Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos 216250 and SC037605

The importance of financial support for low income new

mothers and families – a service perspective

Barnardo’s Scotland Early Years Services

Support for families facing multiple adversities including substance misuse, mental health problems and poverty

Support from Pre-birth to 16, early intervention and attachment

Support for families affected by parental imprisonment

Challenges from the front line

• Poverty is not just widening, but deepening

• Early intervention services are struggling to deal with families in crisis

Our services report that, even when the service is designed and funded to deliver early intervention or preventative work, an increasing numbers of families are presenting in a state of crisis.

This means more families aggravating pre-existing difficulties such as mental health problems, substance misuse and relationship breakdown. Local services face an increasing challenge from austerity with new rounds of cuts being announced.

Families in crisis

More families are facing very difficult choices, such as having to choose between paying for food and heating bill.

Caseloads are becoming increasingly complex, with a growing number of issues involved

In addition, services are finding they increasingly need to meet basic material needs, like food, clothing and shelter, or to help stabilise home conditions, before they can begin to work intensively to support families and children.

Families in crisis

The best place to grow up?

Reality for families

Sacrifice Anxiety Debt Isolation In-work poverty Poor peri-natal mental health

Real Stories

Mum’s views

I couldn’t afford a double buggy. It is difficult for me to leave the house.

I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t get the grant. Debt probably..

It’s a real struggle for single parents these days, so much pressure.

I feel like we’re being punished because we’re working.

The best start in life