Fundraising events like Kilts for Kids Day help CHILDREN 1ST to improve the lives of thousands of children across Scotland. Here are just a few examples of some of the children we’ve helped.

Brian’s Story

Brian (aged eight) lived with his mother and step-father, both of whom were addicted to drugs. He was frequently beaten by his step-father and also witnessed his mother being physically attacked. At school, he was usually quiet and withdrawn, but he sometimes had violent outbursts towards his teachers and fellow pupils. He appeared very depressed, and started to destroy and break his own toys and possessions.

When his teacher noticed heavy bruising on his back and arm, police and social work became involved. As a result Brian went to live with his maternal grandmother. However, she was finding it increasingly difficult to look after him as his behaviour became more and more challenging. He did not know where he belonged or what to do with his anger and confusion.

Brian was referred to CHILDREN 1ST by his social worker. He was initially very withdrawn but showed an interest in playing with the sandpit and toys at our centre. Working at CHILDREN 1ST, Brian made up stories and recreated scenes in the sand with the toys, sometimes re-enacting the violence he had seen and experienced.

Brian’s project worker worked this way with him for a long time, and he eventually became more relaxed and started to speak about his feelings and experiences.

Both his grandmother and his teachers have noticed his behaviour improve in school and at home. Brian is far more open and talks about his life and his feelings to them. He has more friends at school, has taken up football and now plays in the school team. His relationship with his mother, who has completed a drugs rehabilitation programme, is also improving. Her supervised contact with Brian is going well.

Thanks to the support he has received from CHILDREN 1ST, Brian has gone from being a very troubled little boy, showing early signs of self-destructive behaviour, to a much happier, relaxed child with friends and interests, able to look forward to a happier future.

Robin’s story

Robin (now aged four) had a very difficult start to life. He was born to parents who misused drugs. His mother and father became estranged when he was still a baby and, as a result, Robin lost all contact with his father’s family. Although his mother cared for him very much, she was not able to look after him because of her drug use, so Robin went into foster care.

It was hoped that his mother could be rehabilitated and look after him again. Sadly she died because of her substance misuse a few months after Robin was fostered - he was only three. CHILDREN 1ST was contacted to look into whether there was some way he could be cared for by his own family rather than being permanently fostered or adopted.

After a lot of preparation work, CHILDREN 1ST arranged for members of his extended family to meet together. With our support, the family was able to come to a unanimous decision that a maternal aunt and uncle would care for Robin, and that relationships would be re-established with his father’s family.

When our work with Robin was coming to an end, he told our worker that he was happy. “I have got a really big family now,” he said.

Robin is currently doing very well and has been permanently adopted by his aunt and uncle.

Keira’s Story

Life at home for Keira (aged ten) was very difficult. Keira’s mum and dad were loving parents, but both suffered from mental health problems. They felt anxious about contact with the outside world, which led to Keira and her family becoming very isolated. Keira’s schooling was affected by her difficult home life. She complained of being bullied and felt she had no friends of her own age. She was worried about leaving her mum on her own, feeling that she had a responsibility to take care of her.

Keira was referred to the Young Carers Project at CHILDREN 1ST as a fearful, shy girl. She displayed the same fears about the world as her parents. Her worker felt that Art Therapy would help Keira come to terms with her anxieties. Using art materials, Keira was able to explore her worries about her mum’s health, friendships, and her shyness. As time passed, Keira slowly gained in confidence and was able to acknowledge some of the positives in her life: the people who cared about her, the things she was good at - football, reading and art - and that she did have friends. As she became more confident and happy, her attendance at school improved dramatically.

During her time with CHILDREN 1ST, Keira was able to overcome many of her fears, such as walking in to her school assembly. Nearing the end of her work with us, Keira was confident enough to read a story she had written in front of the school.