Children First
Children First is Scotland's national children's charity, founded in 1884, delivering child protection, family support, kinship care, and safeguarding services through a national support line, multidisciplinary Bairns Hoose hubs, and local offices across Scotland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1884
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Children First does
Children First is Scotland's national children's charity, founded in 1884 and incorporated under a Royal Charter granted in 1921 as the Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (operating as Children First since a 2024 rebrand from Children 1st). The charity protects and supports vulnerable children, young people, parents, carers, and kinship families affected by abuse, neglect, trauma, poverty, and family crisis across Scotland. Its service portfolio spans a National Support Line accessible seven days a week via phone, email, and webchat; multidisciplinary Bairns Hoose hubs integrating Police, Social Work, Health, Court, and Recovery services for child victims of violence; the Safeguarders Panel; Family Wellbeing Services; the national Kinship Care Advice Service (delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government since September 2025); Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport across 24 sports governing bodies; Family Group Decision Making; and a network of local in-person services across Edinburgh, North Ayrshire, Moray, Midlothian, and North Strathclyde.
The technology stack is built on third-party SaaS platforms rather than proprietary systems: Mailchimp for e-newsletters, JustGiving and MuchLoved for supporter-led fundraising pages, Blackbaud and Worldpay/PayPal for donation processing, SurveyGizmo for feedback, Google Analytics and Google Ads for remarketing, and PCI DSS-compliant card handling. No AI, ML, or proprietary platform components are disclosed.
The revenue model is charitable and diversified: one-off and recurring individual donations (monthly direct debits at suggested £5 or £10), legacy gifts, Postcode Lottery proceeds via the Postcode Children Trust (the single largest disclosed funding stream, £13.878 million since 2008), corporate Charity of the Year partnerships, payroll giving, events fundraising (Kiltwalk, marathons, skydive), and statutory contracts with the Scottish Government and local authorities. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries; the charity raises ~300 staff across three offices (Edinburgh HQ, Irvine, Elgin) and is led by Chief Executive Mary Glasgow.
Children First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Children First
- Legal name
- Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Website
- https://childrenfirst.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1884
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Children First is Scotland's national children's charity, founded in 1884, delivering child protection, family support, kinship care, and safeguarding services through a national support line, multidisciplinary Bairns Hoose hubs, and local offices across Scotland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Children First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child and Family Social Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)
Keywords
Where Children First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Children First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-off and regular donations from individuals via the website, phone, bank transfer, cheque, and direct debit. Donors can give single gifts or set up monthly direct debits. Gift Aid is claimed on eligible donations, adding 25% value at no extra cost to the donor.
- Gifts in Wills: Legacy bequests left to Children First in supporters' wills, described as a key long-term funding stream. Multiple legacy types are offered.
- Postcode Lottery: Players of the Postcode Lottery have raised £13,878,466 for Children First since 2008. Funded through the Postcode Children Trust.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors partner with Children First through Charity of the Year arrangements, team challenges, gifts in kind, and one-off donations.
- Events Fundraising: Income from participants in organized events including Kiltwalk (multiple Scottish cities), Baxters Loch Ness Running Festival, TCS London Marathon, Edinburgh Marathon Festival, Skydive, and other challenge events. Fundraisers use JustGiving pages.
- Payroll Giving: Tax-free donations deducted from employees' salaries at source, facilitated by the employer scheme.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-off donations (suggested amounts) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Regular monthly giving |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Children First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Children First is Scotland's national children's charity (legal name: Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, SC 016092). It delivers a national support line (phone, email, webchat), local in-person services across multiple Scottish local authorities, and a portfolio of programmes including Bairns Hoose, the Safeguarders Panel, Family Wellbeing Services, Kinship Care Advice, Family Group Decision Making, and Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport.
Product overview
Children First is Scotland's national children's charity offering a coordinated portfolio of services focused on child protection, family support, and advocacy. The core offerings include the National Support Line (telephone, email, and webchat support), Bairns Hoose (a multidisciplinary hub for child victims/witnesses of violence), Safeguarders Panel, Family Wellbeing Services, Kinship Care Advice, Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport, Family Group Decision Making, and local community-based services. The organization also provides extensive online advice resources and financial support programs. The service model emphasizes early intervention, keeping families together where safe, and ensuring children's voices are heard in decisions affecting them.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Children First Support Line National helpline offering emotional, practical and financial support to parents, carers and anyone concerned about a child in Scotland. Available seven days a week via phone (08000 28 22 33), email and webchat.
- Bairns Hoose Child-friendly, multidisciplinary and interagency service co-locating Police, Social Work, Health, Court and Recovery services under one roof for children who are victims or witnesses of violence. Delivered in partnership with four local authorities (East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire) in North Strathclyde.
- Safeguarders Panel Service that matches children with a Safeguarder to ensure their views and human rights are reflected in decisions about their future within the Scottish Children's Hearings System. Matched 1,572 children with a Safeguarder in 2025.
