Parent Club – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Help available to boost family incomes

Edinburgh parents urged to seek help with employment

A new campaign will encourage families living on a low income to access local support with finances and work.

It encourages people to take the first step towards relieving these pressures with help from the Parent Club website. This can guide them towards tailored support to help them improve their situation by starting work after unemployment, returning to work or improving earnings.

The campaign which includes TV, radio and online advertising, highlights the pressures of everyday life and shows parents feeling the ‘walls closing in’ on them as they juggle family life with bills and other costs.

Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We know that many families in Edinburgh are finding it hard to make ends meet at the moment and are looking for advice on things like finding work and applying for benefits.

“Taking the first step at ParentClub.scot can help find services that offer free, confidential and tailored advice that can really make a difference for families across Scotland.

“For anyone that’s feeling worried, stressed and overwhelmed, but aren’t sure where to start, please know you’re not alone and that help is available.”

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We understand the anxiety and stress, that low-income families could be living with and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is likely to be making even worse.

“Parent Club can guide people to free and confidential tailored advice from local authority employment services, where they can access support relevant to their own work and family situation.

“It also offers information on how to get help from the Money Talk Team who can advise on areas such as maximising income and dealing with debt. Parent Club also provides sources of support with mental health and stress.

“Tackling child poverty is our national mission. We want to make sure parents know what help is out there and claim any support they should be getting.”

Citizens Advice Scotland CEO Derek Mitchell said: “When times are difficult it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by bills mounting up – but our advice is free, confidential, and impartial.

“The Citizens Advice network is working with the Scottish Government to deliver the Money Talk Team service. We can check to see what payments you might be missing out on or any cheaper deals are available to you. If you are struggling with debt we can help with that too.

“Don’t delay, you could be missing out on money that could make a huge difference to you and your family’s finances.”

More children and family support

Early learning and childcare savings

Families of more than 83,200 children are saving around £5,000 per eligible child per year, thanks to the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) offer.

Latest figures show a year-on-year increase in children accessing funded ELC.

The number taking up the full offer of 1,140 hours a year is also up from this time last year. If families paid for this themselves, it would cost them around £5,000 per eligible child per year.

A total of 93,902 children aged two to five were accessing funded ELC at the start of September – a 3% rise from the same time last year. Of those, 83,237 – 89% – were benefiting from the 1,140 hours offer.

Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “Scotland is the only part of the UK to offer 1,140 hours a year of funded early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.

“This offer saves families a significant amount of money, which is particularly important at a time when so many are struggling with cost of living pressures. It also supports parents into work, training or study.

“High-quality ELC benefits children, too, by enriching their early years and giving them the confidence and skills they need to prepare them for school.

“We intend to expand our childcare offer even further, including building a future system of school age childcare and a new early learning and childcare offer for one and two-year-olds, starting with those who need it most.”

COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson Councillor Tony Buchanan said: “I’m pleased that today’s figures confirm that nearly 94,000 two to five-year-old children are accessing funded Early Learning and Childcare delivered by Scotland’s Councils and their partners, which represents a 3% increase on the position a year ago.

“A greater proportion of children are accessing the full 1,140 hours entitlement, compared with April this year. The increased availability of funded ELC is allowing children more time to play and learn, and more opportunities for parents and carers to work, study or volunteer, as well significant financial savings for families at a time when this is so desperately needed.”

Early Learning and Childcare Delivery Progress Report