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Barnardo’s issue a plea for new adopters in Scotland

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Barnardo’s has recently issued a plea for more people to consider adoption after figures revealed that the number of adopters on the national register had dropped by almost 20% in the space of a year.

Ahead of last month’s Adoption Week, Barnardo’s Scotland pointed to Scottish Adoption Register figures (click here for more) that show the number of registered adopters has fallen from 209 at the end of March 2023 to 169 on the corresponding date this year. That is a decrease of 19%.

What’s more, in the 2022/23 time period, 135 prospective adoptive families were added to the register, but, in 2023/24, this number stood at 105 – a drop of 22%. According to the most recent SAR Annual Report: “Should the pattern of lower numbers of families continue, Scotland could begin to experience similar concerns currently evident in the remaining nations of the UK, where there are higher numbers of children than families.”

Anne Whyte, Assistant Head of Business for Family Placement Scotland at Barnardo’s, said: “We are currently seeking more applications from prospective adopters that can consider those children that wait the longest to be adopted. For example, there is what we would term ‘older children’ – i.e. those aged four years old and above. We’d also love to hear from those who would consider adopting brothers and sisters who live together or are being reunited, and/or those with complex needs.

“These children wait the longest for their ‘Forever Families’, and we are keen to close that gap. Where it isn’t possible for brothers and sisters to live together, it’s important that adopters can support ongoing family time, where appropriate, enabling these important relationships to remain in place throughout their lives.”

One couple who have adopted through Barnardo’s had this to say: “Adopted siblings are the whole world to one another and we must keep that bond strong.” Another couple added: “Our child might not be genetically ours, but every day we see our influence in his developing personality. He’s got his dad’s sense of humour and he’s adventurous with food like mum – and it’s like he has always been home.”

For those worried about embarking on the adoption journey, Anne Whyte has the following advice: “Don’t be afraid to reach out to agencies and ask as many questions as you need to. Do your research to develop your understanding of the needs of the children waiting for their forever family. Make links with other adopters because hearing about the process from someone who has been through it – with all the hopes, fears, highs, and lows – is so incredibly valuable.

“Ask yourself if you are ready to learn, reflect on your own life experiences and develop new perspectives and ways of thinking. We don’t expect people to come to this process with all the answers – we want them to come with the openness to learn and develop.”

A social worker who supports adopting families had this to say: “As a social worker with many years’ experience of supporting individuals and couples through the adoption process, I can think of no greater work-related pleasure than witnessing first-hand the joy in the hearts and faces of children and their new parents brought together through adoption.”

Click here to visit Barnardo's Scotland website

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A new framework tracks progress towards keeping the promise

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A new framework, which marks the first step in telling the story of progress around the promise, was launched last month.

The Promise Progress Framework, created by The Promise Scotland, The Scottish Government and COSLA, brings together nearly 50 different streams of national data into one place, to start to answer the question of how Scotland is doing as it works towards keeping the promise for care experienced children, young people and their families.

Collecting input from relevant Scottish Government analytical divisions, nine local authorities and members of the Promise Collective, The Promise Story of Progress, which the framework is part of, aims to answer three questions:

  • How is Scotland doing in its progress to keep the promise?
  • How are organisations doing in their work to keep the promise?
  • Does the care community feel the impact of the promise being kept?

The framework represents the first time that this national level data relating to care experienced children and young people has been brought together in one place. It consists of an initial ten vision statements, taken directly from the promise, with an associated set of outcomes attached to each.

The national indicator set in The Promise Progress Framework at launch also provides organisations with a structure to aid their own reporting on how they are feeding into Scotland’s overall aims.

Claire Stuart, Head of Insights at The Promise Scotland, said: “The Promise Progress Framework is a way to better understand and organise national level data that relates to care experienced children and young people. It allows any individual or organisation to use it in a way that works for them, or to highlight where more work and evidence is needed.

“However, national data can’t tell the whole story. The most important next step is knowing if care experienced children and young people are feeling the impact of the promise being kept. For example, the indicator on the number and rate of children in the ‘care system’ in Scotland during the year cannot tell you what life is like for the children who are in care, or those who are on the edges of care.

