[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f18ruyb50r6bsk":16},{"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":15},"01m45vtvk0pdb1y7c1cqv76edp","9cdbdd6d-4900-4646-a012-d3e67a5ee788","1",false,"Panic and Promises Won't End Child Poverty","panic-and-promises-wont-end-child-poverty","\u003Cp>We live in a world that seems to spin faster every day, where all the dials are turned to 11 all the time.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headlines crash from one calamity to another as our political leaders rush to promise emergency action while their opponents demand even more urgency. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is noisy, tiring and a few hours later, when the news cycle spins to another red alert, the last one, whatever it was, is most often forgotten. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For years now, child poverty in Scotland has been routinely described as a national emergency demanding emergency action. It is and it does but, with more than one in five children still growing up in poverty in Scotland today, is it time to ask if the language of emergency and crisis is helping?  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it only encourages more haste but less speed, a birling carousel of taskforces and committees, policy papers and special reports, but too little measured and impactful action? Are we even checking if the blizzard of promises and commitments is being delivered before starting the snow machine again? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if the endless planning and process is actually slowing us down? What if somehow all the talk is delaying implementation of practical, tested, and effective measures to improve the lives and secure the life chances of the 210,000 children growing up poor in one of the wealthiest countries in the world? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because we already know what works. We have known for years.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there are no magic bullets, no simple solutions to the complex social issues that have blighted our poorest communities for decades. Child poverty, like Scotland’s drugs crisis, another national emergency, is embedded in longstanding economic trends that have stripped far too many of our neighbourhoods of jobs and hope. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those trends will not be reversed overnight but, in the meantime, we should not let perfect be the enemy of good. As Challenge Poverty Week begins today, the biggest challenge is to see the wood not the trees, to recognise and appreciate what is already working and build on it. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are things that we know ease the impact of poverty on young lives; that have been trialled, tested and measured; that inch their families from peril to safety; that give them new strength, confidence and a path to a more secure future. So why not have more of them? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are services that our charity and others are delivering every day, hand in glove with our partners in social work, health care and education. These are services delivering real, measurable success, making children safer, healthier and happier today and improving their chances tomorrow. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intensive family support, for example. The clue is in the name. It is the opposite of easy. Any family’s journey back from the very edge of crisis is one of hard yards and no shortcuts. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our teams arrive to work, shoulder to shoulder, with families on the point of collapse, with children often on the edge of care. Ensuring those babies and young people are safe is always the priority but, after that, keeping them with their families is the driving force because that, all research suggests, is the best way to stabilise childhoods and secure futures. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intensive family support means doing whatever it takes to keep children safe and families together. It can rebuild broken relationships; improve parents’ confidence in themselves; create new connections in communities; and help build firmer financial foundations with advice on welfare rights, maximising incomes and problem debt. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any investment in intensive family support and other specialist services, for pregnant women and new mums, for example, is more than returned in thriving families, stronger communities and money saved. Resource is better spent on intensive support keeping families safely together, than managing their separation through a lifetime of crisis-led state intervention.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our two Mother and Child Recovery Houses, in Falkirk and Dundee, for example, offer recovery spaces for pregnant and new mums with a history of substance use, allowing them to recover while staying safely with their babies. This helps keep families together and children at home, improves their futures and saves millions of pounds in avoided care costs. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is true child protection and the big question is not whether we can afford to roll out these services across Scotland but if we can afford not to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Justina Murray \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Chief executive of Aberlour Children’s Charity \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for the Daily Record and published on Monday 5th October 2026.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>",null,"2026-10-05T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity CEO, Justina Murray, explains what must be done to end child poverty in Scotland. We know what works and we've known for years. ","media\u002FRS873_0E5A9135.jpg","2026-10-05T11:05:26.000000Z",{"id":17,"blog_author_id":18,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":19,"slug":20,"content":21,"content_overview":11,"published_at":22,"seo_title":23,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":26,"next":27,"prev":28},"01j6fbybc9qn0nzryknn73v9pr","9c8b0191-fcca-48df-af06-d7308bbd8d7b","Leading charity hails expansion of lifeline service for mothers and babies","leading-charity-hails-expansion-of-lifeline-service-for-mothers-and-babies","\u003Cp>The expansion of a rehabilitation service helping mothers recover from addiction and trauma while keeping families together has been hailed by experts.