Struggling children to receive more support thanks to cash boost from William Grant Foundation

Children in Moray who are struggling with disadvantage, who feel excluded from their communities, and whose wellbeing is suffering are to receive more help thanks to a cash boost from the William Grant Foundation, totalling £70,000 over two years.

Aberlour Children’s Charity runs the Youthpoint, from their base in Elgin in Moray where staff have been working to support children since 1989. Their mission is to ensure that all young people and families in Moray have access to wellbeing support when they need it most.

Kelly Blackmore, Aberlour Youthpoint Service Manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this two-year funding from the William Grant Foundation.  We are seeing more and more disadvantaged, excluded and vulnerable young people come to us for support and we can’t wait to continue our fantastic work.

“We hear from young people who are often living in chaotic households, who are feeling marginalised and who are falling behind their peers. We help them their emotions better, focus on their wellbeing, develop their talent aspirations, as well as working with the whole family dynamic.  Together, we look at their strengths, develop their talents and focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t.

“We enable them to build stronger relationships within and out with their family, gain and retain control of their own lives and remain safely in their own homes and communities. We find that a combination of one-to-one support, peer group sessions, mentoring and fun activities have the best effect.”

Beverley Hart, Aberlour Assistant Director, added: “We are looking forward to working with even more children and young people; this funding will allow us to have greater reach across Moray, and to address our waiting list. We now have two extra part time staff ready to start.”

Going forward the Service aims to develop its work further to create a package of support for informal education around substance use as well as a weekly group sessions for young people who have been subjected to Domestic Abuse.