in Gorgie, Musselburgh and Bathgate, a fourth venue called Nurture at the Den in Duddingston has opened.
Zoe Siddle, Lead Worker at Family Journeys explained: “Nurture at The Den sits beside the Loch nestled amongst the allotments in Jock Tamson’s Gardens, Duddingston in Edinburgh.
“Family Journeys have historically been very fortunate to have been given use of this wonderful space for family fun days, ad hoc sibling and family time and staffed events that have benefitted parents living at home and also those not living at home with their child, allowing them time to spend with their children.
“The safe, nurturing, outdoor space where they can explore the outdoors, meet other families, engage in organised and staff supported activities or just be together in an environment that offers an alternative to a traditional “child contact” centre has proved to be very successful.
“With recent new funding through Fairer Life Chances, we are delighted to be further developing this space to reflect our belief that positive, natural family time experiences, memory making and compassionate and tailored support can help repair relationships, strengthen attachments and create lasting, meaningful change.”
The new space will enable:
Zoe added: “Our team are excited to be able to provide ongoing participation and engagement opportunities, where we can learn more about how we can tailor the space to suit individual and group needs and we hope to work closely with our partners and other professionals to nurture solutions that provide positive, meaningful change in the lives of children and their families.
“If you are interested in finding out more about our beautiful new space, please get in touch via zoe.siddle@familyjourneys.scot
We would love to hear from you.”
Why do sibling relationships matter?
For those of us working with care-experienced children and young people, the importance of sibling and sibling-like relationships is clear. We understand the belonging, identity and safety that those connections can give brothers and sisters, and we recognise the damage that can be done when those relationships are not protected and prioritised.
Whilst the need to actively support sibling relationships within the care system is increasingly recognised in legislation, policy and practice, there remain many barriers to brothers and sisters living together or spending regular, quality time together.
Coorie House
After supporting sibling relationships in his role as a Social Worker, Michael Scanlin (DCEO, Rossie Young People’s Trust) saw clearly the challenges posed by a lack of appropriate environments for siblings to be together. He recognised the need for spaces where children and young people could spend time together as a family, in an environment designed around their need for normality, privacy and fun. After spending some time at the incredible STAR project in Fife and picking the brains of its founder, Karen Morrison, Michael was clear in his aim to bring a similar space to Rossie. Some years — and a successful funding bid to Corra — later, Coorie House was born.
Designing around ordinary siblinghood
As the Project Coordinator, being trusted with a blank canvas felt like both an incredible privilege and a huge responsibility. However, with sibling relationships at the heart of the house, it came together quite quickly. More than anything, we wanted to create a home that offered young people the chance to be brothers and sisters in the most natural, authentic way possible. Whilst the house is a deliberately open space, it has areas similar to those you might find in a typical family home: kitchen, dining area, living room, playroom.
Michael has been clear from the outset that fun should be one of the main drivers behind Coorie House and we hope that is felt throughout the building, whether that’s in a hot air balloon lampshade, woodland wallpaper animal hunt or the ever-popular trampoline in the garden! However, we also recognise that sometimes visits with family can be challenging and this understanding has also informed the design of Coorie House; a comfy sofa that you soak into, a rotating arts and crafts storage to reduce the push and pull of sharing, fidget toys and sensory aids. These small details create an environment that helps children and young people feel comfortable, regulated and more able to enjoy their time together.
Opening the doors
Seeing the hypothetical come to life, with real siblings, spending real time together, has been an incredible experience. We have baked, we have buried each other in the sand pit, we have been bug hunting and we have baked some more! Watching siblings learn to play chess together or create their own imaginary games whilst cuddled up on the sofa has affirmed what we already knew; that spaces like Coorie House are an essential part of fulfilling the Promise and demonstrating that we truly care about those relationships that matter the most.
Watching our volunteers put all their training and skills into practice and welcome families to Coorie House has been the culmination of months of their hard work and dedication to the project. From picking fence paint, to designing gallery walls, to pouring coffees, our group of volunteers have been invested from the start and we feel incredibly lucky to have started Coorie House with such a strong group at the helm.
Feedback from each visit has been overwhelmingly positive and we are enjoying the chance to reflect and build on the thoughts and experiences shared with us.
What next for Coorie House?
Opening Coorie House was never going to be the end of the work. Creating the space is one thing; making sure that children and young people across Scotland have the opportunity to use it is another. As we continue to receive an increasing number of enquiries and referrals, we are also working on building awareness of Coorie House and developing relationships with local authorities and other referrers. Alongside this work, we are continuing to develop the outdoor space, with our very own Coorie House Crazy Golf course in the offing!
Ultimately, we believe children and young people across Scotland should have access to spaces that recognise the importance of their sibling relationships and give them the opportunity to simply enjoy being brothers and sisters. Coorie House hopes to turn what we know about the importance of these relationships into something tangible: a place where they are not only protected and prioritised, but given the space to flourish.