- Family Wellbeing Service Local service supporting families affected by alcohol and drug problems, providing group work, events, and outreach support to help families stay safe and together. Delivered in North Ayrshire and other regions.
- Kinship Care Advice Service National advice and support service for kinship care families providing individual support, family support, group-based peer support and financial wellbeing advice. Worked with close to 750 kinship care families across Scotland in 2025.
- Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport Advisory service helping 24 sports governing bodies and clubs implement child wellbeing and protection standards, with guidance, training and case management support. Supported 96 safeguarding cases in 2025.
- Family Group Decision Making Service helping families make decisions together about children who may need additional support, involving wider family networks in planning and solutions.
- Case Management Support Service Professional support service for navigating complex cases involving child protection and wellbeing.
- Keeping Families Together Early intervention service helping families stay together safely by providing support before difficulties escalate to crisis point.
- Local Services Network of local services across Scotland providing face-to-face support for children and families in their communities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 11,300 children and 10,000 parents and carers supported in 2025 (8% increase on 2024)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Children First
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Children First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Children First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- East Renfrewshire CouncilcoreOne of four local authority partners in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, a child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency service for children who are victims and witnesses of violence.
- Renfrewshire CouncilcoreOne of four local authority partners in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose.
- Inverclyde CouncilcoreOne of four local authority partners in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose.
- East Dunbartonshire CouncilcoreOne of four local authority partners in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose.
- Police ScotlandcoreOperational partner in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, providing police services within the child-friendly, multidisciplinary hub model.
- SCRA (Scottish Children's Reporter Administration)coreOperational partner in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, contributing to coordinated trauma-responsive plans for children navigating the care and justice system.
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals ServicecoreOperational partner in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, integrating court services within the child-friendly, one-roof model.
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal ServicecoreOperational partner in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, providing fiscal services within the integrated service model.
- Unite the UnionminorRecognised Trade Union Partner working with Children First to ensure fair work practices meeting the principles of the fair work criteria.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Children First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Barnardo's: One of the UK's largest children's charities, providing direct services, fostering and child protection support across the UK. Comparable through its portfolio of services for vulnerable children including safeguarding, kinship and family support.
- Aberlour: Scotland-based children's charity delivering residential, fostering, family support and disability services. A close regional peer with overlapping mission in Scotland and comparable service mix including kinship and family wellbeing.
- Action for Children: UK-wide charity supporting vulnerable children and families through fostering, residential care, and family support services. Comparable to Children First's family wellbeing, kinship, and child protection service portfolio.
- Family Action: UK charity supporting families through mental health, parenting, and financial wellbeing programmes. Comparable to Children First's family support, financial advice (£1.8m gains returned to families) and parenting guidance services.
- Childline (NSPCC service): Free, private helpline for children and young people in the UK. Comparable to Children First's national support line as a phone/online support service for children and families in distress.
- NSPCC: The UK's leading child protection charity, focused on preventing abuse and neglect through helplines, services and campaigns. Directly comparable to Children First as a national child protection charity operating a support line and local services for vulnerable children.
Broad incumbents
- Save the Children UK: Major international children's rights and welfare charity with UK operations. Comparable in mission (protecting children, advocacy, family support) but operates at much larger scale and global scope.
- BBC Children in Need: UK-wide charity funder of projects for disadvantaged children and young people. Adjacent as a major UK children's funder and brand Children First could seek as a grant or visibility partner.
Regional players
- Who Cares? Scotland: Scotland's national membership organisation for care-experienced young people, providing advocacy and rights support. Comparable in its Scottish focus on children's rights, advocacy and care system navigation.
- Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS): Scotland-only children's charity providing hospice and palliative care services. Comparable as a national Scottish children's charity reliant on donations and government funding, though focused on a different sub-segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Children First social profiles
Digital presenceChildren First compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Children First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Children First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Children First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Children First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Children First
What does Children First do?
Children First is Scotland's national children's charity (legal name: Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, SC 016092). It delivers a national support line (phone, email, webchat), local in-person services across multiple Scottish local authorities, and a portfolio of programmes including Bairns Hoose, the Safeguarders Panel, Family Wellbeing Services, Kinship Care Advice, Family Group Decision Making, and Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport.
Is Children First a public or private company?
Children First is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Children First founded?
Children First was founded in 1884. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Children First based?
Children First is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Children First make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are gifts in Wills, postcode Lottery, corporate Partnerships, events Fundraising and payroll Giving.
Who are Children First's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Barnardo's, Aberlour, Action for Children, Family Action, Childline (NSPCC service) and NSPCC. Broad incumbents are Save the Children UK and BBC Children in Need. Regional players are Who Cares? Scotland and Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
Does Children First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Children First.
What industry is Children First in?
Children First's product category is Child and Family Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.