[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$fi7g3ynidqem1":17},{"id":4,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":8,"slug":9,"content":10,"content_overview":11,"published_at":12,"seo_title":8,"seo_description":13,"image":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16},"01m5fanaffkxrzkrpj1x4keag4","9cdbdd6d-4900-4646-a012-d3e67a5ee788","01j303dmcc6n6900v73fs88bc7",false,"Right to Food Commission supports Aberlour's Call to End School Meal Debt","right-to-food-commission-supports-aberlours-call","\u003Cp>School meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three words that should never be uttered in the same sentence\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children bearing the burden and stigma of debt should shame any society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, here in Scotland that is what we saw happening for thousands of children and their families around the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For many high school children having a negative balance on their parent pay account would mean being unable to access a meal at school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>School meal debt and hidden school hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sides of the same coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what side that coin lands on it would still show how badly we have failed many of Scotland’s most disadvantaged children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is why at Aberlour we were compelled to do something about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make sure we stood beside those children and their families and to call for something to change – urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We wanted to make sure we saw an \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fabout-us\u002Fpolicy-and-influencing\u002Fpublic-debt\u002Fschool-meal-debt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">end to school meal debt and hidden school hunger for good\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2023 we urged the then First Minister, Humza Yusaf, to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To bring an end to the shameful practice of children and their families being chased by debt collectors for school meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>School meal debt is a symptom of families not having enough money to provide the very basics for their children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fundamentally, it is about a lack of income.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We welcomed the introduction of a one-off School Meal Debt Fund to write off outstanding debt for one year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we were clear that was not enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our evidence shows that the majority of children with school meal debt are from low-income working families who do not qualify for free school meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, along with writing off the debt for struggling families, we called for the expansion of Free School Meals to all low-income families across Scotland to help prevent school meal debt in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, we welcomed John Swinney’s subsequent commitment to continuing the School Meal Debt Fund for a further year to write off nearly £3 million of school meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Figures show that this benefitted 70,000 children and their families across Scotland over the last two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A welcome relief for many, but still a limited intervention without a long-term solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our campaign to end school meal debt has continued up to and during the recent Scottish Parliament elections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year we also published evidence that pointed to the extent of school meal debt for children and their families in England.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What our research suggested was that around 1 in 4 children not eligible for free school meals in England had regular or persistent school meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so we called on the UK Government to act and follow Scotland’s lead by taking action to end school meal debt for children across the rest of the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This week saw the launch of the independent UK Right to Food Commission report and findings following their work to evidence the scale of food insecurity across the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commission’s report provides a roadmap and clear actions all governments across the UK must take to end food insecurity for all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This includes ending school meal debt for good for all children the length of the country, from Aberdeen to Aberystwyth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Scotland, the SNP made a commitment during the Scottish Parliamentary election campaign to end school meal debt once and for all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That manifesto pledge was then followed by the First Minister announcing that families struggling with school meal debt would continue to be helped by committing the same level of investment again this year to write that debt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time this will happen alongside the further expansion of Free School Meals in primary schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The urgent measure and a preventative solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is much more the First Minister must do to make real progress on his ambition to “eradicate child poverty”.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this is one example that the rest of the UK can follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making sure no child ever again is burdened with debt or goes hungry at school would be a quick win for Andy Burnham, to show his commitment to tackling food insecurity by ending school meal debt in every postcode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Martin Canavan\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Head of Policy & Influencing \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>",null,"2026-10-21T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity's Head of Policy & Influencing, Martin Canavan, shares what must be done to end school meal debt and hidden hunger in schools for good. He shares what has been done in Scotland and what must be done in England.","media\u002Fshared image.jpg","2026-10-21T13:33:25.000000Z","2026-10-22T08:11:54.000000Z",{"id":18,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":20,"slug":21,"content":22,"content_overview":11,"published_at":23,"seo_title":20,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27,"next":28,"prev":38},"01kbn0a4sf7akr308p8256732m","1","Drugs Minister Backs Specialist Help For Mothers","drugs-minister-backs-specialist-help-for-mothers","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Landmark research supports rollout of recovery