COPING WITH GRIEF AT CHRISTMAS
Christmas is often portrayed as a season of wall-to-wall joy and celebration. But for those of us who have lost loved ones, this season can sometimes feel heavy and complicated. 
Our CEO Mark reflects on his own journey with grief at this time of year and offers tips for those who may be struggling during the holidays.
Read the blog now: https://shorturl.at/USg13
Almost one million young people will benefit from learning or employment opportunities as a result of a major £820 million funding package.
Thanks to the funding, 350,000 new training or workplace opportunities in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality will be provided to young people on Universal Credit to help them develop on the job skills, employer networks, and CV and interview coaching – breaking down barriers to employment and ensuring every young person has the chance to reach their potential.
In total, 900,000 young people on Universal Credit and looking for work will also benefit from a dedicated work support session, followed by four additional weeks of intensive support.
They will be referred to one of up to six pathways by their work coach: work, work experience, apprenticeship, wider training, learning or a workplace training programme with a guaranteed interview, designed in partnership with employers.
The investment will provide a springboard to a better future for close to a million young people, giving them the chance to gain crucial skills and support to find a job with long term prospects.
As part of this training, young people will receive six weeks of training, work experience, and a guaranteed job interview, giving young people their first foot in the door towards meaningful employment, boosting their prospects and supporting a stronger economy as part of our Plan for Change.
55,000 young people also stand to gain from a government-backed guaranteed job, which will begin roll-out from Spring 2026 in areas with some of the highest need in Great Britain. These regions are:
More than 1,000 young people are expected to start a job in the first six months alone, with local partners and employers to play a key role in supporting young people as they transition into meaningful employment with fully funded wages and wraparound support for young people.
Alongside this, Youth Hubs – centres where young people can receive vital help to get them back on track – will be expanded to every local area of Great Britain, bringing the total to over 360. This will ensure young people up and down the country can access the lifechanging support Youth Hubs offer, such as CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice, and careers guidance.
There is an expectation that young people will take up the opportunities they are offered, and sanctions to benefits could be applied for those who don’t engage with the offered support without good reason.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, said: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.
“That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.
“This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Too many young people fall out of education unnoticed, crippling their life changes and denting the economy.
“Smarter data and early-warning tools will change that – helping us to spot risks sooner, step in faster, and keep learners on track through our Plan for Change.
“With these ambitious measures, we can break down barriers to opportunity to make sure every young person gets the support they deserve.”
Recent data shows that almost one million young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), a 26% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Today’s announcement represents a major intervention to reverse this trend and ensure no young person is left behind.
It builds on a wide range of measures the Government is bringing forward to support young people, including expanded funding for youth trailblazers, and a major investigation spearheaded by Alan Milburn into the barriers preventing the young from accessing work.
Earlier intervention is being prioritised, with a £34 million investment to make it easier to identify young people who need support before they drop out of the system. This includes a new Risk of NEET indicator tool, giving local areas more accurate insights to target support where it’s needed most.
The Government will also invest in further education attendance monitoring and provide targeted support for young people in state-funded alternative provision schools, helping them secure valuable work experience.
To ensure young people transition effectively from school into post-16 education or training, we are working with schools and piloting automatic enrolment with further education providers for young people without a place.
As announced by the Chancellor, the Government has committed to delivering a Jobs Guarantee for 18 to 21-year-olds who have been searching for work whilst in receipt of Universal Credit for 18 months.
The initiative will provide 25 hours/week of fully subsidised six-month paid work to every eligible 18- to 21-year-old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. The young people will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support.
The Government is finalising its National Youth Strategy, shaped by insights from over 14,000 young people, that will set out a long-term vision for youth policy across government.
Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO & Founder, Youth Employment UK: “The Youth Guarantee is a hugely important step forward and reflects many of the recommendations we have championed through our work.
“More than 8,000 young people took part in our 2025 Youth Voice Census, and the message was clear: they value work experience, skills development and local support, but too often cannot access it.
“This package – from the Youth Guarantee Gateway and expanded Youth Hubs to additional work experience, SWAPs and apprenticeships – represents the most focused investment in tackling youth unemployment we have seen in many years.
