Tag: Edinburgh Child Protection Committee

More than 100 families attend first event of new campaign in Edinburgh to help keep children safe from abuse

More than 100 families attended the public launch of the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS campaign in Edinburgh this week.

Children got to meet Pantosaurus, the campaign’s mascot, as well as play games and get their faces painted at the McDonald Road Library on Tuesday (October 17th).

It was the first in-person event for the Talk PANTS campaign in Edinburgh, which will help protect young children from sexual abuse.

The year-long campaign was launched earlier this month (October 5) with an online event for professionals who work with children and families. It is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.

With the help of a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

At the family event there were refreshments, a Bookbug session, colouring in, games and Talk PANTS materials for parents and carers to take away.

Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “We were amazed at the turnout in McDonald Road Library. It was great to see how thrilled the children were to meet Pantosaurus.

“This campaign doesn’t use scary words or talk about sex, instead we focus on the PANTS rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried about something.

“We hope this campaign will provide parents with the knowledge and skills to be able to talk about this difficult topic with their child from a young age, to help prevent abuse.”

Over the coming year, local PANTS champions will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops, and awareness raising events will be held across Edinburgh for parents, carers and children.

The campaign materials and resources for parents, include a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talk PANTS with Makaton guide, which is designed to be used to deliver the PANTS message to children with Additional Support Needs, and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.

Find out more about Edinburgh Talk PANTS here.

Parents and professionals can also find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.

Edinburgh talking PANTS tomorrow!

Campaign being launched in Edinburgh to help keep children safe from sexual abuse

A campaign to help protect young children from sexual abuse is being launched in Edinburgh tomorrow with an online event for professionals who work with children and families in the city.

The year-long campaign is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.

With the help of a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

Over the coming year, local PANTS champions will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops, and awareness raising events will be held across Edinburgh for parents, carers and children.

The online launch, which will run from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday, October 5, will explore how we can better prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, using PANTS, and the next steps of the campaign.

The online event is open to all professionals who work with children and families in Edinburgh, and it will take place on Microsoft Teams.

NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head will introduce the event, and this will be followed with the personal story from a mum whose daughter was sexually abused. There will also be speeches from Stuart Allardyce, Director of Lucy Faithfull Foundation / Stop It Now! Scotland, Laura Brown, Edinburgh Child Protection Lead Officer and NSPCC Scotland’s Local Campaigns Manager Carla Malseed.

Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “Each year in Scotland, Police record more than 5,000 sexual offences committed against children. It is crucial that we do all we can to help prevent abuse from happening in the first place.

“The Talk PANTS campaign is about helping start difficult, but vital, conversations with children from a young age about sexual abuse and their right to be safe. 

“We don’t talk about sex or use scary words but focus on rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried.”

NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head, said: “We are delighted to be launching this campaign in Edinburgh to help prevent sexual abuse and keep children across the city safer.

“The Talk PANTS message and Pantosaurus animation makes it much easier for parents, carers and professionals to tackle this topic in a straightforward, fun and light-hearted way that children can understand and easily put into practice.”

Lillian Cringles, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “This campaign will help families and professionals have these important conversations with children about their bodies and help keep them safe. I urge as many professionals, parents and carers as possible to come along to our events in Edinburgh over the next few months.”

The first event for parents, carers and children aged 3-11, will be held at the McDonald Road Library on Tuesday, October 17 from 3 to 4.30pm. Also, a PANTS coffee morning will be held at the new NSPCC Community Hub in Leith on Wednesday, November 1, from 10.30am until 11.30am.

Other events throughout the year will promote the campaign materials and resources for parents, which includes a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talking PANTS with Makaton guide which is designed to be used to deliver the PANTS message to children with Additional Support Needs and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.

To book a place at the online launch event, visit: Edinburgh, Talk PANTS launch event for professionals Tickets, Thu 5 Oct 2023 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

Find out more about Edinburgh Talk PANTS here.

Parents and professionals can also find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.