“The Framework also highlights where there are gaps in the data specifically relating to care experienced children and young people. But by bringing the data together in one place for the first time, there is now a clearer national picture than ever before on what we know, what we don't know and what we need to know.

“It means that all those who care about creating change, and those have the power to act in making change happen, can look in one place and get an idea of where action is needed most urgently.”

The Framework sits on the Plan 24-30 website, which sets out Scotland’s route map to keeping the promise. Click here to for more

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Primary pupils encouraged to submit jokes for the 2025 VoiceBox Competition

A national joke telling competition for primary-aged children has opened for entries, offerings schools across Scotland a light-hearted and inclusive way for pupils to develop communication skills, confidence and self-esteem.

Developed by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), the 2025 VoiceBox Competition has been designed to raise awareness of the importance of communication skills, as telling a joke involves everything from inference and strong receptive and expressive language to good auditory memory.

What’s more, preparing for the competition encourages pupils to consider language, audience suitability and delivery, alongside practicing intonation, conversational style and non-verbal communication, too.

Open for entries until 1 April 2025, all primary schools in Scotland are invited to nominate one joke, which can either come from an individual pupil who wants to take part, or through a joke-telling competition to find their best entry.

Up to 32 jokes will be selected – one finalist from each local authority area – and the shortlisted schools will be invited to the National Final in the Scottish Parliament on 5 June 2025, where they will tell their jokes in front of MSPs and a judging panel.

All finalists attending the National Final will receive £100 worth of HarperCollins books, and the pupils with the three best jokes will receive up to £100 to spend on toys, as well as up to £500 worth of Collins Big Cat books for their school.

To learn more and download the competition online toolkit, visit www.rcslt.org/scotland/voicebox

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New campaign raises awareness of Violence Against Women and Girls among young women in Glasgow

Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Girls Club, a social good media agency and youth service provider, announced a new campaign yesterday.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of Violence Against Women and Girls among young women aged 16-21 in Glasgow as well as highlight information about the available support services.

At the heart of the campaign, is the short film, ‘Where We Stop’ written by actor, writer, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate and Glasgow Girls Club alumni, Molly Geddes. The compelling 6-minute film aims to raise awareness about Violence Against Women and Girls amongst young women and direct them to information, support, and services available in Glasgow.

The campaign was brought to Glasgow by the Lord Provost Cllr Jacqueline McLaren, as part of The Carter Center’s Inform Women, Transform Lives initiative, a global effort by the renowned non-governmental organisation to increase the number of women accessing critical information about City services available so they can find the support they need (click here for more).

The short film, written by Geddes was created in partnership through a series of focus groups, and script writing workshops with girls and young women from across Glasgow to ensure its impact and sensitivity. The film tackles themes relating to Violence Against Women and Girls head-on, highlighting the real experiences of those affected by the issue, including the theme of coercive control and domestic abuse for young women.

‘Where We Stop’ follows main character Sophie and her friends on their usual bus route, in their usual seats. It begins with them excitedly discussing Sophie’s upcoming date with Jack. It then cuts to Sophie and Jack on the bus, presumably on their first date, with the pair awkwardly interacting but ultimately sharing a laugh together. The film takes the viewer on an intense, glitching timelapse of their relationship, gradually revealing that not everything is as it seems as Jack’s behaviour becomes increasingly coercive, controlling and abusive. The final scene features a call-to-action signposting viewers to Sophie’s Stop an app built in partnership with Glasgow Girls Club and Glasgow City Council – with guidance and information on available services.

By exploring often-overlooked early warning signs of abuse and relationship coercion and challenging the misconception that these issues primarily affect older women, the film's powerful storytelling aims to resonate with young women, challenging harmful stereotypes and encouraging them to take action.

Longtime Glasgow Girls Club member Geddes, who has drawn from her own experiences and insights gathered from recent focus groups, has been developing the film concept over several years through her work with the Club. Bringing it to life alongside young women, with the support of local government and a respected NGO like the Carter Center, has exceeded her initial vision for the project, underscoring the power of community collaboration.