“We particularly welcome the commitment to early support, personalised pathways and strong local partnerships. We look forward to working closely with the government, Mayors, local areas and employers to ensure delivery reaches every young person, especially those facing the highest barriers. Together, we can make this Guarantee a meaningful reality for all.”
Barry Fletcher, CEO at Youth Futures Foundation said: “Youth Futures Foundation welcomes the Government’s focus and investment in tackling the growing, stubborn challenge of youth unemployment and inactivity.
“Today’s measures present an ambitious, comprehensive package to reform the system and support more young people into earning or learning.
“Crucially, reforms like the Jobs Guarantee are grounded in the evidence of what works, especially for marginalised young people. This will be vital to ensure a better future for young people and drive long-term economic prosperity.”
Naomi Clayton, CEO, Institute for Employment Studies, said: “With one in eight young people out of work and not in education and training, and the lasting scarring effects that can have, we’re pleased to see the government’s reforms to support more young people.
“We welcome the dedicated support being introduced through the Youth Guarantee Gateway to help prevent young people becoming long-term unemployed, alongside broader preventative measures to make it easier to identify young people who need support. We also welcome the wraparound support that will be provided to long-term unemployed young people as part of the Jobs Guarantee.
“Supporting young people to access meaningful work experience, training opportunities and good jobs will help secure a brighter future for a generation, their communities and the economy.”
Richard Rigby, Head of UK Government Affairs at The King’s Trust said: “At The King’s Trust, we know that when you match young people’s potential with opportunity, they can transform their own lives. This Youth Guarantee is a crucial step towards unlocking that potential.
“Increasing training and work experience opportunities, alongside a guaranteed job scheme for the long-term unemployed, will help the young people we support in our centres each day to start overcoming the barriers they face, and take their first steps into work.
“If we get this right, we can transform the futures of young people out of work across the UK, and build a healthier, wealthier society.”
Neil Morrison, HR Director at Severn Trent said: “Giving a young person that first opportunity can be game changing, so we’re fully supportive of government’s Youth Guarantee.
“At Severn Trent we’re tackling youth unemployment head on, and we’re giving young people real chances to grow and creating opportunities that unlock potential and true talent. We look forward to working together on this, and the role business can play in giving the next generation the very best start.”
Susannah Hardyman, CEO of Impetus, said: “We are delighted that the Government has chosen to invest in the futures of young people.
“With hundreds of thousands of young people neither earning nor learning, and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds twice as likely to be NEET as their better off peers, this Youth Guarantee is much-needed to ensure everyone aged 16-24 gets the support they need to succeed, whether that’s a work placement, work experience or training.
“Expanding Youth Hubs across the country is a particularly encouraging move, especially as they are a place where young people can access support even if they are not currently claiming Universal Credit.
“As our Blueprint for a Youth Hub research found, a culture of hospitality enables Youth Hubs to be an easy front door for young people to start accessing the opportunities they need for a fulfilling life.”
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said: “There is a moral and economic imperative for government and businesses to work together to support more young people into training and work.
“These announcements will allow more young people to gain the vital experience that only work can provide.”
Dr Emily Andrews, Director of Policy and Research at the Learning and Work Institute, said: “With nearly one million young people neither earning nor learning, we welcome today’s announcements to tackle the current waste of potential and boost our future workforce.
“Building on our long-standing call for a Youth Guarantee, we are pleased to see a more comprehensive offer developing, with a range of new opportunities for young people to access experience and training in the workplace.
“Crucially, the national system-level offer is being balanced by more place-based approaches, including Trailblazers and the continued expansion of youth hubs to reach young people outside the benefits system.
“We will continue to work with partners on the delivery and implementation of this package at a national, regional and local level, to make the most of these opportunities.”
Debbie Cook, EFL’s Director of Community said: “From employment, mentoring and education programmes to sport and wellbeing initiatives, EFL Football Clubs and their charities are deeply embedded in their communities, empowering young people to unlock their potential and thrive.
“Through the Youth Guarantee, we look forward to maximising opportunities for young people via new employment hubs in EFL communities, ensuring they can access guaranteed pathways into work, training, and skills development.”
Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy, at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training is at its highest level for a decade.
“BCC research also shows that 75% of businesses are struggling to recruit skilled workers, so it is good to see the government taking action with an ambitious plan to get young people into work.
“Expanding Youth Hubs and investing in the Jobs Guarantee will help young people gain the skills and experience needed to succeed in the workplace. Our network of 51 Chambers of Commerce across the UK stands ready to help government deliver the Youth Guarantee in full.
“Ensuing young people can access fulfilling careers and businesses can find the talent they need are vital to unlocking growth.”
Tracey Collins, Director of Emerging Talent and Social Impact at Kier, said: “At Kier, we are committed to providing opportunities for young people and bring emerging talent into construction through hundreds of work experience and apprenticeship positions every year.
“It’s important that these opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of background or history, as every young person deserves the chance to flourish.
“To support this, we are delivering a number of initiatives to make Kier accessible to underrepresented groups including a pilot project with the Youth Futures Foundation as well as through our Kierriculum schools’ engagement programme.
“We believe that the Youth Guarantee will further strengthen this activity and we are proud to support the government’s work to collectively reduce long-term youth unemployment and help them reach a better future.”
New figures from Trussell reveal alarming numbers of people in Scotland needing support from a food bank over the winter period.
Over 59,000 emergency food parcels were distributed overall last winter between December 2024 and February 2025 to people across Scotland with more than 19,000 of these provided for children – representing just under one in every three parcels.
There has been an alarming increase in the support provided for people aged 65 and over. Last winter, people aged 65 and over received more than 1,400 food parcels – that’s nearly double (99% higher) the level of support compared to the same period five years ago.
Last winter alone, over 5,400 families visited a Trussell food bank in Scotland for the first time and -as the country heads into the festive season – the charity estimates that once again thousands of people will need to turn to a food bank for the first time.
Last winter food banks in the Trussell community across Scotland provided emergency food to someone every 2 minutes 12 seconds.
Over the coldest months this year, as the rising costs of essentials – like food, electricity and rent – push more families to the brink, we expect to see sustained high levels of need.
Winter is consistently the busiest season for food banks, with need typically peaking due to colder temperatures and increased energy costs. At this time of year, food banks play a vital role in ensuring that people who cannot afford the essentials can still get by.
But worryingly, over half (58%) of Trussell’s community of food banks across the UK say that preparing for this winter feels harder than ever, as levels of need continue to outpace donations.
Many food banks say they are at breaking point and having to purchase significant amounts of food just to keep up.
Last winter alone, food banks in Scotland spent an estimated £205,000 on food as donations struggled to keep up with high levels of need.
That’s why Trussell is urging people to support them and their local food banks in any way possible – to help provide emergency food and advice for people facing hardship and play their part in ending hunger for good.
Sanjeev Kohli, Still Games star and Trussell supporter, said: “Finport and Craiglang might be fictional, but in very real communities the length and breadth of our country, too many people will struggle to afford the essentials this winter and will have no choice but to turn to their local food bank for support.
“No one should have to face our bitterly cold months worrying about whether to heat their home or have a hot meal, but so many people sadly will. No one should be forced to a food bank because they don’t have enough money to live on.
“Winter is often the busiest time for food banks, but when you walk through their doors you’re met with such warmth and care. I’ve witnessed first-hand the relief that food banks provide to people facing hardship and it’s a reminder of the compassion and dignity that brings our communities together, even in the toughest of times.
“It breaks my heart that so many people will be forced to turn to a food bank to support themselves or their families this winter, that’s why I’d ask all of you to get down to your version of Navid’s and fill your basket with items for your local food bank. You can also support Trussell’s winter appeal by making a donation through their website.”
Lynsey, a mum from Fife who was forced to turn to a food bank after her relationship broke down, said: “I was working full-time but my world collapsed when my partner left.
“It meant I had to leave my job to care for the children, and not long after I was also registered disabled. I have five children and after I became ill, I reached a point where I was completely overwhelmed.
“I was nervous when I first went to the food bank. I was worried I’d be judged but this wasn’t the case at all. The staff and volunteers were so welcoming and reminded me that keeping my children happy and fed was what mattered most.
