Labour calls for funding to help children of alcoholics

Scottish Labour has challenged the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon 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.

The party’s health spokesman 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 £6m of funding in April to help the estimated 200,000 children with alcoholic parents get support.

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

He 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, which works with families of those affected by alcohol.