SCOTS children are set to benefit from an NSPCC-led project aiming to keep kids warm this winter.
The Together for Childhood project has distributed over 350 ‘Cosy Kits’ to children in Govan, Glasgow so far as part of their Help Keep Wee Govanites Cosy campaign.
Together for Childhood Govan launched the campaign during Challenge Poverty Week in October with an appeal to the public and local businesses to donate warm clothing items.
Over the past year, project team has been working with teachers at primary schools in Govan to deliver Emotional Resilience and Mindfulness sessions in an effort to help children understand their thoughts and feelings.
The sessions also aim to support development of pupils‘ resilience skills to help them to cope better with challenging situations and improve their wellbeing and emotional development.
However, with the winter months fast approaching, the team say that they recognised that the current cost of living crisis was having a huge detrimental impact on families across Govan.
The Together for Childhood team say they have been “overwhelmed” by the positive response from people and businesses, with many donations flooding in over the past few months.
The team also received the National Lottery Awards for All funding of £9,900 to put towards the campaign.
As a result, the team have been putting together Emotional Resilience Cosy Kits to help the children practise the skills they have learned in class at home and stay warm over the winter.
The children in primary schools across Govan that have been participating in the project’s Emotional Resilience sessions will receive a further top up of Cosy Kits by the end of December this year.
The first pack, which was handed out during November, contained pyjamas or a onesie, a blanket, socks, hot chocolate and a book.
This month the children will receive a pack containing a hat and gloves, a colouring book with pencils and another hot chocolate sachet.
Sharon Mather, strategic service manager at Govan Together for Childhood, said: “The pandemic required us to rethink how we could continue to support families in Govan.
“Our connections with the community are stronger because we created sustainable initiatives such as our Emotional Resilience programme, which is proving to have such a positive impact on children.
“We are delighted with the continued support from all our generous donors, including the National Lottery Awards for All Community Fund, which has enabled us to work with our local community in Govan during challenging times.
“Together we can support the next generation of children in Govan.”
Di Porter, Development Manager at Govan Together for Childhood, said: “We know from speaking with children and families in the community, many are worried about how they will manage to stay warm this winter.
“The Emotional Resilience Kits will support children to continue practising the skills they have learned in class however we also wanted to give them some practical help over these months.
“Their cosy kit will help them enjoy a fluffy hug with their blanket and onesie/pjs, have a warm drink of hot chocolate while taking some time out to read a nice story or colour in, and remember all the ways in which they can manage their ‘big feelings’.”
Neil Mcintosh, Assistant Director of NSPCC Scotland, said: “With many families and children predicted to be living in freezing conditions this winter because they can’t afford to heat their homes we are extremely concerned and wanted to offer some practical help.
“We know these packs will not provide a complete solution to this problem, but we hope they will at least help to keep some children during these low temperatures over the next few months.”
“We’d like to thank Awards for All for their funding and everyone else who has donated so generously to this campaign, your contribution will make a difference to children’s lives this winter.”
In the new year the team will continue to deliver Emotional Resilience sessions to primary school children in Govan.
They will then distribute Emotional Resilience Kits, containing reading books or colouring books and pencils, a blanket, a small toy and a hot chocolate drink.
Any of these items can still be donated and will be gratefully received at Together for Childhood, Pavilion 2, Rowan Business Park, 5 Ardlaw Street, Glasgow, G51 3RR.
