Put children first,urges charity

A charity has called on candidates standing for office in Renfrewshire’s Council elections to commit to putting children at the heart of their campaign pledges.

Child protection charity Children 1st is calling on candidates for May’s Scottish local government elections to stand up for the area’s youngsters.

The organisation, once known as the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, has written to every council candidate in Scotland to share their election manifesto ‘Putting Children First’.

They are asking wouldbe councillors to sign up to a trio of pledges based on a commitment to keeping children and families safe, loved and well, by 2027.

They want councils to develop highly visible, easyto-access family resource and wellbeing spaces in every local community, offer families “nonstigmatising” immediate emotional, practical and financial support delivered in partnership with charities and ensure that every GP, health visitor and teacher can refer children and their families to support that strengthens their health and wellbeing without the need for a waiting list.

Charity chiefs also want poverty scrapped as an “excuse” for taking children into care and called on councillors to put the delivery of poverty action reports at the top of council agendas.

The charity says that if the pledges are delivered by every elected councillor, they can go a long way towards addressing the unprecedented challenges that children and families are facing.

Vist the Children 1st website for more information.