JOHN-MARTIN FULTON
Five of Scotland's biggest children's charities are urging Alex Salmond and his new administration to give priority to vulnerable children and young people.
A joint letter from the groups, which work across a wide range of services, highlights poverty as one of the main issues that needs to be addressed.
Quarriers, NCH Scotland, Barnardo's, Children 1st and Aberlour Child Care have said that too many children in Scotland are affected by a poor start in life, and that they are eager to work together to change this.
In the statement addressed to the First Minister they said: "We believe that improving outcomes for all of Scotland's children and young people must become one of the Scottish Executive's key policy priorities."
The group claims that the current situation means that support is not consistent across Scotland and is vulnerable to the constraints of short-term funding cycles.
Andrew Girvan, director of children services for NCH Scotland, said: "It is unacceptable for a rich country to have children who are not only materially deprived but also deprived of hope and respect."
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