houses\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scotland’s drugs minister has warned new mothers are at extra risk because stigma stops them seeking life-changing support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maree Todd warned mothers and women, in general, face additional obstacles finding help for substance use before promising more support to protect them and their children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol was speaking at the launch of a report by Aberlour Children’s Charity detailing the work of two landmark recovery houses for mothers and their babies when she hailed their record in keeping families together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The event in Glasgow launched the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Families’ Voices research\u003C\u002Fa> describing the experience of mothers, who were helped to recover while strengthening bonds with their babies at the houses in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-house-falkirk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Falkirk\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-houses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dundee\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Todd said their stories of recovery were powerful and inspiring, adding: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>One of the biggest challenges faced by Scotland today is the harm caused by alcohol and drug use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sadly, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of women experiencing these harms. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We know that women often face additional challenges and get extra stigma when seeking recovery, making it harder to get the help they need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We also know that women need different and specialist services like those offered by Aberlour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That work is vital in keeping families together and giving children the best possible start in life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>She said the Mother and Child Recovery Houses – The Burrow in Falkirk and Discovery Grove in Dundee – had received £5million from the Scottish Government to help increase the number of residential rehab beds.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>There were very limited options available for residential services for women and for those with childcare responsibilities and a clear need to create and grow those types of services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since stepping into my role earlier in the year, I have already seen how much of an impact both houses have had since opening. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was particularly moved by recent reports that nearly three quarters of the children referred into the houses have remained with their mothers full time, avoiding the need for care placements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is a powerful result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The minister also said more money was being spent on perinatal support in the community and, responding to questions about short-term funding for Third Sector support services, said the government was committed to longer contracts.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The insecurity of charity funding is a real challenge. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Charities are expending a lot of energy and effort just keeping their heads above water and I want them to spend that energy focusing on their purpose rather than keeping the wolves from the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The research published at the event on Monday warns the lives of new mothers and the life chances of their babies are being risked by a postcode lottery in specialist support and recommends the rollout of recovery houses to other regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scottish Government figures suggest up to 60,000 children may be affected by alcohol and drugs use in their families, while research found many deaths of new mothers are linked to mental health or substance harm, caused by suicide, and often follow a child being taken into care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>One of the 23 mothers who contributed to the research said their lives had been transformed by their time in a recovery house, adding: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>By sharing our stories, we can show why it is so vital these services are strengthened and made available to more families across Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The charity’s chief executive, Justina Murray, welcomed the minister’s support and said investment in community-based services will be recouped from reduced spending on unnecessary crisis intervention and avoided care.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>This important research focusing on our work in Dundee and Falkirk raises the voice of mothers, ensuring their stories of recovery are heard. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their experience must shape the support available and, wherever they live in Scotland, mothers and their children must have a clear route to effective and non-judgemental perinatal services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for the Sunday Post and published on Sunday 7th December 2025.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2025-12-08T00:00:00.000000Z","Maree Todd MSP, The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol, speaking at Aberlour Children's Charity's Families Voices event backs specialist help for mothers in recovery and their children to keep families together.","media\u002FGroup photo 1 (1).jfif","2025-12-04T15:39:52.000000Z","2025-12-04T15:40:22.000000Z",{"id":29,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":30,"slug":31,"content":32,"content_overview":11,"published_at":33,"seo_title":30,"seo_description":34,"image":35,"created_at":36,"updated_at":37},"01kc73b5gy1ck7vxn1ry4gawc3","Poll reveals most Scots support emergency action to ease poverty crisis","poll-reveals-most-scots-support-emergency-action","\u003Cp>Most Scots want more done to ease the lives of children growing up in poverty, according to research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An opinion poll for Aberlour Children’s Charity reveals the majority of Scots back increasing financial support and debt relief for families on the lowest incomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost one in four children in Scotland are growing up in poverty with the number rising to one in two in the poorest postcodes as experts warn the crisis is sabotaging the health, education and futures of thousands of young people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The survey shows \u003Cstrong>61% of Scots would like to see the Scottish Government increase support for the poorest families\u003C\u002Fstrong> while \u003Cstrong>almost seven out of ten (69%) agreed families’ low income is damaging children’s education and ability to participate in school activities\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour welcomed the