“They provided us with emergency food when we couldn’t afford the essentials and I couldn’t be more grateful. Life is still tough and this winter will be a struggle once again with extra costs, like heating and energy bills.
“Thankfully, it’s such a relief to know that the food bank will be there to support my family. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
Cara Hilton, Trussell’s senior public affairs manager in Scotland, said: “Christmas should be a time of joy and celebration, but too many people in Scotland will be struggling just to get by.
“Thousands of families will be forced to turn to a food bank for the first time as they are left exhausted, isolated and without enough money to live on.
“Essentials like food on the table, a warm home and toiletries become a luxury many people simply cannot afford as people will be forced to make impossible decisions like whether to eat or heat their homes this winter.
“As the coldest months draw in, food banks need your help now more than ever. If you are in a position to help, you can make sure food banks are there for everyone who needs their support this winter by donating to Trussell’s winter appeal.
“Food banks are a lifeline, but they shouldn’t have to exist. This winter, will you help end hunger for someone today, and play your part in ending hunger for good?”
Lori Hughes, project manager at Perth and Kinross Foodbank, said: “We’re preparing for another very tough winter, and we’re asking for the support of our whole community so we can continue to be here for people facing hunger and hardship.
“Every week we see working families, carers, pensioners, and people just doing their very best to get by – and it shouldn’t be this way.
“This winter, we expect to distribute almost 2,500 emergency food parcels, and this means we’ll need over 24 tonnes of food to be donated to meet need. To put that in perspective, that’s the weight of 46 adult male polar bears.
“Food banks are not the answer, but right now they’re a lifeline. Donations are down, while need remains consistently high. When people’s cupboards are empty, our shelves must be full – and that is becoming harder to sustain.
“If you’re able to support us, whether through food, money, or time, it will make a real and immediate difference this winter.”
To support, please visit trussell.org.uk
The Eric Liddell Community, an Edinburgh-based care charity, has launched its 2025 Christmas Appeal to raise essential funds for its befriending programme, which supports unpaid carers.
This year’s campaign invites the public to “give the gift of friendship,” helping reduce loneliness and isolation among carers. Any donation to the Eric Liddell Community will help the charity reach more unpaid carers, offering relief, connection, and stability as many navigate turbulent transitions and mental health challenges.
With over 1.7 million of Scotland’s adult population having provided unpaid care at some point, and 700,000 currently doing so, the demand for reliable and relieving support continues to grow. Many unpaid carers struggle to access long-term and meaningful help, which is where the Eric Liddell Community steps in. Its befriending service already delivers more than 2,500 hours of companionship each year, and with your support, it can extend this vital lifeline even further.
From today – Tuesday 2nd December at 12pm, to Tuesday 9th December at 12pm, donations to the appeal will be matched by The Big Give thanks to its ‘Christmas Challenge’. By donating directly to The Eric Liddell Community’s Big Give page, all donations will be doubled, enabling the charity to support even more people who urgently need help.
Hannah Rees, Fundraising Relationships Officer at The Eric Liddell Community, highlighted the importance of the Christmas Appeal: “With around 700,000 unpaid carers in Scotland providing caring support, full-time for loved ones with dementia, disabilities, or long-term illnesses, we are looking for your support in extending the reach of our essential befriending services.
“82% of unpaid carers report dealing with mental health struggles, and during the season of giving, we ask you to consider a donation via our Big Give page to help double the impact of your support.”
John MacMillan, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, added: “We are proud to welcome thousands of monthly visitors through the doors of The Eric Liddell Community, and with your support, we are excited to expand our offerings as we move into 2026.
“The match funding provided by The Big Give will make a significant difference, enabling us to reach and support even more unpaid carers facing daily challenges.”
To donate to The Eric Liddell Community’s Christmas Appeal via The Big Give, please visit the donation page between 12 PM on the 2nd and 9th of December 2025.
After the 9th of December, donations towards the appeal can be made directly via The Eric Liddell Community’s website.
