CHILDREN 1st is the leading child welfare charity in Scotland. Our vision is a happy, healthy, safe and secure childhood for every child in Scotland. We have 125 years experience of working with children and families, previously as the Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Today, we support families under stress, protect children from harm and neglect, help them to recover from abuse and promote children's rights and interests. Partnerships are central to our success. As an independent charity we work with other organisations, theGovernment and local authorities. The money we raise from the public allows us to invest in new and innovative services to help children and their families.

Volunteers play a key role in our work - as local fundraisers,befrienders, call takers at ParentLine Scotland, drivers with our services and in a whole range of other activities. Without them,CHILDREN 1ST simply would not be able to reach the number of children and families that we do.

Our work with children and families informs and influences all of our lobbying and campaigns. Not only do we try to influence legislation, we also campaign to change attitudes towards children and to help create abetter world for all children.Through these partnerships - with Government, the public and with our volunteers and the families we help - we aim to bring our vision closer to reality.