Seamab Care and Education in Kinross has delivered residential care and specialist support to children with complex needs from across Scotland for more than 40 years.

While the former home where Seamab is based has been a safe haven for some of the country’s most vulnerable young people since it opened, it is no longer fit for purpose.

Perth-based construction company Algo broke ground on the site last week, with November 2025 the target end date for the £5.5m project.

Seamab’s students will see a transformation from their old school, which has no dining facilities, assembly hall or gym space. The new school will feature a multipurpose recreational space, suitable for use as a gym and dining area while six carefully designed classrooms will provide calm environments for children to learn.

Seamab’s CEO Stuart Provan said: “This is the beginning of a new era. The custom-build which is now underway represents a huge opportunity for us to support our kids to reach their full potential. It is really an emotional moment, because it’s been such a long time coming.

“To be able to nurture our students in an environment that will serve them is a dream come true for so many people involved with Seamab. Our teachers and school support staff have been doing the very best with what’s available, but the reality is the current school building just does not provide all of the opportunities the children deserve.

“We are hugely grateful to all of the supporters who have raised funds to help to make this dream project a reality.”

Development of the new facilities has been made possible by funds raised by Scotland’s business community, charitable trusts, and philanthropists led by Chris Stewart, CEO of the private real estate investment and development firm Chris Stewart Group.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Perth and Kinross, the school currently provides residential care and education to around 25 young people who come from all over Scotland.

Many of the children who both live and attend school at Seamab have very challenging back stories. They have often come to Seamab as a result of being exposed to a range of adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) that have been very traumatic for them.

Seamab offers vital care to young people between the ages of five to 18, with specialist therapeutic support on hand to allow the children to understand what they’ve gone through, enabling them to focus more on their well-being and education and have the opportunity to thrive and be children once again.

The charity’s ambassador Chris Paterson, a former rugby star who earned 109 caps for Scotland and became the country’s leading points scorer, said: “When I visited Seamab for the first time I couldn’t get over how unfair it was that the children were in the position they were in, and how resilient they were. It was humbling.

“It’s absolutely incredible what the staff at Seamab have been able to do with such limited resources. This will allow them to do even more to give hope and a fair chance at a happy life to children who truly deserve the best of the best.

“The new facilities will be transformational and from speaking to young people at Seamab when I visit, there’s a real excitement for the future in the air. That’s priceless.”

Seamab is still working to raise the final £506,000 needed to complete the project. To donate, visit seamab.org.uk/donate.