Family support service to close as funds dry up

A FAMILY support service that helps children with potential behavioural issues before they become “overwhelming” is to close after losing its funding.

The Dundee Early Intervention Team will close on March 31, after announcing it has been unable to secure money for next year.

The service supported families on the “brink of crisis”, who were referred to it by health professionals.

GPs, nurses and social workers enlisted the team in an effort to stop problems — such as acting out at school or issues with authority — from developing into “overwhelming crises” that could lead to antisocial behaviour in later life.

It was set up in 2012 with original funding from the Big Lottery and worked in partnership with a number of Scottish charities, the local authority and t he health board.

With the aid of charities Aberlour, Children 1st, Action for Children and Barnardo’s, the team offered support with parenting, guidance on health or relationship difficulties and help to tackle social issues.

Sally Ann Kelly, chief executive of Aberlour, said: “This service has been funded by the Big Lottery for six years but this is a time-limited source of funding.

“We had hoped to be funded thereafter by Dundee City Council and we are disappointed this has not been possible, particularly given how well regarded we know the service is in the city.

“We do appreciate councils are under tough funding pressures of their own, but unfor tunately this means that due to lack of funding, our service will close.

“As the lead organisation in this service, we take our responsibility to the children and families of Dundee very seriously and we are doing everything we can to make sure we can continue to support those families.

“Aberlour i s therefore exploring every possible option to keep an early intervention service running from April 1.”

NHS Tayside said that while it referred people to the service, it did not fund it and therefore it was not responsible for the money drying up.

Dundee City Council was approached for comment.