Children First

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.

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

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

• Child protection services
• Family support services
• Children's charity
• Trauma recovery support
• Kinship care advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Postcode Lottery: Players of the Postcode Lottery have raised £13,878,466 for Children First since 2008. Funded through the Postcode Children Trust.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors partner with Children First through Charity of the Year arrangements, team challenges, gifts in kind, and one-off donations.
5. 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.
6. Payroll Giving: Tax-free donations deducted from employees' salaries at source, facilitated by the employer scheme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East Renfrewshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne 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 CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four local authority partners in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose.
• Inverclyde CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four local authority partners in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose.
• East Dunbartonshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four local authority partners in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose.
• Police ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperational partner in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, providing police services within the child-friendly, multidisciplinary hub model.
• SCRA (Scottish Children's Reporter Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperational 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 ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperational partner in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, integrating court services within the child-friendly, one-roof model.
• Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperational partner in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, providing fiscal services within the integrated service model.
• Unite the UnionminorOthersRecognised 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ChildrenFirstCharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildrenFirstScotland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/childrenfirstofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/_children_first

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Children First