[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f1j8rnuyacayhb":16},{"id":4,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":7,"slug":8,"content":9,"content_overview":10,"published_at":11,"seo_title":7,"seo_description":12,"image":13,"created_at":14,"updated_at":15},"01m5yr36vzgnkxw06xbrd8qvy9","1",false,"We can change Scotland's story on alcohol","we-can-change-scotlands-story-on-alcohol","\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justina Murray, Chief Executive, Aberlour Children’s Charity\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This week we have seen further evidence of Scotland’s toxic relationship with alcohol, with the publication of the latest alcohol-specific death figures.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn1\">[1]\u003C\u002Fa> In 2025, 1,152 people in Scotland died through alcohol.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn2\">[2]\u003C\u002Fa> This may be 3% lower than the previous year, but it remains 13% up on pre-pandemic levels. Alarmingly, death rates for women are rising (3% up).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The human toll of this loss is traumatic for families and communities. So, so many lives lost. And this sits alongside the everyday harms felt by those concerned about their own drinking, and those desperately worried about keeping their loved ones alive. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The story of alcohol in Scotland today is that we have a higher rate of alcohol deaths than England and Wales. We buy more alcohol per adult than England and Wales. Almost 1 in 5 of us drink enough to harm our health and to be classed as hazardous, harmful or dependent drinkers. More of us are diagnosed with chronic liver disease each year. We don’t really think about alcohol being linked to over 200 health conditions or causing 7 different types of cancer. In a country where we routinely hear, “There is no money”, alcohol harm is estimated to cost us up to £10 billion a year.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn3\">[3]\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is little sign of any shift in Scotland’s entrenched ‘Alcohol Everywhere’ culture. Just this week (only a day after the alcohol death figures were released), a hospitality chain in Edinburgh asked for licensing permission for unaccompanied 12-15 year olds to be in their pubs until 8pm, describing these as “family-friendly” and “accessible” environments for young people.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn4\">[4]\u003C\u002Fa> And earlier this month we saw the First Minister raising a glass of whisky on the front cover of the SNP conference handbook, of all of the images which could have been used under the banner ‘Choose Scotland’.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn5\">[5]\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what is the story for the children and families we support? I joined Aberlour last year - our 150th birthday year. Perhaps due to that timing, or certainly encouraged by it, I often reflect on the organisation’s long history and deep legacy, including what might be the same or different now compared to the early days of the Aberlour orphanage. This grew to care for up to 600 children at any one time, all in one place. Nowadays our models of care have radically altered, with our remodelled Sycamore children’s houses providing safe and loving family-sized homes in the community for 3 or 4 children at a time, alongside a broad continuum of services to support babies, children, young people and families facing disadvantage and adversity, from early help to the most intensive support. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite all these changes, that thread of alcohol harm in families - and the havoc this creates in every respect - runs through every chapter of our 150 years. This harm impacts the lives of children and families across every one of our services today, just as it shaped the story for so many children arriving at the original Aberlour orphanage.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we are also working alongside families to change Scotland’s story on alcohol. There is quite rightly a call for better prevention and early support for families, but how we respond in a crisis speaks volumes. We offer a range of specialist services for pregnant and new mums and their babies where there is harm through alcohol and other substances. This includes our residential Mother and Child Recovery Houses, alongside community-based perinatal and intensive perinatal services. The impact of these services is mind-blowing, with 65-70% of mums staying safely with their babies, when previously their children were at extremely high risk of going into care - with all the accompanying human and financial cost of this. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These services provide concrete and costed evidence that with the right approach and investment, we can write a whole new chapter alongside children and families. This support offers a blueprint for whole family recovery, helps us #KeepThePromise (not just say it), delivers effective child protection, and models outcomes-focused Public Service Reform. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s time for a different story on alcohol harm in Scotland, let’s turn the page. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"mso-element: endnote-list;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportEndnotes]-->\u003Cbr clear=\"all\">\u003Chr align=\"left\" size=\"1\" width=\"33%\">\u003C!--[endif]-->\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn1\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn1;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref1\" name=\"_edn1\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[1]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nrscotland.gov.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Falcohol-specific-deaths-2025\">https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nrscotland.gov.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Falcohol-specific-deaths-2025\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn2\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn2;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref2\" name=\"_edn2\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[2]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">Note that alcohol-specific deaths only include those specifically caused by alcohol, such as alcoholic liver disease, alcohol poisoning.