Tag: Children 1st

Barclays donates £100k to support children and families in Scotland

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.

Support for families “at the end of their tether” as restrictions change

AS coronavirus restrictions tighten, charity Children 1st is making sure that parents and carers can always get the support they need through their Parentline service.

Children 1st Parentline helps families with emotional, financial and practical support, over the phone and online. Throughout the pandemic Children 1st have helped families come together, deal with stress and cope through the continued changes to everyday life.

Families can also be put in touch with Children 1st Money Advisors, who help parents and carers deal with money worries and take control of their finances.

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive, Children 1st said: “Parents and carers are telling us that they feel like they’re 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 lights on and put food on the table.

“We want families to know they don’t need to go through this alone. Children 1st Parentline is here. Our staff and volunteers give confidential, non-judgemental support over the phone or online. You can call free on 08000 28 22 33 or start a webchat at children1st.org.uk/parentline”

One parent who reached out to Parentline said: “I would have been in a totally different place if it hadn’t been for these conversations.

“No one seems to be there to support the people who are supporting the children. I was really struggling. It’s fine talking to friends and family, but they aren’t in your shoes.”

Another parent said: “It feels really good just to be heard and not feel judged.”

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.

Back to school support service launched

  • Children 1st responding to concerns of anxious parents
  • Children 1st Parentline offering new service to support parents as schools restart
  • Tips and advice, and webchat for online now available on Children 1st website

PARENTS worried about their child returning to or starting school have a new dedicated support service for practical help and advice.

Children 1st’s Parentline have launched the new service before Scotland’s schools re-open next week after receiving an increasing number of calls from anxious parents and carers who have worries about children back to school.

Parentline, which is staffed by a highly skilled team from Children 1st, will offer parents and carers specific help and advice about how best to support children with practical and emotional issues as schools reopen.

Mary Glasgow, the Chief Executive of Children 1st, (above) said: “As a parent, I know how tough it has been over the last few months with the schools being closed and all the challenges that has brought.

“Despite everything, children and families come through that and now the next challenge for many parents is the first day of school.

“Over the last few weeks, lots of parents and carers have been coming to us with worries about their children’s return to school. This includes parents with children starting P1 and S1 who have particular concerns about whether their children will cope.

“That is why we have set up this new service so parents and carers can talk through any worries or fears they have and get advice on how best to support their children. Children 1st Parentline is there for every family. Please do get in contact over the phone, online or through webchat if you think a chat might help. ”

Children 1st Parentline has been offering support to families for over 20 years. It has supported hundreds of families throughout lockdown as calls soared and traffic to the charity’s webpages quadrupled, when compared to the same period last year. Now, the charity is hearing more worries from parents about what the return to school will mean, especially for the many children who have struggled to cope emotionally during lockdown.

Parentline can be contacted over the phone on 08000 28 22 33 or via webchat at www.children1st.org.uk/parentline. A wide range of additional resources for parents and carers can also be found on the website.

Ann Jarvis, from Children 1st Parentline, put together some of her top tips to help make the first day back at school go as smoothly as possible. She said: “By just sitting with your child and listening to any concerns and worries your child may have can make all the difference.

“Allow them to tell their story and really listen to what they’re saying.

“Bear in mind that none of us really like change – but change is much easier when we know what’s coming and can talk through our feelings.

“Talking and listening to your child about what they expect on their first day is a great way to prepare. Meanwhile, it’s important for parents to give themselves a break and accept that everyone is learning.”

Ann also says it’s important to be prepared.

She added: “There’s plenty of advice and information from schools about practical preparations: uniform, shoes, bag, lunch, labels on clothes.

“Perhaps ask your child if they would like to help you pack their school bag so they know exactly where everything is and will also help them get into a routine.

“Talking and listening to your child about what they expect on their first day is also a great way to prepare. ”

In addition, routines help children to feel secure and settled so Ann would encourage parents to talk through the basics and perhaps do a trial run before their first day.

Raise funds for Children 1st and SportsAid through #26OlympiansChallenge

Olympic silver medallist Keri-anne Payne is inviting families to join her and a host of the country’s most famous sports superstars in a lockdown Olympian sports challenge today (Sunday 26th April) as she raises funds for Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity and SportsAid.

The #26OlympiansChallenge is a full body workout, dreamt up by Keri-anne with support from 25 other Olympians including Tom Daley, Greg Rutherford and Rebecca Adlington.

Taking place on what would have been the date of the annual London Marathon, #26OlympiansChallenge is linked to the 2.6 Challenge, a new national campaign to encourage people to develop an activity based around the numbers ‘2’ and ‘6’ to support charities that have been hit hard by the postponement of mass sporting events which raise valuable funds through sponsorship.