Campaign being launched in Capital to keep children safe from sexual abuse

A campaign to help protect young children from sexual abuse is being launched in Edinburgh with an online event for professionals who work with children and families in the city.

The year-long campaign is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.

With the help of a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

Over the coming year, local PANTS champions will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops, and awareness raising events will be held across Edinburgh for parents, carers and children.

The online launch, which will run from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday, October 5, will explore how we can better prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, using PANTS, and the next steps of the campaign. The online event is open to all professionals who work with children and families in Edinburgh, and it will take place on Microsoft Teams.

NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head will introduce the event, and this will be followed with the personal story from a mum whose daughter was sexually abused.

There will also be speeches from Stuart Allardyce, Director of Lucy Faithfull Foundation / Stop It Now! Scotland, Laura Brown, Edinburgh Child Protection Lead Officer and NSPCC Scotland’s Local Campaigns Manager Carla Malseed.

Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “Each year in Scotland, Police record more than 5,000 sexual offences committed against children. It is crucial that we do all we can to help prevent abuse from happening in the first place.

“The Talk PANTS campaign is about helping start difficult, but vital, conversations with children from a young age about sexual abuse and their right to be safe. 

“We don’t talk about sex or use scary words but focus on rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried.”

NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head, said: “We are delighted to be launching this campaign in Edinburgh to help prevent sexual abuse and keep children across the city safer.

“The Talk PANTS message and Pantosaurus animation makes it much easier for parents, carers and professionals to tackle this topic in a straightforward, fun and light-hearted way that children can understand and easily put into practice.”

Lillian Cringles, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “This campaign will help families and professionals have these important conversations with children about their bodies and help keep them safe.

“I urge as many professionals, parents and carers as possible to come along to our events in Edinburgh over the next few months.”

The first event for parents, carers and children aged 3-11, will be held at the McDonald Road Library on Tuesday, October 17 from 3 to 4.30pm.

Also, a PANTS coffee morning will be held at the new NSPCC Community Hub in Leith on Wednesday, November 1, from 10.30am until 11.30am.

Other events throughout the year will promote the campaign materials and resources for parents, which includes a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talking PANTS with Makaton guide which is designed to be used to deliver the PANTS message to children with Additional Support Needs and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.

To book a place at the online launch event, visit: Edinburgh, Talk PANTS launch event for professionals Tickets, Thu 5 Oct 2023 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

Find out more about Edinburgh Talk PANTS here.

Parents and professionals can also find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.

Talk pants at McDonald Road Library!

FREE FAMILY FUN DAY – 17th OCTOBER

Free family fun day with @NSPCC_Scotland at McDonald Road Library on Tuesday 17 October, 3pm to 4.30pm. Free activities, snacks and meet Pantasaurus.

Find out more at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/talkpants

Talk PANTS is a partnership between the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland. The aim is to protect children from sexual abuse by encouraging parents, carers and professionals to have conversations with children in an age-appropriate way about how to stay safe.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the PANTS rule across the city. PANTS helps children understand that they have a right to say no and if they need to speak out about something, someone will listen. 

There is a range of resources available for parents, carers and professionals who work with children. 

All of Us: New film launched by Edinburgh campaign set up to support struggling families

A new film encouraging families in Edinburgh to access support and advice has been launched today (Wednesday, March 29) as part of a campaign run by NSPCC Scotland and the city’s Child Protection Committee.

The All of Us campaign, set up over two years ago, has involved organisations across the city working in partnership, including Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council, Stepping Stones North Edinburgh and Dads Rock, to highlight the different kinds of support available for families through events and workshops.

The film features two first-time mums who talk about the support they have received from Stepping Stones North Edinburgh and a father who says Dads Rock has helped him become ‘a more confident father’. 

As well as helping parents and carers get support and advice, the campaign lets people know where to turn if they have concerns about a child. It also raises awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who are struggling.