Molly said, “I'm incredibly grateful to have been part of this project. My main drive for creating this film was the lack of media around domestic abuse, that specifically centred young women. I hope that 'Where We Stop' can shed light on the issue of violence against women and girls and help people find support. This is a massive full circle moment for me, both personally and professionally, and to see the impact this process has already had on young women is magic.”

The city’s Lord Provost Cllr Jacqueline McLaren said: “As Lord Provost of Glasgow, I’m extremely proud to have led on the Carter Initiative – Inform Women, Transform Lives. Standing in solidarity with a wider international network of cities with the common purpose of empowering women.”

She continued: “Glasgow’s glad to have been able to work collaboratively with a series of committed stakeholders alongside young women across the city keen to inform, shape and take ownership of this campaign. It’s been an inspiring, energising and positive journey. We’re thrilled to have made such progress and proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with women across the globe.”

She concluded: “I know this exciting, dynamic and imaginative campaign has the potential to be a powerful liberating and educational resource for all our young women. It’s been an amazing creative and learning process that I’m confident will prove a leading legacy programme. A catalyst for real change, enlightenment and engagement surrounding how we all address Violence Against Women.”

Glasgow Girls Club Founder & Director, Amy Rew, who was a producer on the film and has also coordinated the communications media planning on behalf of Glasgow City Council said, “We're incredibly proud to launch this powerful campaign raising awareness about Violence Against Women and Girls. By providing essential information about City Services and resources, we aim to better equip young women to recognise forms and signs of the issue, seek appropriate support, and know they're not alone. Our goal is to give young women access to information that can help them live better lives.”

The film is part of a wider campaign designed to inform as many young women as possible and transcend barriers to accessibility. This includes leveraging social media platforms, utilising community radio stations, billboards, posters, promotional merchandise, and engaging local champions.

Click here to learn more about the launch of Sophie’s Stop

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Over 50 schools share £150,000 investment to mark Book Week Scotland

Earlier this week it was announced that 17 projects will benefit from the 2024-25 funding round through the School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF). The announcement came at the start of Book Week Scotland.

Among these, the S’More Reading For Mental Health initiative which operates at Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Mintlaw Academies in Aberdeenshire will benefit. It uses campfire-themed kits with tents, replica campfires, and nature toys to create a calming atmosphere for storytelling sessions and has been awarded £12,260.

The Craigie Book Blether at Edinburgh’s Craigentinny Primary gets £3,200 to help foster a reading community, engage parents, and raise attainment through "reading picnics" in the library.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

“As Book Week Scotland gets underway, it’s an important time to reflect on the vital role school libraries play in supporting improved literacy and communications skills in our children.

“I am very pleased to see a range of creative projects benefit from this funding, which will ultimately encourage more young people to read for enjoyment.”

Alison Nolan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council, said:

“School libraries play such an important role in providing a safe space for young people to learn while also expanding their horizons through the world of reading.

“Programmes like SLIF allow school libraries across the breadth of the country to tailor their offering to the pupils who make use of the library on a daily basis, and it’s great to see so many deserving projects receive confirmation of their award to kick off Book Week Scotland.”

 

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Holyrood Committee calls on the Scottish Government to prioritise three-year-funding cycles for the third sector

A new pre-Budget report by the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee has highlighted the growing financial concerns currently faced by many third sector organisations, and has called on the Scottish Government to prioritise longer-term funding models to create more stability and better use of resources across the sector. 

Bringing together evidence and expertise from charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations, including Children in Scotland, the Committee’s Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26: Third sector funding principles report, published on 13 November, said that prioritising three-year-funding and including provisions for inflation-based adjustments in the next Budget would be vital for addressing the significant challenges impacting Scotland’s third sector.  

As outlined in the report, the third sector has seen a decrease in Scottish Government funding, with £21.1 million allocated in the 2024-25 year budget compared to £21.2 million in 2023-24 – marking a 0.5% cash decrease and 2.1% real terms reduction during a time of high demand for services. 

