Children 1St

“Families are struggling to get by. They have to make choices between eating or heating. Things like getting clothes washed or paying for transport can be impossible. It can mean children end up not making it to school or are too hungry to concentrate.”
This is what Jennie, a Children 1st Family Support worker, had to say about the impact poverty is having on children in Scotland. You can help provide specialist money advice and emotional support to build families' financial security and reduce stress.
https://www.children1st.org.uk/poverty

Wishing all the fabulous folk going to Pride Edinburgh a wonderful day!
Young people (age 13-25) looking to celebrate after the march can head to LGBT Youth Scotland's Youth Space, looks set to be a brilliant afternoon > https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/get-involved /…/pride-edinburgh/

Today Scotland took another step towards keeping children safe from physical punishment 😀 John Finnie MSP's Equal Protection Bill has now passed Stage 2 in The Scottish Parliament and will move on to the final stage 👏

“We got to go swimming for the first time. My favourite part was when we got to go Jungle Adventure, one of the slides was so fast it burnt a hole in my sock!”
Your support means children living in poverty can create lasting memories doing things that might otherwise be impossible for their families. Thank you 💙

"Living with poverty can make family life very hard. Parenting can be stressful and, particularly without financial resources, it can feel like an uphill struggle."
Read our guest blog from Dr Louise Hill, Policy Lead for CELCIS​, talking about the extent of child poverty in Scotland and how reducing poverty should be the 'bread and butter' of social work >
https://www.children1st.org.uk/…/bread- and-butter-why-addr…/

Well they certainly look the part! ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
A huge thanks to everyone who made Friday’s #HampdenCharityChallenge such a success.
A lot of childhood football dreams came true for the 42 players managed by Scotland National Team coaching legends Craig Brown and Archie Knox.
... The final score was Children 1st 4 Tartan Army Childrens' Charity (TACC) 2, raising £5,640 for the two charities.
One player said:
“Thank you for organising such an amazing event. Never in my life did I expect to play on the pitch at Hampden Park. Not just that but to sing the national anthem and even walk up the stairs at the end to collect my medal was just a dream come true.
“To top that off my kids were mascots and got to walk out on the pitch and be part of it all. It’s a day we will cherish all our lives.”
JD Football
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Have you thought about what you are doing this Christmas? Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean have!! They are taking part in the Talisker Whiskey Challenge leaving La Gomera in December and rowing 3000 miles to Antigua, arriving late January 2020. We’re delighted they have chosen to raise funds for us! Thank you to Broar!! keep your eyes peels as to how you can support Scotland’s children through this exciting partnership!!

Happy Father's Day! If you are celebrating we hope you have a great day ☺️💙
We also understand that today might bring up some difficult thoughts or feelings. If you or your family need some support remember you can call Parentline free on 08000 28 22 33 or web chat with us at https://www.children1st.org.uk/parentline

Our Parentline service has been hearing recently from families who are worried about bullying at school.
Although the thought of your child being bullied can be very upsetting and overwhelming, you’re not alone.
Every child has the right to be safe in school. We help lots of parents to think through what steps to take and have the confidence to address bullying.
... For advice on spotting the signs of bullying and practical steps to take, visit the page below.
If you need support, please get in touch:
📞 Call 08000 28 22 33 free 💻 Or start a webchat at: www.children1st.org.uk/parentline
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Sport can be a wonderful part of children’s lives. In partnership with Sportscotland, our Safeguarding in Sport team work with sports governing bodies, clubs and coaches to help children stay safe and have fun in sport.
Our Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport give sports organisations a framework to improve things for children.
When children know that they will be listened to and respected they are more likely to speak up if they need help. That’s why stand...ard four is so important - “every child has a say”. Our new report shares some great ideas about how sports clubs can put this into practice.
Scottish Gymnastics are making sure young people’s voices are heard by developing a youth forum that will inform its aims and values.
They said: “It makes sense that we listen to what young people have to say about everything that involves them in their sport. They should have a say in helping shape things now and for the future.”
Read the full report on our website > https://www.children1st.org.uk/…/standa rd-4-giving-children…
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“A child without a childhood is like a rainbow without colour. You know something wonderful and beautiful is missing.” John McGurk
Poverty is stealing children’s chances of a childhood. Your £10 can help provide families with specialist money advice and emotional support, and give children a chance to grow up safe and happy.
Donate today at www.children1st.org.uk/john

"What would you like to be different and how can we help?"
Today ACE-Aware Nation held the ACEs to Assets Conference, so it seems like a perfect time to share this clip of Leeann contributing to their #StoriesofResilience series 🎥

Our Deeside Fundraising Committee are working hard today at Kincardine Castle as they have their Garden Open Day. Looks like a fantastic day and Hamish certainly looks like he’s have great fun!

“Let me take you back in time, and tell you about a little boy from Glasgow.
"He was born and brought up in very difficult circumstances and lived through extreme poverty. All he wanted was to feel safe and know that he was loved, but that wasn't the childhood he got.
"The little boy's name was John McGurk. The little boy was me.”
... Read John’s story about how Children 1st supported him all those years ago and why he’s asking for your help today so that children and families can get the support they need to escape poverty > https://www.children1st.org.uk/…/person al-sto…/john-s-story/
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If you're at Hampden Park tonight to see the Scotland National Team v Cyprus look out for Children 1st volunteers with our mascot Hamish! Raising money and spreading the word about the amazing #HampdenCharityChallenge ⚽️
It's your ⭐️ last chance ⭐️ to enter our prize draw and be in with a chance of hearing that Hampden roar! Or maybe there's someone else you know who would love it? Father's Day is just round the corner! https://www.givergy.com/listing/children- 1st/hampdenpa...rk
Tartan Army Childrens' Charity (TACC) JD Football
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One fan is so excited about the #HampdenCharityChallenge that he is flying half way around the world to be part of it!
https://www.children1st.org.uk/…/one-ti me-mid-calder-colt-…/
Cameron Martin is originally from Mid Calder, and is travelling from Sydney, Australia, this weekend to take his place on Hampden's pitch:
... “I was thinking about coming home at Christmas to visit my family and then I heard about the chance to play on the pitch at Hampden Park. This doesn’t come round often and not many people can say they have done it.
"Also being able to do something that involves helping children throughout Scotland is fantastic, Children 1st and the Tartan Army Childrens' Charity (TACC) do great work.”
There are just 2️⃣ days left to enter the prize draw and be in with a chance of joining Cameron on the pitch ⚽️
Scotland National Team JD Football
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Last week we posted about the appalling numbers of children living in poverty in Scotland today. This week our Chief Executive Mary Glasgow has written an article for Children in Scotland, as part of their #25Calls campaign, calling for change.
"There is a shocking lack of help for families to prevent harm and a heart-breaking gap in support to help children and families recover from trauma and distress.
"Children and families require the goodwill around poverty to be translated into action that addresses the structural inequalities that hold them back economically."

"You'll know better than anybody that the difference you make to families' lives is absolutely immense."
Today for #VolunteersWeekScot Alan, Service Manager for Parentline, would like to personally thank our Parentline volunteers.
Parentline volunteers offer a kind and skilled listening ear for anyone concerned about a child in Scotland. By giving people time to think things through, whether over the phone or online, you provide a lifeline to families across the country.
... Parentline would not be what it is without you. Thank you 💙 https://www.children1st.org.uk/parentline
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