The Merchants House has awarded a £5,000 grant to Achieve More Scotland to support its Levelling the Field project, helping families in some of Glasgow’s most deprived communities access structured activities, support, and nutritious meals. The initiative works directly with families through school-based sessions designed to strengthen family relationships, support children’s development, and provide practical help for parents and carers.

Delivered primarily during term time, Levelling the Field sessions take place within local schools, creating a safe and familiar environment where families can come together each week. These 1.5 hour sessions provide structured but enjoyable activities for children, alongside opportunities for parents and carers to access peer support, advice and signposting to additional services. Each session also includes the provision of healthy, nutritious meals, helping to ease financial pressures faced by many families while ensuring everyone can take part in a welcoming, supportive space.

The programme currently operates in four schools in the north of Glasgow, including communities such as Possilpark and Maryhill. Since launching, it has worked with more than 200 people, including many families for whom English is an additional language and who may have limited access to public funding. Alongside creative and inclusive activities for children, families also have the opportunity to engage with professionals from organisations such as the NHS Health Improvement Team, the Glasgow Library Team and the Glasgow ESOL Team. Dedicated parent and carer time during each session creates a supportive space where adults can share experiences, discuss challenges and access the help they need.

Achieve More Scotland also works closely with Glasgow City Council’s Quality Improvement Team, Glasgow Life’s Family Learning Team, local headteachers and the Early Learning Team to ensure the sessions meet the needs of families. With increasing numbers of families experiencing trauma or waiting for specialist support, the programme is helping to bridge a critical gap by offering consistent guidance, community and reassurance.

A representative said:
“Levelling the Field sessions provide a safe and familiar environment where families can come together to enjoy structured but fun activities, whilst receiving holistic support and personal development. Each session provides healthy and nutritious meals, helping to alleviate some of the financial strain on families. Families are welcomed into a relaxed, supportive space, where children can take part in inclusive play and creative activities, whilst parents/carers can access support, guidance and signposting to additional services. The overall aim being to improve familial relationships, improve children’s educational journey and support parents/carers to access support which will assist them in developing skills, confidence and improving employment opportunities.”

Achieve More Scotland is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) based in Glasgow. The organisation delivers programmes designed to improve young people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem, aspirations, personal responsibility and life chances by engaging them in structured, positive activities led by strong role models.

Working across schools and communities, particularly in areas experiencing high levels of social deprivation, Achieve More Scotland provides a range of diversionary and developmental opportunities including sport and physical activity, group work, volunteering, employability support and personal development programmes. Their school-based activities include one-to-one mentoring, curriculum-time sessions and programmes delivered at breakfast, lunchtime and after-school clubs, helping young people build confidence, resilience and positive futures.

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