This winter, Children First is urging families struggling to make ends meet to contact its national support line for immediate, confidential help. Alongside crisis assistance, families are offered expert debt advice, help accessing benefits, and practical guidance on budgeting and energy bills. 

Backed by an additional £1.5 million from the Scottish Government, the charity can now offer enhanced emergency support to families facing poverty as part of the national mission to eradicate child poverty.  

Thanks to funding from the British Gas Energy Trust, eligible families can also receive essential white goods including fridges and washing machines until the end of February. 

In 2025 alone, the support line helped nearly 1,500 families, putting £1.8 million back into household budgets and supporting more than £1 million in debt management. 

Have a chat with Children First’s financial help team  

Read Children First’s full article  

Read Scottish Government’s publication ‘£10m emergency support for families’