Two ladies and a staff member from Aberlour’s Langlees Family Centre in Falkirk attended the Scottish Parliament as MSPs were told how the recession was taking its toll on families in Scotland, many of whom are having to cut back on food and heating to make ends meet.
The MSPs were presented with the findings of a survey carried out among a sample of parents across Scotland. It found that two out of three families are reducing their spending as insecurity mounts. More than a third said money worries are also putting a strain on relationships.
The survey was carried out by Parenting across Scotland (PAS), which is calling on politicians to protect services for children and families as cuts are made in public services.
The Langlees ladies who attended the special meeting were Claire Cairns and Heather Thomson, who went along with Family Centre Assistant Service Manager, Carolyn Christie.
The survey was carried out in September and October when parents calling four helplines run by children’s charities were asked to complete a short questionnaire. A total of 66% of the 232 parents who took part said they had made cutbacks because of the recession. More than half of them (55%) said that had included reducing spending on food and heating.
Family life is also coming under pressure. Just over a third (37%) of all parents who replied said the recession had put a strain on their relationships. Studies have already shown that economic pressure is linked to psychological distress for both men and women and can have a negative impact on family life.
In addition, a similar number of parents (38%) said they were also spending less on their children, particularly on family outings.
Clare Simpson, Project Manager of PAS said:” The results of our survey show that the recession is having an adverse effect on families. Some people are losing their jobs, others have less money to spend because hours are being cut or overtime is no longer available while, for many, there is fear and worry about what the future might hold. At such times, it is vitally important that parents have somewhere to turn to for support, help and advice.
“This is the wrong time to be cutting essential services to children and families. Cutting these services now is short-sighted and will result in higher costs in future for statutory services. We call on Scotland’s politicians to do the right thing and protect services for children and families. By supporting parents, we support children who are our future.”
Robin Harper MSP said: "The essential policies introduced by the previous and present Governments, especially the concepts of early intervention and Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) surely mean that we have made a collective Parliamentary commitment to families and children. These commitments must be at the top of our priorities and say to all concerned that essential family support services should be defended at all costs. "