With many families across Scotland worried about covering their essential living costs, our Money Wellbeing Team offer both practical support to help families with benefits, budgeting and debt and emotional support with stress, anxiety and wider challenges families are facing.
The team help families like Joanna, a single mum with two teenage sons struggling to pay bills and meet essential costs. The family had experienced considerable trauma together including abuse, bereavement, and neglect. Because of their experiences, Joanna’s sons had both stopped attending school because and were constantly fighting, forcing Joanna, to stay at home to keep them safe.
When they started getting in trouble with the police, Joanna’s already poor mental health was pushed to the edge.
Children 1st Money Advisor, Pauline worked with Joanna’s Children 1stt’s Family Support Worker to offer holistic support with the challenges her family were facing. Pauline supported Joanna to get access to funds she didn’t know she was eligible for, as the Family Support Worker worked with the boys and Joanna to recover from their traumatic experiences, build their confidence and develop stronger relationships.
Joanna says, “It feels like we have won the lottery.” I can afford to update the boy's clothing, things like boxers, socks, trainers, things that need regularly updated, as well as making sure we can buy regular shopping and have a healthier diet.”
Joanna even had the opportunity to take the boys, fishing, helping them to strengthen their relationship and help their mental well-being.
She says that the support from Children 1st has been “life-changing” helping to reduce the family’s stress and anxiety and helping them build stronger relationships. Today the family feel that their lives are finally back on track.