Help us give families in Moray and East Lothian a warm welcome

Children 1st has launched two Crowdfunders so that we can help keep families warm and supported through the end of winter and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Both are eligible for the Co-op Warm Spaces Funding Boost, which will match any donations under £250 made by 22 March 2023. This means our donors’ generosity will go even further.

Moray: Support to end rural isolation

Children 1st’s Elgin hub runs a variety of weekly drop-in sessions including the Families Together drop-in, a young people’s wellbeing group and a monthly outing for dads and their kids.

They want to raise funds to help meet rising food and fuel costs and to cover families’ transport costs.

Mandy Morrison, Children 1st service manager in Moray, said: “The families we work alongside are those most at risk from the increased prices we’re all facing.

“They are feeling increasingly isolated because they just can’t afford the travel costs to leave their homes, but they’re also worried about heating those homes, and providing healthy and nutritious food for their children.”

East Lothian: Warm welcomes and waterproof clothing

The Children 1st Our Families Musselburgh hub runs weekly drop-in sessions for local families.

One family and a staff member cook a hot, healthy meal for the others each week. Families are given the ingredients and recipes so they can recreate the meal at home.

There are games and activities for the children, which parents and carers are welcome to join. But there is also space for the adults to chat, build friendships and support each other.

Children 1st specialist advisors are available to support families about how to manage debt, access welfare entitlements or how to reduce energy bills.

Margo Irvine, the East Lothian service manager for Children 1st, said: “We’ve had great support to get our Warm Welcome drop in sessions started.

“This Crowdfunder will hopefully ensure we can keep offering families access to a Warm Welcome through the winter and into spring.

“We would also love to help families buy warm and waterproof clothing, to make it easier for them to venture out when the weather is poor.

How to donate

If you’d like to support the East Lothian Crowdfunder, please visit:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/warm-welcome-for-east-lothian-families

If you'd like to support the Moray Crowdfunder, please visit:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/families-feeling-good-in-moray