About one third of calls made to the NSPCC Helpline are from people concerned a child might be experiencing neglect, which is when a young person’s basic needs are not being met. This includes the child not having warm, clean clothing; enough to eat or drink; receiving love and care; access to healthcare; and support with education.

Neglect can happen due to a variety of issues, including parents not having support, funds or skills, and having poor mental health.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “We know that taking care of children isn’t always easy and we all need help from time to time.

“Parents might be struggling due to money, health issues or a whole range of factors outside their control and there’s help available across the city.

“The NSPCC Helpline is also there for anyone who wants advice or knows a family that needs support. It takes All of Us to raise happy, healthy children.”

A 25-year-old first-time mum, Shannon Borthwick, who attends Stepping Stones North Edinburgh – a charity that supports young parent families, said: “I don’t have the words to describe how much Stepping Stones has helped me, it’s just changed me as a person, it’s been so good for me.

“They’ve offered me such amazing opportunities. I’m incredibly grateful for all their help and support and I’m definitely finding parenting is easier since I reached out to them.”

24-year-old Marcia Cruz, who is also supported by the charity, added: “I’m also a first-time mum and I experience anxiety sometimes. There are times when it’s very difficult to know why your child behaves in a certain way.

“Having other people to talk with about things really helps and makes me feel much better. You realise you’re not the only person who feels a certain way and other mums are having similar experiences.”

Thomas Lynch, service manager at Dads Rock, said: “Parents really just appreciate having someone else to speak to and knowing they’re not alone and that other people are going through similar stuff.

“Nobody knows everything and it’s good to get a bit of information and support when you need it. I think people need to ask for help as soon as possible.”

Mark Cooper, a dad who has been supported by Dads Rock, said: “In the midst of a baby screaming that can be highly stressful.

“The support has helped me to become a more confident father because I know I’m not alone.”

Amanda Hatton, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said:“The All of Us campaign has been successful in highlighting the very real issues around child neglect and the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee has been working with NSPCC Scotland to raise awareness.

“The holiday period can be a challenging time for families so it’s important that everyone is aware of the wide range of support available here in Edinburgh. The ongoing cost of living crisis has put even more pressures on families, and I would urge people to continue to seek support.”

The film was launched at 10am this morning: Wednesday, March 29.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324, their health visitor, GP or child’s school. If you’re concerned that a child is in immediate danger phone 999.

To find out more about the campaign visit: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus

For further support and advice visit: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/support-families

To watch the video visit: NSPCC All of Us – YouTube

It takes ‘ALL OF US’ to raise happy, healthy children.

FREE Fun Family Drop In at McDonald Road Library this Saturday

Looking for something fun to do with the wee ones during the school summer holiday?

Why not pop along to a Fun Family Drop-in at the McDonald Library, Edinburgh, on Saturday, July 23, for some arts and crafts, balloon modelling, face painting and loads more.

The event has been organised as part of a campaign that was launched two years ago by the city’s Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland.

All of Us was set up to help people find out where to get support and advice with parenting or other worries about family life and where to turn if they have concerns about a child.

The partnership wants to help parents and carers, who may be struggling, and signpost them to where they can get advice and support before reaching crisis point.

Stalls at the event, which runs from 1pm to 3pm, will include NSPCC Scotland, Home Start, Children’s Health Scotland, Venture Scotland, Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) and The Junction.

There will also be arts and crafts from Polymorphics, a Bookbug session, snacks and drinks, a face painter, balloon animals, and the Institute of Physics, a professional body which strives to make physics accessible to people from all backgrounds.

Gail Sayles, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “Looking after a child can be challenging for all parents and carers at times, and it is so important that people feel they can seek support and know where to turn for help.

“Everyone is welcome to come along to this event to find out what support and activities are available where you live.

“Don’t forget the NSPCC Helpline is also there for anyone who wants advice or knows a family that needs support.”

The campaign has also been raising awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who are struggling.

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “Many organisations will be on hand to offer advice and provide practical support to parents and carers at this fun free drop-in at McDonald Road Library.

