Current status: Answered by Natalie Don on 23 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for programmes aimed at strengthening parenting skills and improving parent-child relationships.
Supporting parents is key to improving outcomes for children and young people. We want to build the knowledge, skills and confidence of parents, so they can be and do the best they can for their children. Since 2010 the Scottish Government has funded the Scottish Book Trust’s Bookbug Programme, supported with £1.8 million in funding in 2024-25 the programme lays the foundations of early literacy, enhances attachment and promotes emotional intelligence as well as good communication and listening skills. To further support the promotion of parent-child relationships in 2024-25 we are also funding the PlayTalkRead and Pathways through Play programme. Supported with £645,000 funding, the programme is delivered by Smart Play Network across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland. The programme promotes the importance of playing, talking and reading with children from birth to four years old and supports targeted early speech and language development through play.
The Scottish Government has worked with NHS Education for Scotland on the Psychology of Parenting Project (PoPP) which aims to increase the availability of training in, and support the effective implementation of, evidence-based early intervention and prevention programmes for improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and families. This involves working collaboratively with Community Planning Partnerships to support implementation.
Additionally, the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Third Sector Fund provides funding of up to £1m per annum to third sector organisations supporting perinatal and infant mental health. This includes projects and services which support parent-infant relationships.
The Scottish Government is also providing £18 million funding in 2024-25 through our Children, Young People, Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) and Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learners (CYPFAL) third sector funds to support children, families and communities.