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn3\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn3;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref3\" name=\"_edn3\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[3]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">You can find lots of useful information and statistics at Alcohol Focus Scotland on Scotland’s relationship with alcohol and alcohol harm, including a great series of monthly blogs by Chief Exec Carolyn Lochhead, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk\u002F\">https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk\u002F\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn4\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn4;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref4\" name=\"_edn4\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[4]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002Fcm62yj7nqj77o\">https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002Fcm62yj7nqj77o\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn5\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn5;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref5\" name=\"_edn5\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[5]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com\u002Fwww.snp.org\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F06\u002FSNP-Handbook-26-online-5-public.pdf\">https:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com\u002Fwww.snp.org\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F06\u002FSNP-Handbook-26-online-5-public.pdf\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"mso-element: endnote-list;\">\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn5\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>",null,"2026-10-29T00:00:00.000000Z","This week we have seen further evidence of Scotland’s toxic relationship with alcohol, with the publication of the latest alcohol-specific death figures.","media\u002F1301_transform.webp","2026-10-27T13:16:48.000000Z","2026-10-30T08:58:49.000000Z",{"id":17,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":18,"slug":19,"content":20,"content_overview":21,"published_at":22,"seo_title":23,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27,"next":28,"prev":29},"01j6cdm3kjy4cmn467c8w6tf19","Blog: Families will struggle this winter. Please help them.","blog-families-will-struggle-this-winter-please-help-them","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Scottish families are struggling this winter. The cost of living has never been higher, and children are paying the price.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across Scotland, children are going without the basics: things most of us take for granted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We are acting now to help families in poverty. We have recently highlighted the injustice of school meal debt in partnership with The Scottish Sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now we have launched our winter \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpovertyrelief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Poverty Relief Fundraising Campaign\u003C\u002Fa>. This will raise funds for our national \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Furgent-assistance-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urgent Assistance Fund\u003C\u002Fa> which provides emergency grants for struggling families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our emergency cash grants are a lifeline. They enable families who have nowhere else to turn to get the basics needed to feed and clothe their children. They provide beds and bedding for children as well as heating and lighting for their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a country as rich as ours, no family should go without the essentials for life. No child should go without a warm house, food and a bed. It’s just not right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Families tell us what it is like to live in poverty in 21st century Scotland. One mum supported by Aberlour describes how poverty makes her feel:\u003Cbr \u002F>\n“It’s been really hard having to sit in the dark with the kids if my electricity’s cut off or you’re freezing. As a parent you just feel like a failure. You feel like what have I done so wrong that I can’t afford to give my kids better food or have to go without electricity. It’s just horrible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laura, another mum Aberlour supports said: “I don’t feed myself, I only put enough on for the wee ones and there’s not enough for me, so I don’t eat.”\u003Cbr \u002F>\nWe must help these families now before it is too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We know that:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Almost half of the families who apply to our Urgent Assistance Fund don’t know where their next meal is coming from.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We know that parents are often going without meals in order to feed their children. One mother we support told us she skips meals up to three days a week to ensure that her daughter is fed. Missing breakfast and lunch while her daughter is at school so as not to upset her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our fund will give families the cash they need to feed themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>More than 50% of the families who apply to the fund need clothing for their children.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Families need our emergency fund to get warm winter jackets for their children. They need help to buy school shoes and uniforms so that their children can go to school without being stigmatised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our fund will give families the cash they need to keep their children warm and dry in the winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>20% of the families who apply to the fund don’t have a bed for their children.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We hear of children sleeping on the floor on mattresses, often without proper bedding. How can a child do well at school if they haven’t had a good sleep?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our Fund will give families the cash they need to ensure their children get a good night’s sleep and are ready for school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last winter Aberlour was flooded with applications from families in need for our emergency fund. Due to the high demand, we launched our “Poverty Relief” campaign and as a result. Aberlour helped over 1,000 families, providing much needed relief to children living in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving support one mum said: “I’m stuck in this rut and without financial support from people like Aberlour, I don’t know what I would do. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a hole and I can see the ladders, but I can’t reach them, but with Aberlour’s support I feel like I can start to get out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>This winter, we continue to face the biggest cost of living crisis in recent memory. More and more families are turning to us for help. But because of this soaring demand, our Urgent Assistance Fund is going to run out of money by Christmas when it’s needed most.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Aberlour is asking you, if you can, to support Scottish children in desperate need this winter by\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpovertyrelief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> donating to our Poverty Relief Appeal today\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>David Grant\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Director of Growth and Marketing\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Scottish Sun and published on Wednesday 15th November 2023.