Background Colour:

Cheryl

Cheryl (not her real name) is 11 years old
and just about to make the transition from primary to secondary school. She and her mother have been attending Family Links
for two years.

"I was told at shool and my mother said
as well that I should got o meet Natalie
(the Child Development Worker).
I was a bit scared at first, but Natalie
was great and then when she left
I've been working with Mags who's
great. I go every week now for my group on personal development with two other children about my age.

I really enjoy the group: we've printed T-shirts and learned about cooking:
we've made some smoothies!
I've also been at Season's for Growth
which was really good and helps you talk about feelings.

I really like coming here and going to the wee room. I really feel more confident in school. I also feel I can discuss things
that I never could before. The biggest
thing is I'm able to talk to my mum much much better than before and she's talking and listening to me much better than
before: we'are getting on much better.

I would say to other boys and girls that
have been told to come here that's it
all right and friendly. I do feel a lot better after coming here.

Family Links Service

This service supports and provides interventions for children and families affected by drugs and alcohol misuse. Family Links works in close partnership with a range of voluntary and statutory services and is highly regarded in the area. The service focuses on interventions relating to relationships, confidence-building, groupwork, education and health which compliments and adds value to specialist substance misuse work.

The Family Links service was one of three winners of Glasgow City Council's Child Protection Committee's Award for best practice in child protection and in making a difference to the lives of the people it is working with.

Over the past year the service has:

Worked intensively with 21 parents on improving areas such relationships, confidence-building, education and health as well as relapse avoidance.
Enabled 44 children from families affected by substance misuse to access nursery, afterschool care and holiday programmes.
Provided 31 children with intensive support to improve aspirations, confidence, self-esteem, behaviour, attendance at school and contribute to breaking the cycle of ongoing substance abuse and associated harm to the individual and wider community.
Provided 62 parents with additional support through positive parenting programmes.