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The residential support allows mothers to stay with their young children while receiving life-changing help to tackle drink and drugs problems while strengthening their parenting skills.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-houses\">\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Mother and Child Recovery House in Dundee\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> is funded by the Scottish Government and run by Aberlour, Scotland’s biggest children’s charity, with a sister operation opening in Falkirk next month.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Dawn Ward, director of children and families at Aberlour, believes the specialist package of support offered at the Tayside service has helped change and save lives since opening 18 months ago.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The value of the service is now underpinned by impact reports but \u003Cstrong>Ward added:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “The data is crucial but it can be the small, everyday things that stop you short.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“We can see the women engaging and committing to the work and how their confidence grows week by week.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“The women are themselves being cared for in ways that many have never experienced and, over time, that attention builds a new sense of themselves as loving, capable mothers.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Playing with a child and comforting them can feel like very basic, innate skills but if your parents did not play with you or comfort you then it is not basic at all. It is a skill to be learned.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Gradually, we see their heads coming up a little bit when they realise they can do this, that they can live the life they want to live and be the mothers they want to be.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“They can flourish and the true value of the work being done is in how many really claim the care of their baby. There is hope in that.”\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>An independent review of service suggests that for every £1 spent helping the women more than £10 will be saved in the future by keeping their children out of care.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The house cares for up to five women and their children, mostly babies, in a structured programme designed to help them get off street drugs, bolster their parenting, and keep families together.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Most of the women have previously endured issues including homelessness, sexual violence and domestic abuse while many of their parents faced similar challenges around addiction and their mental health. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The average age of the women is 31 and some have already had children removed from their care.  \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Ward said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>“There is an understanding that for some of the women, this will most likely be a last chance to care for their own child and build that relationship over time.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“It is not an easy option and before being offered a place, women are very clearly told what to expect and what will be expected of them. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“It is full-on, a lot is asked of them and it is not for everyone. They need to engage and commit to it.”\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-house-falkirk\">second house opening soon in Falkirk\u003C\u002Fa> will be similar in size and structure to the first but, Aberlour believe, will be shaped by the experience gained in Dundee.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Ward said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “There is some group work when the women come together for sessions but not as much as we had expected.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“They are at different stages of recovery, have different care plans and we found one-to-one sessions are more tailored and impactful.”\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Few of the women stay longer than six months but the first 12 weeks are crucial when cycles of addiction can be broken and replaced with better and enduring patterns of behaviour.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Ward said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “Women are encouraged to embrace the support in place and the oversight is there to help them break the patterns of addiction. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Many of the women will say it is tough at the start but, once on the other side, they understand why the parameters are so strict and necessary if they are going to reset.”\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The service and model of care has been carefully designed by Aberlour to ensure best practice in relation to recovery and family support.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Both Dundee and Falkirk houses will accept referrals from across Scotland but, while the package of support and care offered to the women will share a common framework each is tailored to the individual.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The support alongside random tests and searches help ensure the women use only prescription drugs –- while regular one to one sessions built around the Parents Under \u003Cbr>Pressure programme encourage new ways of thinking about their lives and role as a mother.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Ward said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>“If women feel ready to stop taking drugs, we will fully support that but, for others, it is about harm reduction, stabilisation and ensuring only prescribed drugs are being taken.