A new multi-faith chaplaincy initiative, the first of its kind in Scotland, was launched at Edinburgh’s Sheriff Court in December.

A team of 19 trained chaplains from the city’s faith communities, including the Church of Scotland, will provide an independent, confidential support service called ‘The Listening Service’ to all court users and staff of all faiths and none.

The free, private and confidential service, based on a successful model that has been running in Bradford since 2009, will take referrals from court staff and other agencies, such as social workers and victim support.

Local faith leaders, including the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Edinburgh, and the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association (EIFA) have been involved in the project since its inception.

The Rev Andrew Letby, Superintendent Minister of the Edinburgh and Forth Circuit of the Methodist Church and one of the project leaders, said: “Courts can be very diffcult and confusing places for anyone who uses them. The new service developed with Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association will offer a non-judgmental listening ear for people of all faiths and none.”

Iain Stewart, General Secretary of EIFA, said: “The Edinburgh Interfaith Association is really proud to support the Multi-Faith Court Chaplaincy initiative. At the heart of the great world faiths is a belief in ‘treating others as we would like to be treated’. We are reassured to know that if we, or others, should need it, the courts’ ‘Listening Service’ will be there.”