results saying most Scots understand the escalating poverty endured by children is a national emergency demanding emergency action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justina Murray, chief executive of Aberlour, said giving financial support to families is the most effective response but warns the pursuit of public debt is trapping many in a cycle of debt and hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>This poll is a timely reminder to our political leaders that the overwhelming majority of Scots want the lives and life chances of disadvantaged children to be better protected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We live in one of the world’s wealthiest countries where child poverty should no longer be sabotaging young lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The gap between good intentions and impactful change, between policy and practice, must be closed to lift families out of poverty and, most importantly, keep them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The poll of more than 1000 Scots, conducted by nfpResearch in September 2025, also reveals \u003Cstrong>80% support free school meals for more children\u003C\u002Fstrong> with \u003Cstrong>71% urging the Scottish Government to clear all school meal debt\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, 70% said \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fabout-us\u002Fpolicy-and-influencing\u002Fpublic-debt\">long-term public debt\u003C\u002Fa>, such as council tax and rent arrears, is keeping families trapped in poverty. A \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Fgendered-nature-public-debt\">landmark report\u003C\u002Fa>, commissioned by Aberlour, Trussell and One Parent Families Scotland, last month revealed women in Scotland are more likely to face financial hardship because of government debt collection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Detailed analysis of the anonymised records of 71,000 people seeking debt advice in Scotland reveals 57% were women and they owed most in public debt, like council tax and rent with single mothers and those living in households where a child or adult is disabled are particularly at risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour, one of Scotland’s most respected children’s charities, marked its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002F150\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">150th anniversary\u003C\u002Fa> this year when first minister John Swinney, attending a special event at the National Museum of Scotland, hailed its work underpinning the “national mission” to eradicate child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maree Todd, minister for drugs and alcohol, also commended the charity’s record in keeping families together at the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launch of a report\u003C\u002Fa> detailing the work of Aberlour’s Intensive Perinatal services and two landmark recovery houses for mothers and their babies earlier this month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>We know that women often face additional challenges and get extra stigma when seeking recovery, making it harder to get the help they need. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We also know that women need different and specialist services like those offered by Aberlour. That work is vital in keeping families together and giving children the best possible start in life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Sunday Post and published on Sunday 14th December 2025.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2025-12-15T00:00:00.000000Z","A poll commissioned by Aberlour Children's Charity reveals people living in Scotland support emergency action to ease the poverty crisis.","media\u002FJustina - serious.jpg","2025-12-11T16:19:11.000000Z","2025-12-11T16:19:54.000000Z",{"id":39,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":40,"slug":41,"content":42,"content_overview":11,"published_at":43,"seo_title":44,"seo_description":45,"image":46,"created_at":47,"updated_at":48},"01kb2v8raw4nwts8y7nw4szkzs","Call to end postcode lottery of mental health care and support for new mothers","call-to-end-postcode-lottery-of-mental-health-care-and-support-for-new-mothers","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Leading children’s charity calls for nationwide rollout of recovery services \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Easing Scotland’s drugs crisis demands better recovery services for vulnerable new mothers affected by substance use and their babies, according to a leading charity. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A landmark report by Aberlour Children’s Charity warns the lives of new mums and the life chances of their babies are being risked by a postcode lottery in specialist support. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">research\u003C\u002Fa>, to be published [MONDAY 1 DECEMBER], details how mothers seeking help to address issues around alcohol, drugs and mental health are falling between the cracks of a confusing and fragmented network of services. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour has pioneered a range of specialist and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fintensive-perinatal-support-falkirk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">intensive perinatal support\u003C\u002Fa> and is calling for the patchwork of care available to pregnant women and new mothers affected by substance use to be urgently reviewed with the most impactful services rolled out nationally. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its report, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Families’ Voices\u003C\u002Fa>, will be launched at an event in Glasgow, attended by Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy Maree Todd, when experts and researchers will be joined by mothers detailing how effective support helped them recover while protecting their children and keeping them together as a family. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the 23 women contributing to the research told how she struggled to find support as she tried to get off drugs in the north east of Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>I asked for help non-stop but every time I was told there was nothing suitable for me. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was told about all sorts of help available when I was drug free but nothing to help me get there. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was crying out for help but felt like no one could hear. It felt like I was being kept in a perpetual state of addiction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The report calls for mental health, social work and substance use support services to be better integrated to ensure pregnant women and new mothers can easily find the best care wherever they live in Scotland. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour warned many women at greatest risk face a range of challenges, from childhood trauma and poor mental health to substance use and domestic abuse, meaning they can disengage after being overwhelmed by the different demands of multiple agencies. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Chief Executive Justina Murray said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Protecting children is always the priority but, whenever possible, that should be done while keeping families together and helping mothers recover. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wherever they live in Scotland, mothers and their children need a straightforward route to effective and non-judgemental support.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That requires more cooperation and joined-up thinking between services, rigorous assessment of the support available, and expansion of the most successful services built on secure funding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Scottish Government figures suggest up to 60,000 children may be affected by alcohol and drugs use in their families while recent research by MBRRACE-UK found most deaths of new mothers are caused by suicide with more than half dying after having children taken into care. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spending money on effective perinatal mental health and drug and alcohol recovery services is, according to Aberlour, far more cost effective than spending on crisis response and emergency interventions. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Families’ Voices report\u003C\u002Fa> highlights an independent assessment of the charity’s intensive perinatal service in Falkirk, estimating £3.2million was saved in avoided care costs over three years. Rolling out those services nationally, the authors suggest, could deliver savings of almost £50m. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charity has now opened two pioneering Mother and Child Recovery Houses where up to four mothers can live with their babies while being helped to recover and be the best parents they can be. Many of the women, referred from across Scotland, have previously endured trauma and adversity including isolation, homelessness, and domestic abuse.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The structured programmes include individual detox and stabilisation plans, while tailored support encourages them to embrace their role as a mother.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charity believes the work at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-houses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Discovery Grove, in Dundee\u003C\u002Fa>, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-house-falkirk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Burrow, in Falkirk\u003C\u002Fa>, demonstrates how investing deeply in mothers can be transformational, and argues Scotland’s long-term drug crisis cannot be solved without focusing on women and families. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Families’ Voices report\u003C\u002Fa> urges the expansion of the model to other regions and suggests the investment will be recouped from reduced spending on care and crisis intervention. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The authors conclude: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t a call for new money but for smarter spending aimed at earlier intervention, preventing crises and easing pressure on social work and care systems. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The question is not whether we can afford to invest in these services but whether we can afford not to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Debbie's Story\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\"I kept being told I wasn't in the right place...but then I found it.\"\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Debbie, a recovering mother, hails a house full of hope.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly? It felt like everything was falling apart, like my life was coming down around me. I was alone, exhausted, and terrified of losing my baby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt abandoned really, like everyone had turned away from me because I was still using, that I was such a bad mother, this awful person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I had asked for help to get clean so many times and kept getting told that I wasn’t ‘in the right place’ but I didn’t know what that place was? How was I meant to get there without being shown? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the help seemed to come after you stopped but how could I find the strength to get off drugs when I was barely functioning? Mentally, I was in bits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been using since I was 12. A lot happened to me when I was young and, for years and years, I was walking about with all this pain. I couldn’t carry it by myself. I didn’t know how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when I did get clean, I started thinking I would be better using again because I felt so raw, all this trauma was battering me and I had nothing to numb myself. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s so much stigma. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about me, none of them good. As if I would have chosen my life? Who would? Who wants to use drugs or steal or sell themselves? It’s survival not a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I got a place with Aberlour and everything changed really. I got so much staying at the Mother and Child Recovery House but the hope was the biggest thing. Feeling that things might actually get better, that it didn’t have to go on like this. Honestly, I never thought I’d feel like that again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was treated like a human being, like someone trying to do the best for her baby, even when I was feeling like the worst mum in the world. It isn’t all cuddles and fluffy blankets, there is a lot of hard truths spoken there and a lot of hard work done, but there is kindness too, and patience, respect. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mums are encouraged to talk about the pain, what led us here, not try to cover it up with tablets or anything else. We are given the time to recover at our own pace, learn to be better mums, and we stay with our children, together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a grown woman but no one had ever said they were proud of me before. It lit something in me. I found a strength I didn’t know I had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m even stronger now, and getting stronger. Strong for me and strong for my baby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Debbie and 22 other recovering mothers contributed to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aberlour’s Families’ Voices report\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Sunday Post, and published on Sunday 30th November 2025.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2025-12-01T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour's Children's Charity Call to end postcode lottery of mental health care and support for new mothers","Today Aberlour Children's Charity has published new research on the postcode lottery of mental health care and support for new mothers in Scotland.","media\u002FiStock-1041145014.jpg","2025-11-27T14:25:24.000000Z","2025-11-27T14:34:55.000000Z"]