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“There has to be flexibility and we work closely with GPs to find the best pathway for each woman.” \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Some despite their best intentions are just not at the right stage but it is far too black and white to talk about success or failure.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Armed with new skills and new ways of thinking, we obviously hope the women will recover and care for their children in the long-term.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Whatever happens though, their baby spent their first six months with a loving mother, who was doing everything she possibly could to be the best parent possible.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“When those babies grow up, they will understand just how hard their mums tried.”\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Lynne O’Brien, Aberlour chief officer, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>“In just a little over a year, the care being offered in Dundee has already transformed the lives of mothers and their children.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“The specialist support is tailored to the needs of each woman and every one is given the skills and encouragement to build a new future for themselves and their babies.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“One mother told me she only wished every woman in her situation could be given the same opportunity so we are delighted that a new house delivering the same life-changing care will soon open in Falkirk and other opportunities will follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for the \u003C\u002Fem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sundaypost.com\u002Ffp\u002Frehab-service-leads-fight-against-rising-deaths-of-mothers\u002F\">\u003Cem>Sunday Post \u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cem>and published on Sunday 25th August 2024.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fp>","2024-08-25T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity hails the expansion of lifeline service for mothers and babies","Dawn Ward for Aberlour Children's Charity explains the life changing support delivered by the charity's Mother and Child Recovery Houses.","media\u002F01J6FBYBC7T89JXEBB9QPH3DDV.jpg","2024-08-29T15:26:54.000000Z",{"id":17,"blog_author_id":18,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":19,"slug":20,"content":21,"content_overview":11,"published_at":22,"seo_title":23,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":26},{"id":29,"blog_author_id":6,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":30,"slug":31,"content":32,"content_overview":33,"published_at":34,"seo_title":35,"seo_description":36,"image":37,"created_at":38,"updated_at":39},"01j6cdm1p0kdkfq4ggn0f77t99","Aberlour’s response to the Scottish drugs deaths statistics","aberlours-response-to-the-scottish-drug-death-statistics","\u003Cp>On behalf of everyone at Aberlour I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to anyone who has lost a family member or a loved one as a result of a drug related death. Every statistic represents a person, someone’s mother, father, daughter, son, sister or brother. Every death is one too many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To see drugs related deaths rise again is cause for deep concern. Today’s figures illustrate that deaths amongst men remain highest, however they also show a worrying rise in deaths amongst women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is no escaping the fact that poverty is a key driver of drugs deaths, with those from the most deprived areas fifteen times more likely to die from drugs misuse. If we are committed to tackling drugs deaths, then we must be relentless in our drive to combat poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scottish Government has made tackling drugs deaths and reducing drugs harm its national mission. However, if it is to fulfil that mission then it is clear much more is needed to deliver the range of residential and community-based services around the country that are needed to reverse the increase in drugs harm and drugs related deaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We welcome the significant investment in residential rehabilitation and recovery services by the Scottish Government to date, including dedicated services for women such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-houses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aberlour’s Mother and Child Recovery Houses\u003C\u002Fa>. We know that these services are vital to provide recovery treatment and support for women and their babies, to keep families together and to help Keep The Promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We continue to call for further investment by the Scottish Government to make sure that accessible support is available for all those living with addiction and their families, either in the community or through residential rehabilitation and recovery services. This must include the agency for individuals to choose which supports and services are best for those that need them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To reduce drugs harm and drugs deaths in the long-term we must turn the tide on poverty. By providing purpose and a sense of opportunity we can reduce the trauma and pain that too often leads to drugs use and addiction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>SallyAnn Kelly OBE\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour Chief Executive\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>On behalf of everyone at Aberlour I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to anyone who has lost a family member or a loved one as a result of a drug related death. Every statistic represents a person, someone’s mother, father, daughter, son, sister or brother. Every death is one too many. To see … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Faberlours-response-to-the-scottish-drug-death-statistics\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-08-20T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour's response to the Scottish drugs deaths statistics - Aberlour - Web Backend","Aberlour's CEO SallyAnn Kelly OBE responds to the latest Scottish Governments drugs death statistics in Scotland.","media\u002FSallyAnn-Final-scaled.jpg","2024-08-28T11:58:31.000000Z","2024-11-25T07:20:29.000000Z"]