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| Children 1st | |
|---|---|
| Name | Children 1st |
| Type | Charity |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Founder | Thomas Barnardo |
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Area served | Scotland |
| Focus | Child protection, family support, prevention of abuse |
Children 1st Children 1st is a Scottish child welfare charity that provides support, advocacy, and therapeutic services for children, young people, and families affected by abuse, neglect, and family breakdown. Established in the late 19th century and headquartered in Edinburgh, the organization operates across Scotland offering helplines, local services, professional training, and campaign work aimed at preventing harm to children and promoting recovery. Its work intersects with statutory agencies, third sector organizations, and community groups to deliver direct services, influence policy, and build capacity in child protection.
The charity traces origins to Victorian social reform movements and the work of philanthropists associated with child rescue efforts, including contemporaries such as Thomas Barnardo and institutions like the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Salvation Army. Over decades the organization adapted through shifts in welfare provision influenced by legislation such as the Children Act 1989 and welfare reforms under administrations like those led by Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. Throughout the 20th century, the charity expanded its remit alongside developments in child psychology linked to figures like John Bowlby and Melanie Klein, adopting therapeutic and family support models inspired by agencies including Save the Children and Barnardo's. In the 21st century, responses to inquiries such as the Munro Review of Child Protection and high-profile cases like the Victoria Climbié inquiry shaped the charity’s emphasis on prevention, early intervention, and safeguarding partnerships with bodies including NHS Scotland and local authorities such as City of Edinburgh Council.
The charity’s mission emphasizes protecting children from abuse, promoting recovery for survivors, and strengthening family resilience, echoing aims of organizations like Unicef and World Health Organization in child wellbeing promotion. Objectives include delivering direct therapeutic services comparable to practices endorsed by the British Psychological Society, providing advocacy in settings including courts and child protection conferences similar to services offered by Children's Legal Centre, and influencing national policy debates alongside groups such as Children in Scotland and SCVO. Strategic aims reference evidence-based frameworks advocated by researchers at institutions like University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow, and legislative standards set by bodies like the Scottish Government and the Care Inspectorate.
Services span crisis and helpline provision inspired by models such as the Samaritans and Childline, therapeutic interventions drawing on approaches from NHS Lothian mental health teams, and family support work resonant with initiatives from Family Rights Group. Specific programs include trauma-focused therapies using modalities promoted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and peer support groups modeled after services by Victim Support and Action for Children. The charity operates outreach projects in partnership with community organizations including Shelter Scotland and education partnerships with schools influenced by curricula from Education Scotland. It also provides training for professionals and volunteers akin to offerings by Social Work Scotland and continuing professional development frameworks at institutions like University of Stirling.
Governance is overseen by a voluntary board and senior executive staff drawing governance best practice from codes such as those promulgated by OSCR and sector guidance from Charity Commission for England and Wales. Funding streams include statutory contracts with entities like NHS Scotland and local councils, grants from trusts and foundations comparable to The National Lottery Community Fund and philanthropic bodies such as Comic Relief, and income from individual donations influenced by fundraising approaches used by Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support. Financial oversight and audit practices align with standards set by firms in the audit sector and regulatory expectations from auditors that work with organizations such as Big Society Capital.
The charity measures outcomes using mixed-methods evaluations similar to studies published by Scottish Government research units and academic partners at Glasgow Caledonian University, reporting on indicators like reductions in repeat harm, improvements in child mental health using scales endorsed by Royal College of Psychiatrists, and family functioning measures aligned with research from Joseph Rowntree Foundation. External evaluations have been commissioned in the tradition of third sector impact assessments conducted by bodies such as Nesta and independent reviewers who have informed service redesign following inquiries led by panels like the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Monitoring frameworks incorporate guidance from Institute for Fiscal Studies-style quantitative approaches and qualitative methods used by social researchers at University of Stirling.
Partnership networks include statutory partners such as Police Scotland and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, voluntary sector collaborators like Scottish Women’s Aid and Children in Scotland, and cross-sector initiatives with academic centres including Aberdeen University and policy groups such as The Scottish Council on Human Bioethics. Advocacy priorities align with campaigns led by national actors including NSPCC and international norms promoted by UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, targeting legislative reform, funding for early intervention, and improved safeguarding practice across institutions like schools and health boards exemplified by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Category:Children's charities based in Scotland