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Scottish families are struggling this winter. The cost of living has never been higher, and children are paying the price. Across Scotland, children are going without the basics: things most of us take for granted. We are acting now to help families in poverty. We have recently highlighted the injustice of school meal debt in … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fblog-families-will-struggle-this-winter-please-help-them\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2023-11-27T00:00:00.000000Z","Blog: Families will struggle this winter. Please help them. - Aberlour - Web Backend","In our latest blog Aberlour Director of Growth and Marketing, David Grant, shares that families across Scotland are struggling this winter and need urgent help.","media\u002FDavid-Grant-scaled.jpg","2024-08-28T11:58:33.000000Z","2024-11-25T07:22:19.000000Z",{"id":17,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":18,"slug":19,"content":20,"content_overview":21,"published_at":22,"seo_title":23,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27},{"id":30,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":31,"slug":32,"content":33,"content_overview":34,"published_at":35,"seo_title":36,"seo_description":31,"image":37,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27},"01j6cdm3krzdzjje05gecqt76r","Aberlour launches further Poverty Relief Fundraising Appeal","aberlour-launches-further-poverty-relief-fundraising-appeal","\u003Cp>This winter sees the highest cost of living ever for Scots, and children are paying the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across Scotland, children are going without the basics – things most of us take for granted – and the need for help has never been greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Furgent-assistance-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urgent Assistance Fund\u003C\u002Fa> is running dangerously low and without help will run out by Christmas\u003C\u002Fstrong>.  This means that disadvantaged families across the country will struggle to pay for essentials. We are launching our further\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpovertyrelief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Poverty Relief fundraising appeal\u003C\u002Fa> and running our television advert featuring Emma again to raise vital funds for those most in need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FRDAPcl4c2DY?si=XwPUcDMoyLRcMhge\" width=\"100%\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">\u003Cspan data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Emma and her mum:-.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Almost half of the families who apply to Aberlour’s emergency fund don’t know where their next meal is coming from.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>More than 50% of the families who apply to the fund need clothing for their children.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>20% of the families who apply to the fund don’t have a bed for their children.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19023 size-full\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-2.jpg 1280w, https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-2-250x141.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One mum who is supported by Aberlour describes how poverty makes her feel: \u003Cstrong>“It’s been really hard having to sit in the dark with the kids if my electricity’s cut off or you’re freezing. As a parent you just feel like a failure. You feel like what have I done so wrong that I can’t afford to give my kids better food or have to go without electricity. It’s just horrible.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laura, another mum supported by Aberlour said: \u003Cstrong>“I don’t feed myself, I have only put enough on for the wee ones and there’s not enough for me, so I don’t eat.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19022 size-full\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-1.jpg 1280w, https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Femma-1-250x141.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Urgent Assistance Fund provides poverty relief for struggling families. Emergency cash grants are given to these families to access the basics required to feed and clothe their children and to provide beds and bedding as well as heating and lighting for their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving support one mum said: “\u003Cstrong>I’m stuck in this rut and without financial support from people like Aberlour, I don’t know what I would do. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a hole and I can see the ladders, but I can’t reach them, but with Aberlour’s support I feel like I can start to get out.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last winter Aberlour was flooded with applications for the emergency fund due to the cost-of-living crisis. Due to the high demand, the charity launched its inaugural “Poverty Relief” campaign and as a result Aberlour helped over 1,000 children, providing much needed relief to them and their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since April 2020, Aberlour has given out over £2.9million in Urgent Assistance to around 8,877 families who have been tipped into poverty.  Applications have been awarded in every local authority in Scotland. The average amount given to these families is £326, which has been used to cover life’s essentials and requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Chief Executive, SallyAnn Kelly OBE says:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “This winter, as we continue to face the biggest cost of living crisis in recent memory, more and more families are turning to the charity for help, but because of this soaring demand, the emergency fund is going to run out of money by Christmas, when it’s needed most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too many children are going without and for many families it’s a constant worry of where the next meal is coming from, and if there’ll be enough money to heat their home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance is a lifeline to disadvantaged families all over Scotland and every penny of cash donated goes directly to those who need it most. If you are in a position to donate – however big or small the amount – we would be infinitely grateful for your support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>IF YOU CAN, PLEASE SUPPORT CHILDREN IN DESPERATE NEED THIS WINTER BY \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpovertyrelief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DONATING TO ABERLOUR’S POVERTY RELIEF APPEAL TODAY\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>This winter sees the highest cost of living ever for Scots, and children are paying the price. Across Scotland, children are going without the basics – things most of us take for granted – and the need for help has never been greater. Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance Fund is running dangerously low and without help will … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Faberlour-launches-further-poverty-relief-fundraising-appeal\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2023-11-13T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour launches further Poverty Relief Fundraising Appeal - Aberlour - Web Backend","media\u002Fpoverty-cam.jpg"]