Plea for fund to help children of alcoholics

Labour has challenged the First Minister to set up a dedicated fund to help children of alcoholics after a £6 million funding pot was announced to help these vulnerable youngsters in England.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth made the plea after visiting a Scottish charity that aims to help children and families affected by alcohol abuse.

It is thought around 51,000 children across Scotland are living with a parent with a drink problem.

At Westminster, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced £6 million of funding in April to help the estimated 200,000 children with alcoholic parents get support and advice.

Mr Ashworth, who has spoken out about his father’s alcoholism, urged the Scottish Government to put “similar levels of support” in place.

The shadow health secretary teamed up with Scottish Labour communities spokeswoman Monica Lennon – whose father also struggled with alcohol – on a visit to the Blameless charity in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.

It works with children and families of those affected by alcohol.

Mr Ashworth said: “This is the sort of project that the Scottish Government should be supporting and investing in, because it’s about the future of Scotland, the future of the nation, it is investing in children and bringing families back together.”

Jon Ashworth MP.