Back to School Events for Southside Central Families
Just before the schools returned, on 12th and 13th August, the Family Finances Key Workers and Financial Inclusion Advice for Parents Projects held two back to school events in the primaries where they are co-located – Annette Street and Cuthbertson, both based in Southside Central.
The events provided free school uniforms, free back to school haircuts (provided by local businesses), food, and outdoor play for the kids (run by Glasgow life’s Early Years team). There were stalls run by HSCP Child Smile team providing advice on toothbrushing and free dental hygiene products, Glasgow Life’s Youth Team, who provided support to apply for the Young Scot National Entitlement card, and JBG and Enable with information about their employability services.
Translators were also on hand, as the families accessing both schools are mainly minority ethnic, with a high percentage who do not speak English as their first language.
The events aimed to attract parents not already engaged with the projects, to ensure they were receiving all the benefits they are entitled to (best start grants/free school meals/school clothing grant etc.), thus maximising family income.
Both events were a fantastic success, with around 240 families attending, and 92 new registrations, which will all be followed up by the Projects. Over 1,200 items of school clothing were given out and 72 children received free haircuts.
The Head Teacher of Cuthbertson, Lesley Murrie said that many of the children attending the school often don’t return when term begins, but the numbers had significantly increased due to this event, involving a true partnership approach.
The Head Teacher at Annette St, Jemima Anderson, told us that more children turned up on the first day of term in full school uniform than ever before.
Family Finances Key Workers – Tel: 07443 814 190 • 07443 814 677
Email: financialcapability@glasgowlife.org.uk
All referrals to FIAP must go through the FFKW or another GF funded project.