A CHILDREN'S charity has sent 120 pairs of hand knitted baby booties to MSPs in order to raise awareness of the importance of early years services.

The NSPCC is urging the Scottish Government to prioritise resources for early years services as it sets out its spending plans for the year ahead tomorrow.

Knitters got busy throughout the pandemic and sent in 435 pairs of booties after the charity put a call out for people to knit in support of its Fight for a Fair Start campaign. The remaining booties are being donated to families supported by the NSPCC and other organisations.

Glasgow Times:

Providing early intervention for young children and families is "vital" says the charity due the impact events in early childhood have on future mental and physical health. The NSPCC is arguing for more investment in specialist services to support relationships between parents and infants.

Joanne Smith, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “A baby’s experiences can greatly impact the rest of their life. Yet, this is a stage of life that is too often overlooked and under-supported.

“Too many children in Scotland do not have a fair start in life. Last year, around half of those on the child protection register and over a third coming into the care system were younger than five years old.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the Scottish public for this campaign. And we hope our MSPs also show their support for the needs and rights of vulnerable infants by pushing for greater investment in the early years.

“The Scottish Government needs to act with a matter of urgency because we know that providing early support to families can prevent harm and, in turn, change life trajectories.”