We would love to chat further with anyone who is interested in learning more about the project or would like to come and see the space. If that’s you, please email Cara.Jamieson@rossie.org.uk or visit www.rossie.org.uk
Thank you to Cara Jamieson, Coorie House Co-ordinator for writing this blog.
A new space designed to strengthen relationships between brothers and sisters in care has officially opened its doors in Angus.
Coorie House, set within the woodland grounds of Rossie Young People’s Trust near Montrose, provides a safe, welcoming and child-centred environment where siblings separated by the care system can come together, spend time and build lasting connections.
The purpose-built lodge and outdoor play area were opened by former residents Roisa McCusker and Caitlin Greaves, who both lived at Rossie as teenagers. To mark the occasion, Caitlin and Roisa helped children cut a specially commissioned Coorie House-shaped cake and decorate biscuits.
Roisa said, “Being from England, my family and friends were far away, so the limited time I had to speak with and be with them was incredibly important. When I did have family time, it was a shame that it was in a room that didn’t allow for activities or elements of normal family life. That’s why I fully support the introduction of Coorie House, not just for young people at Rossie but all over Scotland. Children and young people are often moved far away from their roots, split up from siblings and this has a massive impact on overall wellbeing and identity. It’s so encouraging to see young people now having the space, privacy, and comfort to truly enjoy and make the most of their time with loved ones. Rossie is set in beautiful surroundings, and being able to experience that together, privately and without interruption, through Coorie House is just amazing.”
Coorie House is now welcoming children and young people from across Scotland, who cannot live with their brothers and siblings. Initial enquiries can be made by anyone involved in the young person’s life, including family members, social workers, other professionals, and young people themselves.
The new space builds on the sector-leading work of Rossie Young People’s Trust, a charity with more than 160 years’ experience supporting young people with complex needs. The organisation is one of the largest employers in the Montrose area and works closely with the local community to provide bespoke education, specialist support and care.
Michael Scanlin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Rossie Young People’s Trust, said,
“Today marks a hugely important milestone, not just for Rossie, but for children and young people across Scotland. We know how vital sibling relationships are, yet too often they are disrupted by the care system.
“Brothers and sisters who are unable to live together should not be disadvantaged in the time they are able to share together. Providing a high-quality environment, supported by caring, knowledgeable and trauma-informed adults, enables children and young people to build positive memories and strengthen the relationships that are likely to remain the most enduring in their lives. Coorie House offers something different — a space that feels like it belongs to the young people themselves, where they can relax, have fun and simply be together. It’s about dignity, comfort and connection, and we are incredibly proud to see this vision become a reality.”
Named after the Scottish word meaning to nestle or find comfort, Coorie House has been purpose-built by Arbroath-based construction firm Brian Doig Contractors as a bright, open and playful setting, with indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support meaningful, relaxed interactions between siblings. The project is supported by a growing team of 16 trained volunteers, who will work directly with sibling groups through play and shared activities tailored to their interests and familial needs, from baking, arts and crafts and music to outdoor adventure play. The project has been funded by a £250,000 grant from Corra Foundation through The Promise Partnership, alongside additional investment from Rossie Young People’s Trust.
A spokesperson for Corra Foundation said, “We know how important these sibling relationships are. For many children and young people, their brothers and sisters are some of the most important people in their lives. What came through so strongly from our Decision Makers Panel was the lack of spaces where children feel comfortable, safe and able to just be themselves. Coorie House responds directly to that. It’s about creating somewhere that feels warm, welcoming and full of possibility, where children can spend time together with their family in a way that feels right for them.”
Cara Jamieson, Project Coordinator, Coorie House, added, “Seeing Coorie House open and ready to welcome young people is incredibly special. Every detail has been designed with them in mind. Our volunteers will play a vital role in bringing this space to life — supporting siblings to reconnect, have fun and create positive memories together. We’re excited to begin this journey with them and look forward to Coorie House becoming a place where brothers and sisters can simply ‘be’ together as a family.”
Kate Richardson, Chair of Stand Up For Siblings, and Cara Jamieson, Coordinator of Coorie House, at the opening of Coorie House.
We love this new book about Dennis the duckling and his siblings!
In the first two books, Dennis and his little sister have to leave their parents and be looked after by a foster duck family. This new book recaps the story, before following Dennis and his siblings as it is decided they need to live apart, in different duck families.
The book also contains a booklet with brief guidelines intended to aid and facilitate discussion and to help children express their thoughts and feelings about transitions.
Find out more and order copies on the CoramBAAF website.
Colleagues are being invited to sign up for an online workshop on 17th July.
The workshop will bring together stakeholders from the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Wales to exchange knowledge, compare approaches, and develop a shared framework for improving sibling placements in care at both the local and national levels. It will run from 10am-11.30am.
The workshop will:
To register, please fill in this form.