Barnardo’s Scotland asks local election candidates to act with children and families in mind

Barnardo’s Scotland is asking candidates standing for the local election on 5 May 2022 to act with children and families in mind. 

The charity is appealing to election candidates to prioritise family support, mental health provision and consistency of third sector funding to enable continuity of services, to make the biggest difference to the lives of children and families across Scotland. 

Click here to read the local election briefing. 

• Barnardo’s extensive work in family support has shown that access to the right type of support at the right time can make all the difference to a family in need. That is why we are passionate about ensuring every family across Scotland, regardless of where they live, has access to the right help, at the time they need it. We believe that family support services should be available in every community in Scotland. That’s why we want to see the use of the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund maximised at a local level. 

• Lack of access to early support is the key challenge to improving health and wellbeing of children and young people, based on experiences from Barnardo’s services. Our work supports children and young people to process and recover from traumatic life experiences, reduce functional and behavioural difficulties, and build the skills and resilience needed to achieve their full potential. We know that investment in CAMHS to reduce waiting lists must be supported with renewed focus on early intervention and adequate resources to provide wraparound support that promotes wellbeing at the earliest stages. We are asking all local councils to make this a key priority over the next term of office. 

• Annual funding cycles and lack of longer-term certainty provides challenges for supporting children and families who need consistent help. That’s why Barnardo’s is asking every local authority to commit to ensuring that third sector partners are given more secure, longer-term funding to ensure those who need our services are guaranteed consistent support. 

Barnardo’s Scotland has also raised awareness to councillors of the action it is taking to support refugees from Ukraine and what help the charity can provide.  

Barnardo’s has set up the Ukrainian Support Helpline to provide a holistic support service, with help available to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The UK-wide helpline is staffed by English, Ukrainian and Russian speakers on 0800 148 8586 / Barnardo's website for anyone fleeing Ukranian conflict. 

In January, Barnardo’s Scotland also set up a mental health support service for unaccompanied child refugees and asylum seekers in Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire, which is funded by the Scottish Government’s New Scot Integration Fund. 

Barnardo’s Scotland Director, Martin Crewe, said: “The 2022 local elections are crucial for the future of children, young people and families in Scotland. 

“Barnardo’s Scotland is committed to keeping The Promise and to working closely with local authorities to achieve this, to fulfil the right of every child in Scotland to be able to grow up safe, loved and able to achieve their potential. 

“That’s why we want to make local election candidates aware of the work that Barnardo’s Scotland does across the country, and why we are calling for action to increase access to family support, a prioritisation of mental health and wellbeing support and sustainable third sector funding.” 

Barnardo’s Scotland 

Barnardo’s is the UK’s largest national children's charity operating in Scotland since 1892. Barnardo’s Scotland works with more than 16,300 children, young people and families in over 140 services. We deliver a wide range of services which include providing family support and early intervention, fostering and adoption services, helping children affected by sexual abuse and exploitation, helping young people entering employment, education and training, and supporting young people and families affected by drug and alcohol use.