Abuse. Neglect. Trauma. Online Harm.

Children in Scotland urgently need your help.

You can protect Scotland’s children.

Like you, Children First believe all children should be safe and happy.

Together, with your support, we protect thousands of children from harm every year, but Scotland is now facing a childhood emergency. 

Imagine being hurt time after time and not knowing how to make it stop. Imagine crying yourself to sleep every night, scared and worried about what tomorrow will bring. Imagine feeling so distressed that you don’t believe life is worth living.

It is hard to imagine but this is the heartbreaking reality for children across Scotland. Far too many young people feel frightened and alone and have no one in their life they can trust. Children urgently need your support.

Please donate £5 a month or make a donation today to protect children and keep them safe.

Protect Scotland's children today

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Abuse, neglect and trauma are robbing many children of their childhood years. Many more are experiencing a mental health crisis, made worse by online harm, exploitation and social media bombarding them with unrealistic expectations.
As Scotland’s national children’s charity, we protect children from harm, keep them safe, and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national support line and in their homes, schools and communities. We help children, their families and the people who care for them by offering emotional, practical and financial support. But we can’t do any of this alone.
All children should have hopes, dreams and opportunities. Sadly, for many they don’t exist. Children are in crisis and our work has never been more needed. We must put children first, but with rapidly increasing costs and a growing demand for our services we urgently need donations to continue our life-saving work.

Donations save lives: Orla's story

Orla* was only 14 when she tried to end her life. Frightened and overwhelmed, she struggled to cope with being relentlessly bullied and the loss of her grandfather who had recently passed away. Too young to understand her emotions and increasingly depressed, Orla would self-harm and lash out at her mum as she tried to make sense of a world that felt like it was crumbling around her.

In a desperate plea for help, Orla’s mum called the Children First support line. An expert advisor listened and together they created a plan to support Orla’s mental health. In time, Orla and her mum’s relationship improved. When Orla was distressed and felt sad, her mum was able to reassure her that she was loved and not alone. Home started to feel calmer and safe.

Orla began attending sessions with Jess*, a Children First support worker, someone she could trust and confide in. Jess helped Orla understand and manage her feelings. Alongside receiving support from a mental health professional, Jess supported Orla to feel less anxious and worried.

Although Orla still has her struggles, she now feels more positive about the future thanks to Children First. Will you help us give hope to more children like Orla? Please donate today.

*Names and images have been changed to protect privacy.

Together, we can create a safer, brighter future for all children in Scotland.

Please donate £5 a month or make a donation today. Every penny will make a difference to a child’s life.

Donate now

We're here if you need support

Some of the ways we protect children from harm

Children First support line

Safety in sport

Bairns Hoose