Tag: Children and Families

Tartan Trailblazers raise more than £44k for Childline by trekking the Great Wall of China 

A group of fundraisers from across Scotland have returned after raising more than £44k for Childline by completing a gruelling 50km trek along the Great Wall of China. 

The group of 14 fundraisers, who dubbed themselves the “Tartan Trailblazers,” walked 10km a day for five consecutive days across steep terrain, uneven steps, and exposed conditions – all in support of children and young people who rely on Childline. 

Among the group were Angela Sloan, 63, a teacher and Childline volunteer from Glasgow, and Gemma Cutler, 22, a Childline counsellor from Aberdeen. 

Gemma said: “The trek was an amazing experience and felt so surreal! The weather was pretty extreme with temperatures reaching 24 degrees and the paths were quite steep, with lots of loose rocks and uneven terrain. 

“That made it difficult, but it was worth it for the views at the top and to raise money for Childline, of course. It was lovely to be able to accomplish something so difficult with likeminded people all for a shared cause – to support children and young people through Childline.” 

Angela said: “It was unlike anything I have ever done before. The scale of the Wall was breathtaking and to feel the history beneath my feet made it unforgettable. 

“The terrain was tough: steep climbs, loose rocks and relentless heat. There were moments of exhaustion, of course, but also laughter, camaraderie, and reflection.  

“What kept us going was knowing that every step was helping Childline continue to be there for children who need someone to talk to. That purpose gave the whole experience real meaning.” 

The trek, organised through Charity Challenge, followed the winding path of the Yan Mountains to the Gubeikou Gateway, including the famous ‘heavenly staircase’ — a steep climb with dramatic views and unpredictable weather. 

Arlene Main, Fundraising Manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the Tartan Trailblazers. Their determination, teamwork, and generosity will make a real difference to children and young people across Scotland.  

“Their efforts are truly inspiring and its thanks to people like them that we can continue our work ensuring children are safe from abuse and neglect. Every step they took helps ensure Childline can continue to be there — day or night — for those who need someone to talk to.” 

Funds raised will support the NSPCC’s Childline service. To donate, visit the group’s JustGiving page. 

Young people looking for support can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.  

Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk. 

Audit Scotland: Care system reform ‘lacks clarity and accountability’

BROKEN PROMISE?

Plans to improve Scotland’s care system have been slow to come together after not enough early delivery planning by the Scottish Government and COSLA.

The Promise, a national commitment to improving the lives of care experienced people by 2030, was made by the Scottish Government in 2020.

Organisations and individuals remain dedicated to achieving that goal. But five years on, there is still confusion about what different bodies should be doing to deliver the changes needed.

Plans to date have lacked detail and direction for individual sectors. New structures set up by the Scottish Government to help deliver The Promise have lacked clarity about their roles and responsibilities.

And Scottish Government efforts to streamline The Promise’s complex governance arrangements have been insufficient. This has contributed to slow progress and made collective accountability challenging.

From the outset, there was no assessment of what resources and skills were needed to deliver The Promise by 2030, or how success would be defined or measured.

A framework to measure progress was agreed in December 2024 but further work remains. The Scottish Government is working on national data, which is not currently good enough to assess if services are improving the lives of care experienced people.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “Public bodies remain committed to improving Scotland’s care system and the lives of people who go through it. But initial planning about how The Promise would be delivered didn’t provide a strong platform for success.

“The Scottish Government needs to work with its partners to clearly set out the action that will be taken over the next five years to deliver The Promise, and how that work will be resourced.”

Angela Leitch, a member of the Accounts Commission, said: “Despite public bodies working hard to support local and national change to the services underpinning Scotland’s care system, greater pace and momentum is now needed.

“Local bodies need to work with their national partners to clarify roles and responsibilities, and prioritise the work needed to achieve The Promise’s aims.”

Commenting on the latest report on the Promise by the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission, Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, said:  “This report makes it clear that time is running out to keep the Promise.