Recognising the critical role the third sector plays in supporting Scottish society, the report said fair and efficient funding could contribute to its continued effectiveness, as witnesses to the Committee raised concerns about inconsistency, complexity, and a lack of transparency in the application process for funding. 

What’s more, the Committee’s report recognised that short-term funding cycles also divert significant amounts of time and resources away from the delivery of services, which was raised as particularly concerning for organisations working to address long-term, complex social issues, such as poverty, youth engagement, and social care. 

 Short-term funding, it outlined, not only prevents organisations from engaging in meaningful, long-term strategic planning but impacts on service delivery, which is key to the implementation of Scottish Government policy. 

Representing 450 charities, statutory bodies, organisations, and individual professionals across Scotland, Children in Scotland CEO Judith Turbyne gave evidence to the Committee and backed widespread calls for a multi-year funding approach to address issues ranging from staff turnover to financial instability.

Commenting on the report, Judith Turbyne said: “As a membership organisation representing a wide range of third sector voices, Children in Scotland was really pleased to be involved the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s inquiry, which made space for positive and important discussions about our future.  

“Between the cost-of-living crisis and inflation, the third sector is facing a multitude of challenges, and many organisations are struggling to meet demand as children, young people and families face their own financial struggles. This report sends a clear and concise message – third sector funding needs to be urgently reviewed to ensure that we can continue to support those most in need across our society.  

“The Scottish Government needs to tackle this issue head on, and the third sector needs to see proactive action in the forthcoming budget. Without an urgent rethink of funding, focusing on longer-term models of three to five years, many vital third sector organisations will simply not survive the current economic climate.” 

Bob Doris MSP, Deputy Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “The Scottish Government has a commitment to provide fair funding for the essential work done by Scotland’s charity sector. We make it clear in our report that this commitment should be recognised in the upcoming budget, so that the sector’s vital work can be safeguarded. We call on the Government to prioritise strengthening its approach to multi-year funding and improving its processes. 

“Whilst we acknowledge the Scottish Government's ability to agree to multi-year funding when it does not know what funding it will receive from the UK Government for subsequent years, our committee has made practical suggestions to overcome these challenges. 

 “We believe that implementing the straightforward measures outlined in our report, including multi-year funding, could positively impact the effectiveness of a sector that does so much to help so many.” 

Click here to access the full Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26: Third sector funding principles report

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The Yard announces major expansion plan

A Dundee charity that supports children and young people with disabilities and additional needs is embarking on an ambitious refurbishment of its family support centre, plugging a ‘significant gap’ in respite provision, after-school and holiday support.

Scottish charity The Yard, established in 1986, supports around 2,600 children and young people with disabilities and additional needs and their families through its services in Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, and Dundee.  The charity offers creative and inclusive play experiences in a well-supported environment, alongside wraparound support for the whole family.

The Dundee Yard, which opened in 2015, began as a two-day family play service. More recently, the service extended to five days during term time, including a schools programme and family support service supporting parents and carers with everything from financial and mental health to nutrition and sleep problems.  For the first time this year, the service also provided summer provision for four weeks throughout the school holidays.

While supporting 337 children last year, the charity has been restricted in terms of growth and capacity due to limitations around the condition and layout of the existing building. However, having taken ownership of the building from Dundee City Council, The Yard has now secured planning consent to transform the building at Drumlanrig Place to create a year-round, truly accessible community resource for children and young people with any disability, from birth to 25.

Importantly, the £1.6M refurbishment will allow The Yard to apply for Care Inspectorate Registration to expand its reach to include holiday support, an early years’ service, out-of-school and respite services, alongside work in schools, families and family support.

Works will include the replacement of the roof and, through room configuration, the creation of a Changing Places room, sensory room, large play spaces, multi-purpose room, office and meeting spaces and a large kitchen and dining space.  The garden and external play spaces will also be upgraded.

The refurbishment will be funded by a range of supporters including the Scottish Government, The Robertson Trust, The Gannochy Trust and The Northwood Charitable Trust.

