Tots Aid

How we Started

Lisa, one of the founders of the Charity shared that

‘it all started when I was at work and heard on the radio that some families in the Scottish Borders are struggling to afford nappies for their young children. Having a young son myself this really struck home, and I started to think “what if this was me?” When I got home I told my husband about the heart-breaking struggle that some families are dealing with right now in our local area. He felt the same way so we started looking in to any existing services that help in this area but sadly there was none. At that point we decided we would start a charity to try and help’.

The couple later got in touch we some of their friends who they felt would be likeminded in their commitment to helping others, all with children as well the feeling of shock at the statistics for Hawick in particular for families drove us to come together to start forming the aims and process for Tots Aid, to provide that small relief for families in a safe, easy and confidential way.

26.5% of children in the Hawick and Denholm area (aged under 16) were recorded as living in relative low income families in 2020. This has risen by 8.3% since 2015. This is before the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic is taken in to account which is likely to make the situation worse.*

*Source: DWP/Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Action Report 2021/22

Our Aim

Tots Aid is a ‘families supporting families’ charity. Our aim is to help people living in poverty in Hawick and the surrounding area by providing basic essentials for children under 5. By offering this support we hope that the anxiety felt by many parents can be lessened. We aim to provide confidentiality, understanding and commitment to anyone who needs our support.