We have collated a variety of useful resources that provide guidance and support for you and your baby.
Feeding Your Baby
Breastfeeding support in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
National Breastfeeding Helpline
For independent, confidential and non-judgemental support available 24 hours a day, and with 1 to 1 support anytime.
Tel: 0300 100 0212
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies.
Tel: 0300 330 0700
Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Breastfeeding Network
Online support, factsheets and a fountain of knowledge on drugs in breastmilk.
BfN Greater Glasgow and Clyde | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Home-Start Glasgow South
Home-Start Glasgow South is a family support charity offering support that helps to give young children the best possible start in life.
Drop in Groups at Pollok library on Fridays – support from a BFN Volunteer will also be available at Home-Start Warm Place Pollokshaws on Fridays, and at the Warm place Castlemilk on Monday afternoon. For more info, go to
What’s On at Warm Place Castlemilk – Homestart Glasgow South
Support is also available to Muslim families online on the 4th Thursday of every month.
UNICEF
The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative has information regarding Baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation and Resources. As well as a safe guide to bottle feeding, responsive bottle feeding and infant formula Information please see links below:
[Links to follow]
Breastfeeding Friendly Venues
We have produced a map showing all breastfeeding friendly venues in Scotland.
Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies
Breastfeeding support in Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Breastfeeding and your business
All businesses and organisations in Scotland open to the general public and who allow children, are under legal obligation to allow breast and bottle feeding. Read more about the law and find out how to become a breastfeeding friendly business.
NHSGGC – Infant Feeding
These are pages on the NHSGGC website which we hope you will find useful.
Health and Wellbeing Information
Family
Child Smile
National toothbrushing programme available throughout Scotland, offered to all nursery aged children.
Every child is provided with a dental pack containing a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, and oral health messages on at least six occasions by five years of age.
HENRY
HENRY is a brilliant programme for parents, helping them to support a healthy, happy start for their children and lay the foundations for a brighter future.
Visit the website for further details regarding the programme, and watch out for groups and workshops in the South.
Glasgow Libraries
Glasgow libraries offer a wide range of health and wellbeing support. Visit the following website for the list of groups in your local library.
Glasgow City HSCP Your Support Your Way
An online resource that provides information, advice and guidance about local services and groups to improve lifestyle, independence and health and wellbeing in the community.
Your Support Your Way Glasgow – Homepage (yoursupportglasgow.org)
Lifelink
Information on wellbeing and counselling services, based in Pollok Civic Realm and Melissa House Brand Place Ibrox.
Self referral is available.
Mental Health Support
Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
PANDAS
PANDAS offer support to families and their networks who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression. They offer a variety of person centred support.
Home-Start Glasgow South
Home-Start Glasgow South is a family support charity offering support that helps to give young children the best possible start in life, and to help improve lives of families and children.
Home-Start also offer support to Dads and have groups in South Glasgow. See their website for a full list of support available.
Dads Rock
Provide support to Dads to increase parenting skills and increase their confidence . Please see the website and Facebook page for full list of services and groups.
The Daisy Project
Providing an integrated domestic abuse advocacy and support service.
Glasgow Women’s Aid
Project supporting women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.
Scottish Domestic Abuse Hotline
Hotline offering a pathway of services to support a range of mental health problems including anxiety, depression and the impact of trauma.
Tel: 0800 027 1234
Gilded Lily
Supports women and girls in Govan and surrounding areas of Glasgow to become more confident, creative, employable and enterprising by providing workshops, training programmes.
Health In Mind
Offering a pathway of services to support you with a range of mental health problems including anxiety, depression and the impact of trauma.
Health in Mind | Support and services (health-in-mind.org.uk)
Breathing Space
A confidential phone line for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Tel: 0800 83 85 87
NSPCC
Offers support for parents who may be suffering from mental health issues.
Daisy Chain Early Years Project
Offers early intervention to improve health and wellbeing for under 12s and families based in Govanhill.
Daisy Chain Early Years Project | CrossReach
CrossReach Daisy Chain Early Years Project – Parents & Carers Group on Facebook
Family Support & Information – Glasgow City
Glasgow Life
Glasgow Life provides a range of services and activities for families. Please see the links below to services in the City.
