[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f261xm8p1ao9y":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":18,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":19,"slug":20,"content":21,"content_overview":10,"published_at":22,"seo_title":19,"seo_description":23,"image":24,"created_at":25,"updated_at":25,"next":26,"prev":27},"01kzrc8c0sdxdchtebdgx0g4hj","9cdbdd6d-4900-4646-a012-d3e67a5ee788","Hundreds enjoy outdoor fun at Playday in Aberdeen ","hundreds-enjoy-outdoor-fun-at-playday-in-aberdeen","\u003Cp>Hundreds of children and families came together at Hazlehead Park this month to celebrate the joy of outdoor play as Aberdeen Playday returned for another successful year. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Organised by Aberlour Children's Charity alongside community partners for the third year, the free event transformed the park into a giant playground, giving children the chance to explore, play, make friends and enjoy a break from screens as part of the UK's annual Playday celebrations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Families from across the city took part in a wide range of activities designed to encourage active, imaginative outdoor play and strengthen community connections during the summer holidays. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Sarah Calder, Manager of Aberlour's Options Aberdeen service, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>It was a terrific day, bringing children, families and communities together in a really simple and fun way. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're delighted so many groups and organisations have helped us return this year and couldn't be happier to see so many children having fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The event highlights the importance of play in supporting children's confidence, wellbeing and sense of belonging, while providing families with opportunities to connect with local services and support organisations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.playscotland.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Play Scotland\u003C\u002Fa>, the national charity for children's play, partnered with Aberlour for the event and encouraged families to share their views on outdoor play provision through its Play Park Survey, helping shape future improvements to play spaces. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Mary Ramsay, Chief Executive of Play Scotland, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Playday is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the power of play and create lasting memories and connection. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are excited to speak directly with children and families in Aberdeen about their spaces for play as part of our Play Park Survey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>With hundreds of children enjoying a day of outdoor adventures, creativity and friendship, this year's Playday once again demonstrated the value of accessible, community-based activities that bring families together and celebrate the simple power of play. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour would like to thank all the organisations, volunteers and community partners who helped make the event such a success and ensured children across Aberdeen could enjoy a fun-filled day outdoors.\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-08-05T00:00:00.000000Z","Hundreds of children and families came together at Hazlehead Park this month to celebrate the joy of outdoor play as Aberdeen Playday returned for another successful year, organised by Aberlour Children's Charity.","media\u002FPlayDay 2026_2.jpg","2026-08-11T12:20:17.000000Z",{"id":17,"blog_author_id":18,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":19,"slug":20,"content":21,"content_overview":10,"published_at":22,"seo_title":19,"seo_description":23,"image":24,"created_at":25,"updated_at":25},{"id":28,"blog_author_id":18,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":29,"slug":30,"content":31,"content_overview":10,"published_at":32,"seo_title":29,"seo_description":33,"image":34,"created_at":35,"updated_at":36},"01kyj22d6hbfxjaexk6d4nxm5a","An open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham","an-open-letter-to-prime-minister-andy-burnham","\u003Cp>Dear Prime Minister,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would like to offer you our warmest congratulations from everyone at Aberlour Children’s Charity on becoming Prime Minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I believe we share the same values of equality and social justice and the ambition to see an end to child poverty. I am sure you and your government will work hard to realise and embed these values for the benefit of children, young people and families in Scotland and across the UK. Ending child poverty is the first and most important thing any government must do to if it wants to create a fairer and more equal society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the largest solely Scottish children's charity, our driving mission is to end child poverty and make sure that all families who need extra help get the support they need. An entire generation of children has been affected by the damage done by nearly two decades of austerity. This has had a profound impact on the levels of poverty and disadvantage we see at Aberlour every day, within the families we work with and the communities we serve. It is shocking and unacceptable that four million children across the UK are currently growing up in poverty. Children cannot wait any longer for real and sustained action to turn the tide on child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As part of our mission, we aim to work with government at all levels, and with all political parties, to influence and shape legislation, policy and practice to improve the lives of Scotland’s most disadvantaged and marginalised children, young people and families. I am pleased to say that Aberlour has worked closely with the UK Government in recent years, for example contributing to the work of the Child Poverty Taskforce and the development of the Child Poverty Strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We long campaigned to see an end to the cruel two-child limit and enthusiastically welcomed the action taken by your predecessor to finally end such a harmful and discriminatory policy. However, that one, albeit important, action does not mean that child poverty has now been fixed. Your government must now go much further and faster, with clear and targeted actions that respond to the entrenched and often intersecting challenges in families’ lives, in order to lift children out of poverty for good. We are keen to work with you and your government to help achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to you speak in recent weeks, I have been particularly encouraged by your message of hope. We often hear from children and families at Aberlour of the hope they feel as a result of the help and support we are able to provide. It is a privilege to be part of the lives of our children and families, and to know that we can help to create hope, where too often there is hopelessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nonetheless, every day we work with families who have to make impossible choices of whether to put food on the table, pay their energy bills or provide adequate clothing for their children. This puts a massive stress on families and creates adversity that impacts on children’s education and learning, their social development and their mental and physical health and wellbeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A significant consequence of the overwhelming financial strain that too many struggling families face is debt, and in particular public sector debt in the form of council tax debt, rent arrears and even school meal debt. Aberlour’s research and evidence over many years shows that public sector debt is a fundamental feature of child poverty, too often trapping children and families in poverty. We have described this as a public debt crisis. The State is the single biggest debt collector in the country frequently reducing, rather than increasing, the incomes of our poorest families through deductions from Universal Credit and other benefits or via other punitive debt recovery processes. This has to change if your government is truly committed to ending child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since becoming Prime Minister, you have talked about giving families and households ‘breathing space’ by alleviating the financial pressures they are feeling. Aberlour has called on government at UK, Scottish and local levels to tackle the public debt crisis to help end child poverty, and we have illustrated a range of policy solutions to help ease the pressure of that public debt burden and help provide breathing space for so many families across the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect of taking action to tackle public debt would not be to put more money in families’ pockets, but to keep money in families’ pockets for the things they need for their children to thrive. This means more money in local economies. It is not a binary choice between ending poverty or driving growth, we can do both at the same time. Ultimately, investment in social security and tackling child poverty is an investment in our communities, our citizens, our children and our shared future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Aberlour we will continue to use our voice and influence to help secure the changes that our children, young people and families demand and deserve. To that end, I would be delighted to meet with you and relevant Cabinet colleagues and officials at the earliest opportunity to discuss our priorities further. We are also happy to organise visits and conversations with children, young people and families themselves whenever you visit Scotland. In doing so I hope we can work together to help achieve our shared ambitions to improve the lives of children, young people and families and to end child poverty for good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yours,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Justina Murray\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>Aberlour Chief Executive\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-07-27T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour CEO, Justina Murray, writes to the new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking him to go further and faster to end child poverty for good across the UK.","media\u002FJustina_Murray_Happy_beside window.jpg","2026-07-27T15:11:07.000000Z","2026-07-27T15:17:17.000000Z"]