Gill Thomson, Service Development Manager, runs the Dundee service. As mum to an 18-year-old son with complex needs, she approached the charity to establish the Dundee service 10 years ago after struggling to find a place for him to play as a child.

She said: “We know, through our important work with Dundee City Council, that there is a significant gap in services for families with children with additional support needs, particularly on our doorstep in Douglas, Mid Craigie and Linlathen.

“As I know from personal experience, every child has the right to safe play, and to be themselves. However, this is so much harder to find when your child has additional needs. At The Yard, we are specialists in inclusive play, so everyone is included. Our work improves the health and mental wellbeing of our children and the wider family while addressing some of the day-to-day practical and logistical challenges experienced by families. As well as extending our reach, the renovation will create a more welcoming and fit-for-purpose facility, a one-stop shop for whole-family support that will serve our city for many years to come.”

Cheryl Ferguson, from Dundee, has been attending The Yard with her six-year-old daughter Rio for seven months.

Cheryl said: “Rio is the most loving wee girl but finds it hard to express her emotions and is prone to lashing out, which makes it really difficult when you’re out and about. At The Yard, there’s no judgment. It’s such a welcoming place.

“Over the summer holidays, The Yard saved my life. It’s the lowest I’ve ever been but The Yard picked me up, helped with signposting to other agencies and supported me with my discussions with Rio’s school. Sometimes, you struggle to use your voice, but with their support, The Yard has helped me find mine.

"Some of the staff also have their own lived experience of caring for a child with additional needs, and that really helps; they’ve been there, can be honest and can share things that worked for them. There are also no barriers to going along; we’re constantly coming up against barriers and thresholds but, at The Yard, we’re welcome, and Rio can just be herself. There are very few places I can take her to, where we won’t be judged, so when The Yard is refurbished and can expand its service, we’ll be able to go more regularly. You can’t put a value on that.”

Convener of Children, Families and Communities Stewart Hunter said: “We have been working closely with The Yard to help them secure their building premises via an asset transfer and get financial assistance to help them to refurbish their family support centre.

“The Yard is such a valuable asset to the city, providing tailored support for children and young people with any disability. We know how important it is to have a service like this in the city and we are delighted to be part of the refurbishment project to help them provide year-round care for families in the city.

“I look forward to our continued partnership and working together to meet the demand in the city for out-of-school care and holiday provision, enabling families to look for and stay in work.”

The 10-month refurbishment will start in November 2024, due for completion in late summer 2025.  While the work is underway, The Yard will decant to Dundee East Community Sports Club, 9 Baldovie Terrace, Dundee from November, with the administrative team managing school outreach work, family support and training from the charity’s office space in the Wellgate Centre.

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National consultation launched on the future of foster care

People are being encouraged to share their views on plans for the future of foster care in Scotland.

The consultation, which will help ensure foster care is fit for the future, sets out proposals including more peer support opportunities, and using foster carers to facilitate family time with parents and siblings of children in foster care. The new approach could potentially offer an increased role for foster carers supporting families on the edge of care.

A national push to recruit more foster carers will also launch in 2025, with the aim of ensuring there are enough foster carers to support children in care.

Meeting foster carers last month, First Minister John Swinney heard about the important role they play in supporting children and young people. Mr Swinney encouraged foster carers and children with care experience in particular to take part in the consultation.

Marking Care Experience Week, which ran from 19-26 October, both the announcement of a new recruitment campaign next year and the consultation are key steps towards Keeping The Promise by delivering for care experienced children and young people.

Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes, said:

“We want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up. To do this we need to ensure that children and young people with care experience are given the support, love and nurture that they need.

“Foster carers have a key role to play in Keeping The Promise. The consultation is shaped by the honest and open reflections that have been shared by foster carers and children and young people with experience of foster care.

“I recognise some of the challenges facing foster care and that’s why along with the consultation, we will be launching a recruitment campaign for foster carers ensuring we can provide family-based care for those in need.”

