Family Rights Group responds to Scotland’s new Programme for Government

Family Rights Group has responded to Scotland’s new Programme for Government.

Cathy Ashley, Chief Executive, Family Rights Group, said:

“It is our mission at Family Rights Group to help children live safely and thrive within their family and community. It’s a goal that we share with the Promise, to which we are wholeheartedly committed to helping deliver.

“The Promise set Scotland a challenge to transform the way it supports families to stay together and for children to reach their full potential. The plans set out in Scotland’s new Programme for Government are a significant step in delivering on that ambition and there is much that we welcome.

“The recognition that children and families need early and holistic support to address challenges before they become a crisis and to support families to stay together is really crucial. The Whole Family Wellbeing Fund and the ambition for preventative whole family support are positive steps. We welcome this as the start of a new focus on investment which supports children and families to stay together.

“The commitment to protect, maintain and mend relationships for children in care is equally important. Our Lifelong Links approach, being implemented in Edinburgh, Glasgow, West Lothian, Perth and Kinross, and Falkirk, supports children and young people with care experience to build positive relationships and a positive network of people to turn to in child and adulthood.

“When a child or young person can’t remain at home, kinship care is the next best option and has huge benefits for children including emotional stability, sense of identity and improved educational outcomes. We’re pleased to see commitments from the Scottish Government to improve support for children in kinship care and their carers, including a minimum national allowance.

“There are many other measures, including trauma-informed support and the Care Experience Grant, which we welcome too.

“The Promise was clear that everyone in Scotland – government, public agencies, charities, families – has a role to play. There is a lot of work to do and the pandemic has made the challenge even more urgent. We hope the Scottish Government will move quickly and deliver the investment needed to realise the Promise. We will continue to do our bit to deliver for children and families in Scotland.”