What is Common Ground?
31st March 2025
Common Ground is a youth-focused project in Glasgow city centre designed to provide a safe, welcoming space for young people while also offering street outreach support. It is led by Barnardo’s and is a partnership between Barnardo’s, Aberlour, Action for Children, Right There and the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) to ensure young people feel safe, supported, and connected to the help they need. It will run for 12 weeks from 25th March as a test of change in response to consultation with young people.
The project is supported by GCVS, Police Scotland, BTP, Network Rail, and Glasgow HSCP with partners from Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire Council on the steering group.
Why is it needed?
Young people often visit the city centre to meet friends, pass the time, or access services, but some face risks like exploitation, violence, substance use, and unsafe situations. Common Ground aims to reduce these risks by offering a safe place to go and trusted adults to talk to. We hope to prove the model and approach through the 12 weeks with a view to accessing wider funding.
How does it work?
- The Hub – A space where young people can get support in a safe environment. Young people must be referred to access the hub from Police/BTP/Partners or they can present.
- Street Team – Workers walk around key routes in the city centre, assessing needs, concerns and vulnerabilities and offering practical and emotional support considering safeguarding and child protection.
- Capable guardians – SVRU workers offer a reassuring non-intrusive presence, SVRU are also training retailers/stakeholders in contextual safeguarding
Hours: Tue, Fri, Sat 4pm-9pm
Please help to share this initiative. Download the leaflet for young people here.
You can also visit Barnardo’s Scotland here.
You can read about this and other projects supported by our Policy and Engagement team here