Arco Partnership Supports Hundreds of Families Across Glasgow and South Lanarkshire

More than 300 children, young people and their families in the Glasgow and South Lanarkshire area have been supported as part of a partnership between Arco, the UK's leading safety company, and children and family charity, Action for Children.

Following Arco's success in securing a contract to supply products and services to NHS Scotland, the fifth-generation family business linked up with Action for Children to fund two new roles supporting young people and disabled children.

Action for Children supports children and young people across the UK, providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives.

The partnership with Arco has funded the recruitment of a Community Support Worker and a Trainer/Qualifications Assessor within the organisation.

The additional Community Support Worker is based at the recently refurbished Silverton Community Hub, a centre specially designed to support children and young people with complex learning difficulties and a range of physical health needs. Staff at the community hub provide personalised support, helping children to overcome barriers that may hinder their involvement in the local community. Staff facilitate access to local community-based facilities, resources, networks and amenities, including swimming pools, gyms, youth groups, green spaces and museums. This empowers the children to pursue their own personal interests and preferences while growing their confidence, social skills and reducing isolation by supporting children to form new friendships. They provide regular support to parents, siblings and other family members too.

The Trainer/Qualifications Assessor is supporting Action for Children's Youth Employability Project, a scheme that aims to help young people breakdown barriers to employment. Such barriers are addressed through valuable employability skills and vocational training, developing their aspirations, ambition and future job goals by encouraging their interest in learning. For some of the young people, the support they have been offered has helped them get the first qualification they've ever had.

Andy Owen, Head of Healthcare at Arco, said:

"Arco is passionate about supporting the communities we call home and helping children and young people achieve.

"We are really proud of what our partnership with Action for Children has accomplished to date.

"The new members of staff are delivering tangible benefits and life-changing opportunities for children, young people and families in the Glasgow and South Lanarkshire area by helping to improve wellbeing, quality of life and personal outcomes for disabled children and by developing employability skills and vocational training for young people so they can progress into chosen careers."

Grant McFarlane, Senior Relationships Manager at Action for Children, said:

"Arco has provided direct financial support where Action for Children needed it most. There's a wonderful lasting legacy for children, young people and families thanks to Arco's funding."

In addition to the funding allocated by Arco, colleagues from its healthcare team recently spent time helping to transform the garden at one of Action for Children's short break centres so that vulnerable children and young people can play in a nurturing environment where they feel safe and are given the opportunity to thrive.

A video has been created to highlight the work of Arco's partnership with Action for Children and to demonstrate how, as a business, Arco can help customers achieve their social value goals.