For more information on the befriending services that the charity offers, please visit https://ericliddell.org/carers-programme/#befriending
Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be paid to more than 96,000 carers across Scotland from 4 December.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment, currently made twice a year, for people in Scotland who get Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying dates.
The payment of £293.50, which is only available in Scotland, will be made automatically from 4 December to people who were paid Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on 13 October 2025. Carers due to get the payment will get a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made.
Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “As one of the first payments introduced by Social Security Scotland in 2018, I’m proud of the difference that Carer’s Allowance Supplement has made for carers across the country.
“The payment recognises the important role that carers play in our local communities and wider society. We have also recently widened eligibility for our Young Carer Grant, meaning even more unpaid carers in Scotland are benefitting from extra help.”
Paul Traynor, Head of External Affairs, Carers Trust Scotland, said: “Since its introduction, Carer’s Allowance Supplement has provided vital additional support to unpaid carers in Scotland, helping to recognise the invaluable contribution they make to their cared for people and communities.
“With over one million payments made and hundreds of millions of pounds delivered, this supplement has helped ease financial pressures for thousands of unpaid carers.”
If a carer is eligible for December’s Carer’s Allowance Supplement payment but has not received a letter or payment by 15 December, they should contact Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed the news that the controversial two-child benefit cap limit is to be scrapped at last.
Poverty Alliance Chief Executive Peter Kelly said: “The Chancellor’s decision to fully scrap the unjust two-child limit is the right thing to do.
For eight years, this cruel policy has severed the link between what families across the country need and the support they are entitled to, pushing children into poverty and limiting their potential. Our children deserve better.
“Campaigners across Scotland have been unified in their demand to scrap the two-child limit and we are pleased that the UK Government has listened, sending a strong message that every child in this country matters.
“The end of this policy must be the starting point of reform which ensures that our social security system truly provides security.
“This decision also frees up money earmarked for the mitigation of the policy in the Scottish budget. Coupled with the additional £820 million allocated to the Scottish Government in this Budget, this will allow further investment in the action we know is needed to meet our child poverty targets, including increases to the Scottish Child Payment.
“Boosting the minimum wage will help low-paid workers who are struggling to cover basic costs. Many are already worried about heating bills.
“While steps to reduce energy costs are welcome, they fall short of a true social tariff that guarantees everyone has access to life’s essentials.
“Much needed investment in home energy efficiency must also be protected to improve homes and secure long-term saving for low-income households.
“The UK Government must raise revenue to invest in our shared national priorities, like tackling child poverty and increasing living standards. It’s right that the Chancellor has turned to those with the biggest assets to contribute more.
“This is a positive step towards building a fairer system of taxation, but we need to go much further, with a bold, renewed approach to tax that puts justice and compassion at its heart.”
As some of you are aware, almost all of our much loved PEP buses were vandalised over last weekend, having their fuel tanks drilled and emptied.
This sadly resulted in having to cancel our transport commitments, which we are extremely sorry and sad about. Thank you to those individuals, family members and organisations for understanding the need to cancel, which has resulted in many of your vital services being cancelled or delayed and additional pressures experienced.
We will stay in touch with all of those involved as things move forward.
Our amazing team here at PEP sprung into action to create our action plan to get us back up and running, which hopefully won’t be too much longer. We will also be looking for more secure, long term parking facilities, if you know or anywhere, please share!
This vandalism has of course been reported to the police, but if anyone knows any information about who may have done this please do get in touch.
I don’t think they realise the conquences and impact of their actions, after all we are a Charity delivering vital services to many vulnerable people, not to mention the financial impact this has caused.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to support PEP, offering help in many ways. The local community are amazing and we are proud to serve you.
We appreciate that Christmas is just around the corner and wish we were not asking, however any donations to help us recover from the recent vandalism to our buses would be massively appreciated by ourselves as well as the organisations we work alongside 
New figures from Hospice UK reveal that two thirds of Scottish hospices either have already made cuts or are planning to make cuts within the next year.
Hospice UK says this reflects severe and unsustainable financial pressures across the hospice sector in Scotland at a time when demand for palliative care is at an all-time high. Hospices have had to make redundancies to both clinical and back-office staff, cut beds and reduce vital community services.
