Callers have gone up by almost half in 2025
Children First’s support line, which provides practical, emotional and financial help to families 365 days a year, has seen the number of callers rise by close to 50% so far this year.
The children’s charity is appealing to the public to donate so that it can continue its life-changing work supporting children and families when they need it most.
Families like Jack and his mum Emma, who were recently supported by one of Children First’s local team during a difficult time.
Emma was struggling with addiction and poor mental health, so Jack was placed in the care of his grandparents.
Before he moved in with them Jack had witnessed things no child should ever see. He wet the bed and struggled at school. He missed his mummy.
With the help of Fiona, a Children First support worker, Jack received emotional support and Emma began her recovery journey.
Today, Emma is sober, rebuilding her life and Jack is thriving. “Fiona changed Jack’s life by changing mine,” said Emma. “I’m now the mother I’ve always wanted to be and the one he deserves.”
A recent survey the charity conducted found nine out of 10 parents don’t know where to turn when bringing up children gets tough.
Children First has seen a surge in demand for support across all its services in the past year, helping 1,000 more people.
Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, said: “This Christmas, thousands of children across Scotland will wake up gripped by fear, anxiety and uncertainty - not joy and excitement. For families that are finding things tough, this time of year can add further pressure. Our support line and local services are here to offer practical, emotional and financial help and hope to families.
“At Children First we rely on donations from the public and supporters to carry out our vital work to protect Scotland’s children.
“With the busy festive season just around the corner, we’re appealing to the Scottish public to donate so that we can continue to be there for children and families every day of the year.”