Anne Currie, Assistant Director Scotland at the Fostering Network, said:

“The Fostering Network is pleased the Scottish Government is launching a national consultation on fostering and is seeking the views of those most affected, foster carers and care experienced young people.

“We know urgent changes are needed to improve fostering and to Keep The Promise so all children and young people can grow up in stable, loving homes. It’s crucial that foster carers’ voices are heard, which is why we’re working with the government to host online and in-person engagement sessions to provide an opportunity to ensure their views are heard.

“Last year the number of fostering households in Scotland fell by 8%, so retention and recruitment of foster carers are more important than ever. We welcome plans to launch a national recruitment campaign and want to ensure current and former foster carers are involved in this as much as possible.”

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Scotland’s housing emergency and child poverty are “inextricably linked”, new report warns

Scotland’s housing emergency and child poverty are inextricably linked according to a new briefing (click here for more) by two leading charities.

Produced jointly by Shelter Scotland (click here for more) and Aberlour Children's Charity (click here for more), the report examines the evidence linking child poverty and the housing emergency, and highlights delivering social homes as a key intervention.

First Minister John Swinney has said eradicating child poverty is at the heart of his governments mission, however this report warns that it cannot be achieved without adequately addressing the housing emergency.

High housing costs are driving 50,000 children in Scotland into poverty, while the latest homelessness figures show that more than 10,000 children are currently trapped in temporary accommodation.

Alison Watson, Shelter Scotland Director, said: “There’s an undeniable link between child poverty and Scotland’s housing emergency; this briefing sets that out in clear terms.

“It should be a source of great national shame that tens of thousands of children are being driven into poverty by soaring housing costs, and that more than 10,000 children in Scotland are living in temporary accommodation, trapped in the homelessness system.

“The Scottish Child Payment is a positive and welcome intervention, but the evidence shows it’s just not enough; the First Minister simply can’t achieve his aim of eradicating child poverty if he doesn’t first end the housing emergency.”

SallyAnn Kelly OBE, Chief Executive of Aberlour said: “Children have a right to grow up free from poverty. Government has a duty to realise that right and this includes providing safe and secure housing for children and their families.

“Unsafe, cramped and temporary housing undermines the lives and life chances of far too many of our children.

“Poverty damages the lives of children today and sabotages their futures tomorrow. The First Minister has said ending child poverty is his number one priority.

“But that commitment must be matched by clear actions and investment, ensuring the best interests of all our children drive policy not financial imperatives.

“It is clear that ending child poverty can only happen by tackling the housing emergency.”

Click here to read the report 'Child Poverty and the Housing Emergency.'

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Fife Gingerbread launches annual Heat and Eat Appeal

Fife Gingerbread has launched its annual Heat and Eat Appeal, which helps support vulnerable families to build safe, warm and healthy homes.

Running since 2018, every penny raised through the Appeal goes directly to families in crisis, providing critical support for everything from the cost of energy bills to ingredients for healthy meals – and due to the cost of living crisis, the voluntary sector organisation says donations have never been more vital.

However, the Appeal doesn’t just provide temporary relief. As well as giving families special ‘festive packages’ at this time of year – including toys, food, vouchers and fuel – the charity also offers year-round support, helping to create lasting change, and giving children and young people the opportunity to flourish and feel connected to their local community.

Thanks to generous donations, last year’s Appeal provided a festive package to more than 165 families, ensuring 313 children and young people had a safe and warm Christmas, while an additional 142 households received crisis support throughout the year.

Ffe Gingerbread Heat and Heat Appeal 2024

In Fife, research shows 23% of children and young people grow up facing poverty, while a recent survey of Fife Gingerbread’s supported families found that 74% of respondents are surviving below low-income thresholds, with the statistic rising for lone-parent households.

The charity says donations to the Heat and Eat Appeal could mean the difference between a child going to bed cold or feeling the warmth of a heated home, and all contributions, whether big or small, help support their work.

To make a donation to the Heat and Eat Appeal 2024, visit justgiving.com/campaign/heatandeat2024 

To find out more about the charity's work, visit fifegingerbread.org.uk

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