Each of the Olympians involved has selected an exercise, suitable for all ages and fitness levels which is specifically beneficial for the physical requirements of their sport and a charity that is close to their hearts. People of all ages are invited to take part, raise their own sponsorship, or to donate £26 or whatever they can on the Olympians’  Justgiving pages.

Keri-anne Payne, who competed for the British team as an open water swimmer at the Beijing, London and Rio Olympic Games, was delighted to come up with the idea of #26OlympiansChallenge to raise funds for Children 1st which prevents child abuse and neglect, protects children and families and supports them to recover from harm and for SportsAid which provides financial support, national recognition and personal development opportunities to talented young athletes across Great Britain.

Keri-anne said: “Family and sport are two of the things that matter most to me,  so I’m delighted to be supporting Children 1st who are continuing to do an amazing job at supporting children and families, particularly through this difficult time and SportsAid which encourages young athletes to achieve their sporting ambitions.

“My family are a huge support, they’ve helped make all my sporting achievements possible. Now that I’m a Mum myself, the work that Children 1st does to keep children safe and support their families, means even more.

“At this time when exercise is so vital to our health and wellbeing and families need more support than ever, I’m proud to shine a light for sport and children through the 2.6 challenge.”

Gary Kernahan, Director of Fundraising at Children 1st said: “We’ve all watched with great pride as our Olympian stars have achieved remarkable things. We are so grateful to Keri-anne Payne for taking on this new challenge and for pulling together this team of Olympians to take on the 2.6 challenge for Children 1st.

“The coronavirus pandemic is affecting Children 1st and charities all across the country. We hope that Keri-anne’s efforts will inspire children and families to get involved and take on their own 2.6 challenge.”

To take part in the workout please make sure to check Keri-anne’s Instagram account – @Kerianne_Payne – on Sunday at 10a.m.

You will also be able to access the #26OlympiansChallenge on Children 1st’s social media channels, SportsAid’s YouTube channel and the other Olympians social media channels from 10am on Sunday.

The workout has been pre-recorded which means you can undertake it whenever is convenient next week. It will predominantly focus on bodyweight exercises and covers a wide range of sports such as athletics, cycling, boxing, swimming, diving, skeleton, canoeing, sailing, taekwondo and judo.

Remember to donate to Keri-anne’s Justgiving page or set up your own sponsorship to support Children 1st and SportsAid at this important time.

The 26 Olympians taking part in the challenge are: Keri-anne Payne (swimming), Tom Daley (diving), Greg Rutherford (athletics), Becky Adlington (swimming), Lutelo Mohammed (Taekwando), Gemma Gibbons & Euan Burton (Judo), Mark Robertson (Rugby 7’s), Jen McIntosh (Shooting), Grace Reid (Diving), Alex Gregory (Rowing) Angela Hannah (Canoeing), Hannah Macleod (Hockey), David Carry (Swimming), Amy Williams (Skeleton), Jess Eddie (Rowing), Fran Leighton (Waterpolo), Bryony Page (Trampolining), Luke Patience (Sailing), Tessa Sanderson & Densign White (Javelin & Judo), Claire Rafferty (Football), Susannah Townsend (Hockey), Pete Reed (Rowing), Gail Emms (badminton), Jamie Cooke (Modern Pentalthlon), Anthony Agogo (Boxing), Colin Flemming (Tennis).

Local volunteer receives award at Scottish Parliament

North Edinburgh local, Colin Brown, was presented with an award at the Scottish Parliament, in recognition of his volunteer charity work with Children 1st’s Parentline.

The People’s Postcode Lottery ‘Spirit of Parentline’ Awards celebrated the qualities in volunteers that allow Parentline to lend a helping hand to children and families across Scotland – by phone, email and webchat. Continue reading Local volunteer receives award at Scottish Parliament

Great Stuff! Students donate Christmas stockings to local children

A group of Edinburgh College students have been busy stuffing stockings full of gifts to deliver to local children in time for Christmas. The Entry to Learning students undertook The Great Stocking Stuff in aid of Children 1st Hardengreen to provide gifts to local children who may otherwise receive very little at Christmas time. Continue reading Great Stuff! Students donate Christmas stockings to local children

Edinburgh businesses raise over £350,000 for children’s charity

Teams from Edinburgh organisations including EY, Larbert High School and University of Edinburgh Business School took on the heat of Dragons’ Glen, raising £16,026 in 2016/17 and supporting Children 1st, Scotland’s National Children’s Charity. Tthe competition has now raised £358,378 in five years. Continue reading Edinburgh businesses raise over £350,000 for children’s charity