Kirkcaldy MSP, Marilyn Livingstone helped mark the expansion of the Fife-based Aberlour service Time 4 U, that supports families affected by parental drug and alcohol misuse, at a celebratory event today (Friday 20th). The expansion will enable an additional 30 families to benefit from the service each year, this was previously just ten.
Operating since 2002, Time 4 U has always run out of Aberlour’s Victoria service, a family service in Kirkcaldy which provides child care, early learning support and educational support for parents. Until now, Time 4 U supported families solely in the Kirkcaldy area. The expansion will now allow families in Glenrothes to benefit from its wide-ranging interactive programmes such as weekly play sessions for children and video interaction guidance to promote positive parent/child communication.
The extension of the service has been made possible with the support of Fife Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Lloyds TSB Partnership Drugs Initiative and will see three new staff join the team. The service will remain in the same building as Victoria, at West Bridge Mill, and will continue to work alongside the Victoria team but will now work from its own dedicated offices.
The celebratory event marked the official launch of the expansion and welcomed professional bodies and Kirkcaldy based MSP Marilyn Livingstone.
Marilyn Livingstone, MSP Kirkcaldy said:
"It’s wonderful that Aberlour’s Time 4 U service has been given the opportunity to expand to allow a wider network of children and families in Fife to benefit from this vital support.”
Mary Irvine, assistant service manager of Time 4 U, said:
“I am delighted that Time 4 U has been given the opportunity to further develop its services which were previously only available to families living in Kirkcaldy. As well as Time 4 U now being available to children living in Glenrothes, a much needed ‘Follow-on-Service’ is being developed to support families during periods of increased vulnerability. As part of the new service we are pleased to introduce the Monday Club which begins next month. This will provide children with the opportunity to socialise learn new skills and have fun.
“I would like to thank Ms Livingstone for attending our launch today and for her interest in the work of Aberlour’s Time 4 U. Her support is gratefully received and helps highlight the need for vital services like Time 4 U to be available to all children throughout Fife and beyond.”
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Notes to editors
About Time 4 U
The Time 4 U service provides outreach support to families affected by parental drug and alcohol misuse. Supported by Fife Council, Fife Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Lloyds TSB Partnership Drugs Initiative.
About Victoria Centre
Provides pre-school child care and early learning for children aged 6 weeks to 3 years old, individual support to families, educational opportunities for parents, after school groups and individual support for primary school aged children who are socially excluded. Staff support a number of parent and child groups in the local community for families who need additional support. The Play Peace Project works within primary schools and local neighbourhoods to develop traditional games and sports.
About Aberlour
Aberlour is Scotland’s largest children’s Scotland only charity which works with and for 6,000 children, young people and families throughout Scotland who need additional support to promote their development and wellbeing. It runs 46 services across the country. These include: intensive supports to severely disabled children and young people; residential and outreach support to families affected by parental drug and alcohol use; community and family centre based services to promote and enhance positive parenting, play and early learning; residential care and community programs for children and young people with social, educational, emotional and behavioural difficulties and a refuge and out reach service for children who have runaway from home – to name a few.