Family Support Services

Firsthand Lothian provides support to parents with children with disabilities, lone parents, and families in need from their own home on a regular basis.

The aims of the service are:
• To provide stimulating and developmental play opportunities to children, in a safe and happy environment
• To strengthen families by improving parents’ / carers’ well-being through regular breaks
• To increase skills and confidence in both parents / carers and their children

The service operates within Edinburgh and are dependant on grant and trust funding received.

About the Service

Firsthand Lothian provides trained childcare workers and/or volunteers who  spend 1:1 time with a child on a regular weekly basis for 3 or 4 hours, usually on Friday afternoons, Saturdays or Sunday ie when they are not at school.  Meeting up at the family home this enables  parents  to have a regular break from routine and an opportunity to use this time in a way that benefits them and their family as a whole.  Some parents   choose to spend quality time with their other children, or attend activity/leisure classes or events of of interest, undertake a course of study, catch up with friends or simply have some time on their  own.

What do the workers and volunteers do?

As much as possible, workers/volunteers will follow any established routines that you may have with your children.

Workers/volunteers will  plan fun activities, outwith the family home ( weather permitting) which will  promote your child/ren’s development including visiting places and activities of interest in both the local area and further afield, engaging them in games and sports, creative play, arts and crafts – fun activities that the child enjoys and looks forward to each week.

Who can use the service?

Families who live in Edinburgh who are struggling and need short term input to help avoid a crisis and enable them to become more resilient.   We can support children from birth  to 16 years of age, including those with a disability or awaiting a diagnosis,  who would be able to achieve their goal within a 6 to 9 month period.  As our service is short term it is suited to children who are attending mainstream school and who do not need ongoing support.

About the Childcare Workers

We have a combination of paid and volunteer childcare workers. Volunteer’s come from all sectors of the community, they are both male and female, aged 18 upwards.

How are our childcare workers/volunteers selected?

Our workers and volunteers go through a rigorous interview and selection process. They must provide 2 satisfactory references,  and be a scheme member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG).

How are childcare workers and volunteers supported and supervised?

All childcare workers and volunteers receive induction training and on-going training. Workers also receive training to enable them to meet the specific needs of the children including understanding autism, speech language and communication etc. All workers and volunteers receive regular support and supervision from their co-ordinator/line manager through a face to face recorded meeting.

Please read our Safeguarding Policy here

Application Process

Please phone us on 0131 523 1322 to discuss your particular situation or email us on info@firsthand-lothian.org.uk in the first instance 

What happens next?

Once we have received your enquiry our co-ordinator will be in contact with you to explain in more detail about the service and discuss your particular requirements. Once we have established your specific needs we will seek to make an appropriate match with a worker/volunteer. Please note we are not a crisis service and cannot provide an immediate response.

Feedback from people who have used the service

“A lifesaver. I cannot thank you enough!”

“You guys are so amazing. You are helping us in so many ways – thank you!”