Home-Start – Govan, Pollokshaws, and Castlemilk
Family support to help overcome a range of issues such as isolation, mental health difficulties, bereavement, family breakdown, addiction, physical ill-health, support to dads and more. Running weekly groups in South Glasgow.
Giggle ‘n’ Grow
Supporting early years, and children with literacy, music movement and play. Providing free activities such as Move dance grow, Family Fun Days and Bookbug . For all activities please see website for groups in your area.
Bookbug
Families can enjoy sharing stories, songs and rhymes with their little ones. Bookbug Sessions take place in libraries and community venues across Glasgow. Please see link for local venues and times for sessions.
Early Years Scotland
Support for children from pre birth to 5 years . They have Early Years Practitioners who work directly with children and families to deliver Stay, Play and Learn sessions all over Glasgow.
See website for details of the sessions.
Stay Play and Learn Details | Early Years Scotland
Early Years Scotland on Facebook
In the South we have sessions at SWAMP as part of THRIVE Under 5.
- Pollok on Friday mornings – for a place call Louise on 07375 044012
- Govanhill on Fridays – call Joanne on 077854 55794
- Gorbals on Monday afternoons – call Joanne on 077854 55794
Village Storytelling
Pollok based organisation who offer access to storytelling and creative opportunities for families. Including Imagine Lab sessions at their base in Pollok, which is a sensory storytelling sessions aged for 0-5 years. See website for list of all sessions.
Children 1st
Supports children and families to prevent families reaching crisis point, and to recover from trauma and harm. Please see website for full list of services.
Make Do & Grow
Govan based social enterprise supporting families in Glasgow through creativity and play. They also have a toy library on 901 Govan Road, G51 3DN.
Please see website for full list of services and groups
Make Do and Grow – Supporting families in Govan and beyond (makedogrow.co.uk)
One Parent Families Scotland
A national charity supporting single parents and separating parents in Scotland. See website for further details.
End Young Parent Poverty: Top up the Scottish Child Payment (opfs.org.uk)
One Parent Families Scotland – Glasgow on Facebook
Helpline: 0808 801 0323
South West Arts and Music Project – SWAMP
SWAMP works with children, young people, and older people in the Greater Pollok area. They offer a range of services and groups for the local community serving all ages. See website for a full list of their services and groups.
South West Arts & Music Project – Scottish Community Alliance
Govan HELP
Support families with Children In the Govan area services include; Family Support, Play Therapy, Volunteering & Training Opportunities, as well as Adult Counselling and The Govan Pantry. See website link Facebook for full range of services.
We are Govan HELP – Supporting children, parents and families
Jeely Piece Club
Working with families and children in Castlemilk and across Glasgow, they specialise in fun play and learning . Please see website and Facebook page for full list of services.
Parent Club
Website offering advice and support on every aspect of parenting.
Tel: 0800 0308 003
Financial Information
If you are worried about money, then please speak to your Health Visitor or Family Nurse who’ll be happy to discuss any issues with you and can refer you to a relevant service.
Social Security Scotland
Social Security Scotland – Homepage
See website below for information on benefits including 5 Family Payments.
Glasgow HELPS
Directory listing activities and services across Glasgow.
Worried About Money
Leaflet offering advice and support to help make ends meet.
Glasgow Community Food Network
Map of local food services.
Find Local Food Services | Glasgow Community Food Network (glasgowfood.net)
Pantry Guide
Pantries are shops which provide low cost food in community hub setting, and also offer wrap-around support services within the local area.
In the South West of Glasgow, we have pantries in Pollok, Nitshill, Crookston, Cardonald, Kennishead, Govan, Castlemilk and Gorbals. All are listed in the directory below. Days and opening times vary.
Cost of Living Support
Below is a link to a comprehensive list of some recommended Government approved pathways that are available to you, for free, impartial and confidential money advice and support. Information on local support services for Glasgow City and other Scottish Local Authority areas can be found here.
Cost of Living Support – Glasgow City Council (gosshosted.com)