Charity warns that ‘clock is ticking’ for Scotland’s vulnerable children

SCOTLAND’S children’s charity has launched a new campaign aiming to raise awareness of the need to support vulnerable children as soon as problems arise.

Aberlour’s ‘The Clock Is Ticking’ campaign aims to promote the idea that more emphasis should be placed on offering immediate help, rather than waiting until families are at crisis point.

A survey commissioned by the charity reveals that 93% of Scots support that view, with 86% agreeing that the issue of vulnerable children is one that affects families from all types of backgrounds and in all parts of Scotland.

Aberlour currently helps over 7,500 children and families across Scotland, however there are many more that are in need.

When survey participants were asked if they knew of households in their local community which include vulnerable children, 60% said yes, suggesting that there are many more hidden children across Scotland that urgently need support.

SallyAnn Kelly, CEO of Aberlour, said: “We know that we need to get in there early. The clock is ticking, and we need to act fast to prevent children across Scotland from suffering, before families reach crisis point, before it’s too late.

“That’s why we’ve launched our new campaign, because we know that taking action quickly significantly improves long-term outcomes for children and young people, and there are still so many out there whom we are yet to reach.

“Although 93% support our view that the emphasis should be on helping children before they reach crisis point, 63% agreed that currently help only starts when a crisis happens, rather than when issues first appear. With the support of the public, Aberlour aims to close that gap.”

The campaign is calling on people across Scotland to #spendanhour on Aberlour to help raise the urgent funds required.

Ms Kelly added: “We would like to urge the people of Scotland to get behind this campaign and spend an hour of their time fundraising for us, whether that’s running a 10K or holding a fundraising event during their lunch hour; all funds raised will help us reach families sooner.”

Visit www.aberlour.org.uk for more information.