A LIFELINE charity will continue to support children and families across Scotland through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic thanks to a £100k funding boost.
Children 1st – which works with families across Scotland to protect children from harm and to help them to recover from trauma and abuse – has received £100,000 from the Barclays 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme.
Scotland’s national children’s charity will use the funding to continue to provide practical, emotional and financial ‘whole family’ support and to help families recover from the impact of the pandemic over the coming months and years.
Children 1st chief executive Mary Glasgow said: “We can’t thank Barclays enough for their support.
“Right now, families are telling us that they feel at the end of their tether. After so long living with restrictions, they’re exhausted. Many families are struggling to make ends meet and are looking for support to keep the gas running, put food on the table and to manage the emotional toll that the pandemic has taken.
“Families facing the most desperate circumstances need to know they don’t need to go through this alone – we are here for them.”
Over the coming months and years, the charity will focus its efforts on supporting children and families to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
With frontline services delivering direct support in 12 different communities across Scotland, the Children 1st team have seen at first hand the devastating impact the coronavirus has had on vulnerable families already living in very stressful situations.
Thanks to the funding from Barclays, the charity will continue to respond quickly to families’ needs by providing emergency support including food and care parcels, vouchers and digital devices to help with loneliness and isolation.
The financial support package from Barclays will also ensure that families will continue to be supported through Children 1st Parentline – a lifeline service which helps families with emotional, financial and practical support, over the phone and online.
Children 1st Parentline can also put families in touch with Children 1st Money Advisors, who help parents and carers deal with money worries and take control of their finances, while also offering emotional support.
Scott Stewart, Head of Barclays Scotland, said: “This crisis has had an unprecedented impact across Scotland and we know this is an incredibly challenging time for many families and young people.
“By reaching those most in need of support, local charities, such as Children 1st, have played a vital role in this crisis, and continue to do so. With a long and growing presence in Scotland Barclays is doing all it can for customers, clients and colleagues to help them through this pandemic.
“We hope that the donations we are making to charities in Scotland, including Children 1st, will allow them to amplify their vital work as the crisis develops.”
In April, Barclays announced a £100m Community Aid Package to support charities that are helping people and communities most impacted by COVID-19.
As part of that funding package, £10m has been donated through their 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme,
Children 1st Parentline is open seven days a week, from 9am-9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 12 midday Saturday and Sunday.
If your family are struggling, get in touch by calling free on 08000 28 22 33 or visit children1st.org.uk/parentline to start a webchat.
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