They are struggling to keep pace with rising costs, leaving people at risk of missing out on vital care at the end of life.
Helen Malo, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Scotland at Hospice UK said: “Hospices are an essential part of Scotland’s health and care system, easing pressure on the NHS by helping people stay out of hospital and receive expert care in their own communities. These are the services that should be growing to meet rising demand.
“But years of underfunding have left them stretched to breaking point, with many now being forced to cut services at a time when they’re needed more than ever. Without urgent action, more families will face the end of life without the expert care and compassion they deserve.”
The figures come as MPs debate amendments to the assisted dying bill today (Tuesday 25 November) including Jackie Baillie’s amendments to assess and mitigate the impact of the Bill on palliative care and create a code of practice for palliative care providers.
These amendments are vital to support hospices and the palliative care sector to be robustly prepared should the Bill become law and to ensure assisted dying is not introduced at the expense of existing palliative and end of life care services.
Helen Malo said: “Hospice UK has no collective view on whether the law should change on assisted dying, yet we feel it would be a moral and practical failure if a single person in future felt compelled to seek an assisted death due to a lack of available palliative care. Every person in Scotland should be able to access high-quality care and support at the end of life, wherever they live.”
With the Scottish Budget approaching, Hospice UK is urging the Scottish Government to include dedicated funding for hospices in the 2026/27 budget to protect vital care and support.
Looking ahead to the Holyrood elections, we’re also calling on the next Scottish Government to make palliative and hospice care a national priority and commit to a long-term plan to reform and invest in palliative and end of life care.
Jackie Stone, CEO, St Columba’s Hospice Care, said: “Demand for hospice care is rising year after year, yet the funding we rely on continues to fall behind. Hospices are being asked to deliver more complex care for more people, but with resources that are already stretched to breaking point. That gap is simply not sustainable.
“Hospice care is not optional; it is a vital part of Scotland’s healthcare system. We need the Scottish Government to recognise the essential role hospices play and to commit to fair, sustainable funding, so that every family can rely on the care and compassion they deserve when it matters most.”
Jacki Smart, Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group, said: “Without secure, long-term funding, hospices across Scotland are facing devastating choices – cutting back services, reducing staff, or even turning patients away for the first time. These hospices care for thousands of people every year, offering comfort and dignity at life’s most difficult moments.
“If funding falls short, families will lose vital support, and pressure on the NHS will grow. Hospices are a lifeline for communities, and we need urgent action to protect them.”
Hospice UK says that with the right investment, hospices stand ready to help the Scottish Government deliver its long-term ambition to shift more care into communities, providing expert, person-centred care closer to home.
As Scotland faces a sharp drop in temperatures, national children’s charity, Children First, is encouraging families in Edinburgh who are struggling with the cost of living and keeping warm this winter to reach out for help.
The charity warns that they are hearing every day from parents and carers that are struggling to make ends meet and provide basic essentials for their children.
Children First’s support line offers practical, emotional and financial help to families across Scotland 365 days a year.
The team has seen the number of callers rise by close to 50 percent so far this year. They can help with benefit checks, budgeting advice, and accessing emergency support to ensure families stay warm and well this winter.
Simon McGowan, Assistant Director at Children First, said: “We want every parent and carer in Scotland to know they are not alone if they are worried about paying bills or keeping their children warm.
“Our friendly support line team is here to listen and provide expert advice to ensure families get the support they need. We understand how hard it can be trying to make ends meet and the pressure families are under.”
In 2024, Children First’s support line helped families secure close to £2.5 million in financial gains and deal with half a million pounds in debts to make them more manageable.
Kinship carer Tony* who is bringing up his two-year old granddaughter Cara* and had been struggling to make ends meet, got help with his finances from Children First’s support line.
He said: “It was only when Children First support line got involved that things started to get better. I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders, it’s such a relief.”
Parents and carers can contact the support line via webchat at www.childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline or call free on 08000 28 22 33.
The service is available seven days a week:
Monday to Friday: 9am–9pm
Weekends: 9am–12 noon.
For more information, visit www.childrenfirst.org.uk.
*Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of the family.
STREET ASSIST SAYS SORRY …
