It doesn't stop just because it's Christmas.
This Christmas, you can protect Scotland’s children.
Like you, Children First believes that every child deserves a safe and happy childhood. Tragically, this Christmas, thousands of children across Scotland will wake up in crisis, full of fear and worry. Every child should have hopes, dreams, prospects and opportunities. But, for many, they simply do not exist. Abuse, neglect and trauma are robbing many of their childhood years. Children are experiencing a mental health crisis, made worse by online harm, exploitation and social media bombarding them with unrealistic expectations.
Scotland’s children urgently need your support.
Please donate today and give the gift of childhood this Christmas.
One in three children in Scotland will experience a traumatic event before the age of 18. It is hard to imagine but one in five will be sexually abused. That’s the equivalent of at least four children in every classroom.
Protect Scotland's children today
As Scotland’s national children’s charity, our teams support children who are distressed and at risk of serious harm and help them recover from unthinkable trauma and abuse, every day.
Scotland’s children are in crisis and they need your help. It is time to put children first. Together, with your support, we can keep children safe this Christmas and beyond. Please donate today, because every penny will make a difference to a child’s life.
Donations save lives: Cleo's story
Cleo was only 16 when she was sexually assaulted. Just a child. Unbelievably, the abuse continued for months.
Still at school and too young to fully understand what was happening to her, she felt sick and scared. Traumatised, Cleo eventually found the courage to tell her parents. They supported her to contact the police. Distressingly, Cleo was asked to repeat her story over and over.
Cleo was struggling when she was introduced to Mandy, her Children First recovery worker. Mandy supported Cleo to understand that what happened was not her fault, to cope with her emotions and helped her through the frightening and distressing process of having to give evidence in court.
The court process took a shockingly long time and Cleo was unable to move on. Mandy supported her every step of the way.
My Children First support worker, Mandy, knows what to do to help me. She understands. If I need anything she is there. "
We can’t always prevent dreadful things happening to children but when they do, we can help children recover and support them to believe that they will survive, feel safe again and build a future.
The man who hurt Cleo was found guilty and is now on the sex offenders register. Life is getting better. With Children First’s support, she is slowly starting to trust people again and is concentrating on her friends, family and college.
With donations, we can help more children like Cleo. Please donate this Christmas.
*Names and images have been changed to protect privacy.
Together, we can create a safer, brighter future for all children in Scotland.
Please donate £12 a month or make a donation today. Every penny will make a difference to a child’s life.
