Emergency help for families in crisis

Scotland’s biggest children’s charity has delivered millions of pounds in cash lifelines to families in the most extreme hardship.

Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance Fund has given out more than £3.3m in just four years to help buy food, heating and clothing with average payments of £306.

Almost half of those applying do not where their next meal is coming from, more than half need money to buy clothes for their children and one in five cannot afford a bed for a child.

The charity’s fundraising appeal to relieve poverty this winter begins today with every pound donated directly helping families through the crisis fund. Donate to the Poverty Relief fundraising appeal.

These are just three of the applications received as winter looms. 

Sandra’s* story

My daughter goes to school in shoes that let in water and she is cold for the rest of the day.

It is making her ill. She is picking up every cold that’s going around and is exhausted all the time. Her mattress has springs poking through it. Some mornings I find her sleeping on the sofa.

Her youngest brother is still in nappies but it’s hard to buy the baby things he needs. Even the clothes to keep him warm are beyond me. A warm jacket is what he needs most. 

Winter is coming and my children are exhausted and freezing. It breaks my heart. I am doing everything I can but it is never enough, not even close.

Neil’s* story

My flat flooded because of the upstairs neighbours and my son’s bedroom was badly damaged, the beds and the flooring. The hall too. 

I don’t have a penny to spare but have been trying to fix things up. It’s still like a bombsite though.

It’s a cold, cold flat and so poorly insulated. The damp causes mould. You clean it and clean it but it keeps coming back. It smells so bad. 

I’ve got a prepaid gas meter and am spending a fortune just trying to keep the place warm.

Christmas is terrifying me. I don’t even have money for clothes for my kids never mind presents.

My eldest son is ten and big, he’s wearing clothes for 14-15 years. They’re more expensive and he’s also got a skin condition meaning he can only wear certain fabrics. It’s so tough.

April’s* story

My husband is not keeping well since he lost his job. He’s been diagnosed with anxiety and is going to orthopaedics for severe nerve pain.

We are in terrible debt. We haven’t been able to pay our mortgage so owe £20,000 and are being chased for £1500 in council tax. 

After feeding our children and trying to keep the house warm, we haven’t got a penny. I live in dread of the house being repossessed. I have no idea where we would go.

Us and three children out on the street in the middle of winter. It’s unthinkable but I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s the only thing I can think about.

I’m just scared. Every day, every minute, I’m terrified.

*Names changed and stories anonymised.

This article was written for the Daily Record and published on Monday 18th November 2024.