Why was The Listening Service Edinburgh set up?

The Listening Service Edinburgh is unique in Scottish Courts.
 
The service was inspired by the personal experience of an accused person, his parents and two supporting friends attending Edinburgh Sheriff Court in 2014. None had been in the building before or had any experience or understanding of Scottish law or how it operates.
 
They found the experience confusing, stressful, anxious and frustrating without knowing who to approach for help in a very busy and noisy environment.
 
Recognising this concern and, learning about an interfaith chaplaincy project in Bradford County Court, a group of interested people, from the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, looked at the possibility of starting a scheme to support court users in Edinburgh. The Sheriff Principal, who has responsibility for court services in Lothian and Borders, agreed to a 3 month trial.
 
With the support of the Methodist Church (including a small grant for branded shirts) decisions on recruitment, training and operations were taken and The Listening Service Edinburgh launched in December 2016.
 
Listening to people’s concerns, without giving legal advice, solving problems or providing counselling, volunteers have been in the public areas of the Edinburgh Sheriff Court every working day since.
 
Registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation and regulated by OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator, since 2019, it is managed by volunteer trustees. 
 
For more information about The Listening Service Edinburgh please 
click here for our Constitution