6,000 children have benefited from the Early Years Early Action Fund so far and even more children are set to benefit with the fund now running until March 2013.

Established in March 2011, the Early Years Early Action Fund’s aim is to provide essential support for vulnerable children and families across the country and to support the voluntary sector to strengthen their response to meet this need.  

24 voluntary sector organisations were carefully selected to deliver projects across 28 local authority areas achieving a huge amount in a very short space of time, positively impacting on the lives of 6,000 children

Save the Children’s Families and Schools Together programme, which recently held graduation ceremonies for all the children and families involved, are one of the projects to receive investment from the fund.  Other projects include: a participative drama in nursery schools addressing vulnerable children’s social skills and confidence, emergency childminding services where families cannot cope, and intensive family support provided to families with children where one of the parents or primary carers suffers from mental health issues or substance misuse.

Inspiring Scotland’s Performance Advisors have been working with the 24 organisations in the EYEAF to increase their capacity to support vulnerable families within the community.  

In addition a number of organisations have benefited from Inspiring Scotland’s pro bono supporters, individuals and businesses who have pledged to provide free or reduced fee services and expertise to the charities involved. 

Initially established as a one year fund, this fund will now run until March 2013, providing even more opportunities for children and families to benefit. 

The additional announcement of a new £20million fund, starting in April 2013, by the Scottish Government for the voluntary sector is good news and will mean even more for the children and families of Scotland.  More information can be found here.