“Investing in prevention and whole family support is the best way to stop children going into care in the first place. No child should be taken into care because support isn’t available. 

“Real efforts have been made across Scotland over the last five years but as today’s report recognises, lack of clarity and accountability and failure to value and invest in the crucial role of the third sector are standing in the way.  

“Children can’t wait. At Children First our commitment to keeping the Promise is as strong as ever. But unless the recommendations of the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission are acted on immediately the Promise won’t be kept.”  

nr_251008_improving_care_experienceDownload

Poll reveals majority of cohabiting couples in Scotland unaware of inheritance risks without a Will

A new survey conducted by Will Aid, the national Will-writing campaign, has revealed an alarming gap in the public’s understanding about inheritance laws affecting cohabiting couples.

The survey found that 68% of cohabitees in Scotland were unaware of the rules of intestacy and what happens to their estate if they die without a Will.

The statistics from Scotland paint an identical picture to the rest of the country, with 68% of UK cohabitees also unaware of the risks without a Will.

This lack of awareness could have devastating consequences for many Scottish families, as cohabiting couples—regardless of how long they have lived together or whether they have children—are not automatically entitled to inherit from one another if one partner dies without leaving a Will.

Key findings from the poll include:

  • 25% mistakenly believe their estate would automatically pass to their partner
  • 24% admitted they were unsure what would happen
  • 15% said they had never even thought about the issue
  • 7% thought their estate would go to close friends

The Rules of Intestacy dictate how a person’s estate is distributed when they die without a Will.

These rules prioritise spouses, civil partners, and blood relatives, often leaving cohabiting partners with no legal right to inherit anything. This could leave surviving partners facing significant financial hardship, particularly in cases where they are dependent on the deceased’s income or home.

Peter de Vena Franks, Will Aid Campaign Director, said: “Many people assume that after living together for a period of time, they automatically become common law husband and wife, but this is not the case. The concept of ‘common law marriage’ ceased to exist a very long time ago.

“If you are cohabiting as a couple, the law does not recognise you as common law spouses, even if you have children together and have lived together for many years.

“Therefore, if you do not have a Will, the Rules of Intestacy will apply, and your partner will be completely disregarded.”

The annual Will Aid campaign sees solicitors across the UK volunteering their time to write Wills throughout November, so it is an ideal time for people who are cohabiting to get their wishes professionally drafted in a legal document, which will help to protect their loved ones in the future.

De Vena Franks added: “Will Aid is the perfect opportunity for unmarried and cohabiting partners to get a professionally written Will in place.

“Without a Will, surviving partners may not be automatically entitled to inherit, leaving them in a vulnerable position – and it’s particularly worrying that so many people aren’t aware of this, and don’t fully understand the Rules of Intestacy.

“By participating in Will Aid, couples can ensure their wishes are clearly documented, giving both partners peace of mind that their loved one will be provided for in the event of their death.”

Will Aid is a partnership between the legal profession and eight of the UK’s best-loved charities.

The initiative, which has been running for more than 35 years, sees participating solicitors waive their fee for writing basic Wills every November.

Instead, they invite clients to make a voluntary upfront donation to Will Aid – the suggested amounts are £120 for a single basic Will and £200 for a pair of basic ‘mirror’ Wills.

Appointments are available now, and you can sign up by visiting www.willaid.org.uk

Will Aid is encouraging people to use its upcoming campaign month to write or update their Wills with a participating solicitor, while also supporting UK charities including Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, SCIAF (Scotland), Trócaire (Northern Ireland) and – new for this year, Shelter and Crisis.

For more information on Will Aid and how to get involved visit www.willaid.org.uk

New campaign aims to increase understanding of child sexual and criminal exploitation

A new campaign to help tackle child sexual and criminal exploitation has been launched in Renfrewshire. 

