A Scotland for all: Supporting families facing multiple disadvantage

Circle works at the heart of communities across central Scotland supporting families facing multiple disadvantage. On Challenge Poverty Week, Fundraising Officer, Rachel O’Brien discusses the “myriad of complex challenges” faced by those living in poverty in central Scotland, and explains how the charity is bringing families together in safe, judgement-free and accessible spaces with the hope of tackling issues related to poverty and inequality.

Circle works with families facing multiple disadvantage as a result of poverty, structural inequality, mental health challenges, drug and alcohol use, trauma, abuse and loss.

At the heart of our approach are the relationships, based on trust, openness and honesty that we build with families. Our model is rooted in a belief that families are best placed to provide their own solutions to the challenges they face.

A Scotland for all

This Challenge Poverty Week, we are joining The Poverty Alliance in calling for a Scotland where we all have enough to live a decent and dignified life, a Scotland where we live without hunger, a Scotland where we can all get to where we need to, and a Scotland where we all have safe, secure and sustainable homes. Many, if not all, of the children and families we support are deeply affected by poverty, inequality and deprivation. We firmly believe in a Scotland where all children and families should have the support they need to live happy and healthy lives.

Recent local child poverty statistics (End Child Poverty, 2024) highlight that 20.4% of children in Edinburgh are living in poverty. This, coupled with the harsh reality that children and families affected by substance use frequently experience a myriad of complex challenges including poor mental health, poor housing conditions, food insecurity, health inequalities and social isolation often exacerbated by poverty, is unacceptable.

We work to challenge poverty, stigma and discrimination associated with substance use and advocate alongside families to ensure safe housing conditions, improved food security and accessibility of support and transportation.

The link between poverty and substance use

At Circle, we believe that we should all be able to live a dignified life. Poverty stops people from accessing opportunities and through our work, we seek to highlight the misunderstandings surrounding poverty and the consequences on children and families.

Recent drug-related death statistics indicate a clear link between poverty, substance use and drug-related deaths across communities in Scotland. In 2020, after adjusting for age, people in the most deprived areas were 18 times as likely to have a drug-related death as those in the least deprived areas (68.2 per 100,000 population compared with 3.7) (National Records of Scotland, 2020). The Scottish Government echoes these statistics and indicates that drug use issues are seventeen times higher in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived, whilst 54% of drug-related hospital admissions were patients living in the 20% most deprived areas.

How we tackle poverty - Harbour Project Family Inclusion Service

Our Family Inclusion service brings families together and aims to tackle issues related to poverty and inequality. We provide whole family group-based activities throughout the year as well as opportunities to access peer support and regular groups. Our Harbour Project recently received funding from the National Lottery to develop ‘Makers Groups’ across the City of Edinburgh.

Makers Groups are open and supported social sessions for children and families affected by substance use. The groups provide a safe, judgement-free and easily accessible space for children and families to build relationships, nurture attachment, reduce social isolation, and participate in activities that are focused on ‘making’. The activities are led and shaped by children and families, and there is always space for choice, creativity and outdoor play. Activities can include arts and crafts, gardening, planting, outdoor play, cinema nights, and cooking.

The purpose of the Makers Groups and wider Family Inclusion Service is to tackle inequality and marginalisation by providing free activities for whole families to participate in together within their local communities. Families who are affected by poverty, housing and food insecurity are supported to access free activities and peer support throughout the year.

Families have responded positively to our support:

“As there was no cost involved it helped a lot with the cost of living.”

“It helped make a difference mentally and physically. It gave a reason to get up and go, meeting new people and have a constant support. It helped me stay sober and has been my lifeline.”

“We had something to look forward to, and we’re very grateful to enjoy a day without worrying about money. It was also great to meet other mums who are all in the same boat.”

Children and families are at the heart of everything we do. We all want to live in a society where we have access to adequate income, housing, food, transport and community. We are active in advocating for the rights of children and families alongside those we support. We will always remain steadfast in our commitment to challenging poverty, stigma and discrimination.

Click here to find out more about the work of Circle Scotland