Children's charity Aberlour starts new project to help Perthshire families

The in-person Family Advice and Community Connections Service was launched by Scotland’s biggest children’s charity on Monday, September 9, supported by Perth and Kinross Council

Families under pressure across Perthshire and beyond can now benefit from life-changing help from a ground-breaking support team.

The service delivers insight, guidance and practical help to any families with children under 18 who are struggling to cope amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The in-person Family Advice and Community Connections Service (FACCS) was launched by Aberlour, Scotland’s biggest children’s charity, on Monday last week, supported by Perth and Kinross Council.

Grant Cowper, who manages the charity’s service in Perth and Kinross, as well as Angus, said the four-strong team has already been letting families know that help is at hand.

It will provide support and guidance across a wide-range of issues from childcare and housing issues to financial support.

Mr Cowper said: “We will be getting out into communities across the region, visiting community hubs, health centres, schools, mother and toddler groups.

“We have been publicising the service wherever there are families with children needing help and that is everywhere.”

The team – which is based in Perth but can be contacted by phone, email or through its website – can offer advice on any issues putting families under stress.

Mr Cowper continued: “We will be helping families get the help and practical support they need as easily and as quickly as possible.

“Sometimes we will be helping plug families into other services with the minimum of fuss, sometimes we will be visiting their homes to deliver tailored support.

“We are here to help families however and wherever necessary.”

The team expects poverty and the cost of living crisis to be a common element in many of the requests for assistance with related issues including isolation, addiction and mental health issues.

Dawn Ward, children and families director at Aberlour, said: “The new service has been shaped by knowledge gained through our Sustain Service already helping families across Perth and Kinross.

“There is an idea that this a relatively affluent region but there are deep pockets of hidden poverty, particularly in rural areas.

“We will be working hard to ensure families living in those areas know help is here.”

The service is part of a Scottish Government initiative called the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, which is designed to make it easier for families to find and secure necessary assistance.

Arun Singh, strategic lead for children, families and justice at Perth and Kinross Council, said: “We are confident the new service will enable a quicker resolution to issues that families have been struggling with and will be an important addition to the range of support available for families across Perth and Kinross.”

For more information, see the website www.aberlour.org.uk.

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