‘Ready to Talk’, which is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland in partnership with community charity I Am Me Scotland and Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee, aims to support children, young people, professionals, parents and carers to have conversations about child sexual exploitation. 

It will also help to increase people’s understanding of the issue, including knowing the signs and where to get support and advice. 

The campaign, designed for young people aged 11 and over, was officially launched at an event on Thursday (2nd October) which was hosted by St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation at St Mirren Park, Paisley. 

The campaign will be touring around schools this month to perform a play ‘It’s Not OK’ which has been written by York St John University with a Renfrewshire focus and contributions from local young people.

It highlights online safety issues including grooming, gaming and sexting, and explores healthy and unhealthy relationships and coping with strong emotions.  

Dr. Matthew McVarish*, a multi-award-winning human rights activist and survivor of childhood sexual abuse, delivered the keynote speech on awareness of child sexual exploitation in the current Scottish and global context. 

Aoife, 21, from South Lanarkshire, an NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate, shared her experience of sexual exploitation at the campaign’s launch yesterday.  

When she was 15, she was exploited by a man who pretended to be a teenager. He asked her to send him images of herself then he blackmailed her with these, threatening to share them with all her friends and family on Facebook, to control her behaviour. 

When his demands became increasingly frightening, Aoife recalled being told at school about the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) and reported the images. Through this, her school and parents supported her to report what happened to the police. The perpetrator was sentenced in 2022 following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). 

Aoife said: “I’d say to young people if this happens to you – it’s not your fault. You are the victim, and you have been taken advantage of. They are to blame, not you. 

“It’s important that you don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed if you’ve shared images of yourself. Support is available, you can even get help to delete images of you that have been posted online.” 

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns manager, said: “We hope this campaign will help to increase everyone’s understanding of what child sexual exploitation looks like and where they can get support and advice if they experience any of the issues raised. 

“The resources that accompany the ‘It’s Not OK’ play can also be used by parents, carers and professionals to increase their awareness of this issue and to recognise when a young person may be at risk because they are in an unhealthy or exploitative relationship.” 

Mhairi O’Rourke, I Am Me Development Co-ordinator, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the young people who have helped shape the Ready to Talk campaign and the powerful resources that accompany it. Their creativity and insight have been vital in making sure the materials speak directly to their peers. 

“By working closely with parents, carers and professionals, we’ve been able to understand what support they need to have open, honest conversations with young people about exploitation and online safety. Together, we’re helping to build a community that’s informed, empowered and ready to talk.” 

Tam Baillie, chair of Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee, said: “We are proud of our young people and teams being part of this national campaign to increase people’s awareness of child sexual and criminal exploitation.  

“The Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee working with NSPCC and I Am Me Scotland strengthens the partnership approach required to keep our children free from harm.   

“Knowing the signs of abuse and how to report it helps keep children and young people safe and we as a community all have a part to play in being aware and reporting any concerns, no matter how big or small.”  

Schools and professionals will be able to use accompanying resources, which include films, lesson plans and activities. 

Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.  

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000, or email: help@NSPCC.org.uk 

Domestic Abuse: Tenth anniversary of Disclosure Scheme launch

POLICE Scotland: Today marks ten years the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) launched.

The scheme provides a formal way of sharing information about a partner’s abusive past, with a potential victim.

The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) is a way to find information about whether a person has an abusive past. This information can be used to prevent someone from experiencing domestic abuse in the future.

You can make a DSDAS application if you:

  • think you might be at risk of domestic abuse
  • are worried someone you know might be at risk of domestic abuse

We’ll only make a disclosure after we’ve considered all factors. We’ll assess the threat carefully, and we’ll decide if we need to share information to prevent a person from experiencing domestic abuse.

We may also speak to other agencies to help us make sure a disclosure is the right option.

If you’re making the application on behalf of someone else, we cannot make the disclosure to you. We can only make a disclosure to the person who is at risk to support and help protect them.

The police will act immediately if they think you or someone else needs to be protected from harm.

How to apply:

There are a few ways to apply for a domestic abuse disclosure. You can:

https://orlo.uk/wwe2C DSDAS form

https://orlo.uk/CPBus

NHSGGC partners with ICON to support parents through infant crying

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has teamed up with national charity ICON to support new and expectant parents with managing the emotional challenges that can arise when their baby cries.

The ICON programme aims to promote mental wellbeing and provide practical strategies to help parents stay calm and cope during difficult moments. Crying is a normal part of infant development, but it can be overwhelming, especially when parents are tired or stressed. It provides resources for both parents and healthcare professionals.

More than 500 NHSGGC staff have been trained on the ICON programme so far, with a plan in place for this to be rolled out further through various healthcare teams, including midwifery teams, family nurses, health visitors and GPs.

The ICON programme is built around a simple, evidence-based message:

  • Infant crying is normal and will stop
  • Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby
  • It’s OK to walk away for a few minutes if the baby is safe and the crying feels overwhelming
  • Never shake or hurt a baby

Shaking a baby can cause Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), which may lead to serious brain injury, disability, or even death.

NHSGGC’s Health Visiting and Midwifery Teams are encouraging all parents and carers to visit the ICON website, which offers a range of resources to help identify reasons for crying and manage stress in the moment.

Laura Gordon, NHSGGC Health Visiting Team Leader, said: ““Parents need to be kind to themselves. Having a new baby can be exhausting and it is fully understandable that tiredness mixed in with a crying baby can be overwhelming.

“What is important, is recognising why your baby might be crying, if it is normal, and how you can remain calm while they’re doing so.

‘What is important is accessing the support from your health professional to recognise why your baby may be crying, discussing a realistic plan, which can support you to remain calm and soothe them while they are doing so.

“ICON is an excellent resource for this. The visual of the ‘normal crying curve’ alone can alleviate some of the parents’ concerns. It shows how babies start to cry more often at about two weeks of age. The crying may get more often and last longer during the next few weeks. It will reach a peak at about six to eight weeks, sometimes a little later.

“Every baby is different but after about two to three months, babies start to cry less and less each week. Knowing that provides parents with reassurance.

“Parents can also download resources for later through the NHSGGC Happy Healthy tots app meaning that they can easily refer to information offline and easily find them in the middle of the night!”

ICON is also highlighting that coping with crying is an issue for both men and women. For some men, finding someone to talk to and calming down before handling a baby can be an even bigger challenge. ICON encourages all parents to recognise the importance of asking for help and planning ahead for those difficult moments.

One simple coping strategy is to cut down on stimulation such as turning off screens, dimming lights, and creating a calm environment for both parent and baby. Families are also being urged to use the ICON Crying Plan: a practical tool to remind parents of what helps them personally to stay calm when stress levels rise.

Dr Suzanne Smith, Nurse, Health Visitor and Founder of ICON, said: “Persistent crying can be extremely stressful for any parent. People often say, ‘just calm down’, but in the moment that’s not easy.

“The ICON Crying Plan helps parents think ahead about what works for them – whether that’s stepping outside for fresh air, calling a friend, or taking a few deep breaths – so that when the crying gets overwhelming, they have a strategy ready.

“No parent is alone in this. Support is available through midwives, health visitors, GPs and online resources. Reaching out for help is a positive step for both parents and babies.”

www.iconcope.org/iconweek2025
https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/happy-healthy-tots/

Tesco extends national Fruit & Veg for Schools programme in Edinburgh

More than 500 schools across the UK set to receive free fruit & veg

  • Scheme will give thousands of young people fruit and vegetables every day at school
  • Last academic year (24/25), around 140,000 children were supported with over 10 million portions of fruit & veg

Tesco has announced that its Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, is to be expanded for another year to reach even more schools across the UK.

For the whole of the next academic year (2025/2026), free fruit and veg from local Tesco stores will give children in more than 500 schools a nutritious boost that they might not ordinarily get.

The Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme launched in September 2024 as part of the supermarket’s Stronger Starts funding and community support for children. 

The second year of funding will continue to be specifically targeted in areas where the proportion of pupils receiving free school meals is above 50%. The focus on areas with higher free school meal participation is particularly important because data shows that families on lower incomes struggle to afford a healthy diet.  

Only 12% of children aged between 11 and 18 are meeting the five-a-day recommendation and for children taking part in the scheme, Tesco expects to see their overall fruit and veg intake increase by 23%, based on the average five-a-day intakes in school-aged children. 

The schools taking part in the scheme will be able to shop for the fruit and veg the school needs in stores local to their school. 

Most popular fruits in year one, were:

1.  Apples (225,585kg)

2. Bananas (108,602kg)

3. Oranges (92,597kg)

4. Grapes (39,771kg)

5. Strawberries (37,735kg)

Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO, commented: “Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has made on their children, so we are delighted we are able to support even more schools in year two.

“The first year of our programme has been a huge success and by expanding it we can ensure that even more young people in some of the most challenged communities in the UK get access to more fruit and veg.”

Astral Blanchard, Head Teacher at Twerton Infant School in Bath, said: “The Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has given our children the opportunity to try so many new fruit and vegetables, while also helping us build healthy eating into a valuable part of our daily routine.

“Snack time is now a calm and enjoyable moment where we read stories, talk about flavours and explore new tastes together in ways we hadn’t before.

“Children are helping to prepare the fruit, trying things they’ve never eaten, and even asking for fruit and vegetables at home. It has been a joy to see their curiosity grow and their enthusiasm for healthy eating thrive.”

Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “Tesco’s Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has helped to improve the diets of our young people by helping them get more of their five a day, try new varieties and develop healthy habits that we hope will stay with them through life.

“We’re delighted to see the programme expanded to provide daily fruit and vegetables to even more children who might not normally be able to access them.”

Strange Town presents HER – a play all parents should see

Leith-based charity Strange Town returns this October with their acclaimed play ‘HER’ a bold and urgent performance about consent, gender inequality, and the pressures young people face today.

Established in 2008 by Steve Small and Ruth Hollyman, Strange Town has spent 17 years creating life-changing arts experiences for young people across Edinburgh.

Long before the groundbreaking series Adolescence hit screens, Strange Town was already producing daring, original theatre in schools, giving pupils their first-ever experience of live performance while opening conversations about difficult topics such as knife crime, mental health, and social pressures.

HER, written by Jennifer Adam and directed by Steve Small, follows HIM and HER, childhood friends who have grown apart by the age of 17.

Loosely reconnecting at high school, they confront the challenges of teenage life, gender inequality, and the truth about consent. Through bold, honest storytelling, the play asks: how can you be the change you want to see in the world when it feels like the world is working against you?

‘This is such an important play — all parents, grandparents, and really anyone who wants to understand the challenges young people face today needs to see it, urgently. Our young people are navigating a world that many older people are completely unaware of and unprepared for.

‘Watching this performance helped me start conversations at home that I wouldn’t have known how to begin, and I am incredibly grateful for that.” — Audience Member

Open to audiences aged 14+, HER runs for two nights: Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd October at 7pm at the Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh EH1 2ED

Times: 7pm (approx. 50 minutes)

Tickets: £15/£12/£10 https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/her-autumn-25

Strange Town has been hit by the well publicised funding cuts imposed by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB), leaving the future of its Touring Company — which brings bold, original theatre into schools across the city — under threat.

The charity depends on fundraising to sustain accessible arts opportunities for young people who might otherwise miss out.

Local people and businesses who want to help protect this vital work are encouraged to donate online or get in touch to explore other ways of support.   

https://strangetown.org.uk/about-us/donations-info-page/.