“This campaign was first launched just weeks before the pandemic struck and highlights the very real issues around child neglect. The past couple of years have really driven home the importance of raising awareness among communities and professionals so they are alert to the signs of child neglect.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to come along to find out more information about what is available.”

The Family Fun Drop-In is being held at the McDonald Library, McDonald Road, Edinburgh, from 1pm to 3pm.

The campaign has also been raising awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who are struggling with online workshops and seminars.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324, their health visitor, GP or child’s school.

To find out more about the campaign visit: Edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus

It takes ‘ALL OF US’ to raise happy, healthy children.

Free online event will look at impacts of pandemic on children and how best to support families in Edinburgh

Supporting children during the pandemic and beyond, is the focus of a free online event being held for people working with families in Edinburgh.

The virtual event has been organised by Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland to mark the end of a year-long campaign launched to encourage families in the city to access support and advice.

Anyone who works with children or families in Edinburgh can sign up to the event, which is being hosted on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, April 13th, between 2pm and 5pm.

Speakers will look at how the pandemic has impacted children, the ways in which organisations have adapted to help struggling families and what has been learned during the last year.

Attendees will hear about the All of Us campaign, which was launched to prevent child neglect by encouraging families to get help at an early stage and giving advice on how to support those who were struggling. There will also be an opportunity for people to discuss how to better support children and families in Edinburgh in the future.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “The pandemic has presented many hardships for families, including financial pressures, school closures, relationship strains, isolation and ill-health, and it has been more important than ever that people feel they can reach out for support and advice and get help.

“Organisations in Edinburgh have worked hard to find ways to adapt and support families while social distancing measures have been in place. This event will give us the opportunity to look at what we have learned over the last year and how we can best support families in Edinburgh in the future.”

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “We know that even as we move out of lockdown, people will continue to experience the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

“Protecting young people and supporting families remains a priority for us and we want everyone across the city to be aware of where to turn for help if they or someone they know is struggling.

“It is crucial that we work together to find the best ways of supporting families across the city during this difficult time and beyond.”

Early last year, as part of the campaign, a number of community events were held across the city but further ones were cancelled because of Covid-19 and all activities were moved online, including workshops, seminars and a family fun-day.

In April, the partnership brought together information on its web page about organisations and contacts where families could go for help and support during lockdown. 

This included information on support offered by public services, voluntary agencies and charities. Some examples were food banks, financial advice, crisis loans, mental health support, activities for children and support and advice on home learning.

The information was sent in food boxes to more than 300 families across the city and via email to parents through schools, and it was highlighted through social media campaigns. This resource has continued to be regularly updated throughout the pandemic.

The campaign raised awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who were struggling through lunchtime learning sessions and webinars.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus.

To sign up for the online event visit bit.ly/3w3UCjK or email allofus@safefamilies.uk.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324.

Campaign supporting families in Edinburgh to hold virtual fun-day

A virtual fun-day with activities for children and advice for parents is being held during the school holidays as part of a campaign launched to support families in Edinburgh.

The All of Us family fun day on Thursday, October 22, will have 15 online sessions, including story time, children’s yoga, a scavenger hunt and advice for one-parent families, which are being put on by organisations from across the city.

Some sessions will be hosted on Facebook, while people will need to sign up for others in advance.

All of Us was launched by NSPCC Scotland and Edinburgh Child Protection Committee earlier this year to help people find out where to get support and advice with parenting or other worries about family life and where to turn if they had concerns about a child.

At the start of the year a number of community events were held across the city but further ones were cancelled because of Covid-19, and all activities were moved online, including the family fun-day.

In April, the partnership brought together information on its web page about organisations and contacts where families could go for help and support during lockdown. This resource has continued to be regularly updated.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “Because of the pandemic, this year has been extremely difficult for so many families, who have faced financial pressures, relationship strains, isolation and ill-health.

“But we want people to know that support is still out there and if they or someone they know is struggling then it is important they feel that they can seek and get help.

