WELCOME FOR £60k TO CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR FAMILY OUTREACH SERVICE
Written by author on October 22, 2015
DUMFRIESSHIRE MSP Elaine Murray has welcomed funding of £59,936 to benefit vulnerable children and families in her constituency.
The money will be used by Aberlour to continue to support the Family Outreach service and has been awarded by Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland’s Partnership Drugs Initiative.
The service will be able to continue to work closely with local health and social work services and schools to support up to 24 families in the Annan area. The aim is to help improve the well-being and opportunities for children where parents have a substance misuse issues. Family workers will continue to work alongside parents, focusing on keeping children safe, improving parenting skills and confidence. Children will also be supported to access support to help develop their own skills and confidence including support with homework. The funding will be spent on staffing and project running costs.
Fiona Duncan, Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, said: “Everyone agrees that children should get the best start in life and be supported to realise their potential. PDI was set up in 2001 to increase the well-being of children and young people affected by alcohol and other drugs. Every year, we support charities working to support some of Scotland’s most vulnerable families. This new service run by Addaction will provide intensive support for children affected by their parents’ substance misuse. The aim is to keep children at home and crucially, safer in the home environment while supporting parents to recover from their substance misuse issues. It is the sort of project PDI was established to support and the Foundation is delighted to be able to fund it.”
Aberlour has been awarded £59,936 for one year by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation at its meeting on 8 October 2015. The grant will enable the charity to continue the Family Outreach Service in Annan that has been operating since June 2013.
Elaine Murray MSP added: “I welcome this grant award for Dumfriesshire, knowing that families in my constituency will benefit. Aberlour has a great track record working with very vulnerable families in such circumstances and this project will make a difference for children in their earliest years. This sort of intensive family support will not only help parents recover from substance misuse, but crucially it will also ensure more children can stay at home safely within their families. Focusing on what they need in terms of parenting as well as direct support for children and young people means Dumfriesshire’s vulnerable children will get a better start in life. This grant from Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland’s Partnership Drugs Initiative will help make a real difference.”