“Our family fun-day, as well as providing some enjoyable activities for children and parents during the school holiday, will be an opportunity for adults to get some advice, such as how to help keep kids safe online.

“There are still spaces left, so please look on our website and find out about the different sessions we are running.” 

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “Protecting young people and supporting families remains a priority for us, and we want everyone across the city to be aware of where to turn for help if they or someone they know is struggling.

“And we really hope people will join us for our fun-day, which has a wide range of activities for children and some advice for parents. We are really pleased to see so many local organisations taking part.”

The campaign is also raising awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who are struggling. Two new webinars have been produced about the role that everyone can play in preventing neglect and helping to raise happy healthy children in Edinburgh.

One of the webinars is designed for parents and wider community members and describes what neglect is, its causes and signs and what people can do if they are worried about someone else’s child or need some support themselves. The other is for professionals and gives some insight into working with families in Edinburgh.

The 20-minute long webinars, which are free and can be watched until 28 February, 2021, can be accessed here.

To find out more about our fun-day programme visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus. 

People will need to sign up for some events in advance and the session organiser will then contact them with details of how to take part on the day.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus 

VIRTUAL-FUN-DAY-programmeDownload

Letter: Support for Fathers

Dear Editor,

Looking after a child can be a challenge for all parents at times but even more so in the current situation with measures put in place to contain the Coronavirus.

The lack of respite from children’s needs or relationship strains will be taking their toll on many parents; some will have lost their jobs and be experiencing financial difficulties and there will be those who have suffered illness and bereavement.

These pressures and anxieties will be intensified by the fact that families are having to cope without access to their usual support networks.

This month, as we mark Father’s Day and International Father’s Mental Health Day, we want to send a message to dads that there is help out there and, if you are finding things difficult or you feel you are struggling to cope, it is so important that you reach out for support. Looking after your mental health is vital for your own wellbeing, as well as your child’s.

Earlier this year, NSPCC Scotland teamed up with the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee to launch the All of Us campaign to let families know where and how they can get advice and support.

The different organisations involved in the campaign are working together to gain insight into how they can best support families and protect children across Edinburgh.

Our NSPCC Helpline counsellors are here for fathers whatever their worry. For parenting advice and support contact the helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or on 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm.

To find out more about the campaign and about available local support visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus

CARLA MALSEED, 

NSPCC Scotland campaigns manager,

on behalf of the All of Us campaign being run with Edinburgh Child Protection Committee

SCCR_leaflet_Conflict_Top_Tips

All of Us: still here to help in Edinburgh

Help is available for any families struggling in Edinburgh despite the ongoing health crisis, say the city’s Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland.

All of Us was launched earlier this year to help people find out where to get support and advice with parenting or other worries about family life and where to turn if they have concerns about a child.

The campaign is also raising awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who are struggling.

It has never been more important that both children and adults have somewhere safe they can turn to if they are worried. That is why Edinburgh’s Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland are doing everything they can to ensure that vital services such as the NSPCC run Childline and various helplines for adults worried about a child can stay open, while also ensuring staff and volunteers have a safe environment in line with government advice.

The partnership wants to help parents and carers, who may be struggling, and signpost them to where they can get advice and support before reaching crisis point.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “We know that looking after a child can be challenging for all parents, and now even more so as we all have to be responsible and stay at home to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

“It is so important that people know there is still support out there and that they know where to turn for help.”

Joanna Barrett, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for NSPCC Scotland added: “The entire way we think about child protection has changed in a matter of days and it is encouraging how the Scottish Government has recognised the effects this crisis could have on children at risk of abuse and neglect.

“We all need to play our part by checking in with families however we can and reaching out for support and advice if we have any concerns.”

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “We appreciate these are extremely challenging times for everyone, but protecting young people and supporting families remains a priority for us.

“The need for people to support each other is greater than ever, which we are seeing as communities pull together and show great strength.”

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus