IT has been long recognised that preventative spending and early intervention saves a lot of pain in later years.

The Early Years Early Action programme in Glasgow has been doing just that and has seen almost 2000 children and their parents helped through a range of organisations.

Help and support for new parents, if targeted effectively when it is needed most, can help in later life with better educational outcomes and improved health of the children when they grow up.

The investment made now will pay dividends, not only for the families concerned but for society in general, with less needing to be spent on treatment.

A number of organisations are involved in the project and that means careful co-ordination is needed to avoid duplication and to make sure the right people are getting the assistance they need at the right time.

Glasgow cannot afford to leave young parents in need of help to sink or swim on their own and there is a duty to step in and offer support where it is available.

There is likely more than the 2000 children needing help, but in the future when this investment starts to pay off there will be less need for it and a generation of healthier better educated people will grow up in the city.

IT has been long recognised that preventative spending and early intervention saves a lot of pain in later years.

The Early Years Early Action programme in Glasgow has been doing just that and has seen almost 2000 children and their parents helped through a range of organisations.

Help and support for new parents, if targeted effectively when it is needed most, can help in later life with better educational outcomes and improved health of the children when they grow up.

The investment made now will pay dividends, not only for the families concerned but for society in general, with less needing to be spent on treatment.

A number of organisations are involved in the project and that means careful co-ordination is needed to avoid duplication and to make sure the right people are getting the assistance they need at the right time.

Glasgow cannot afford to leave young parents in need of help to sink or swim on their own and there is a duty to step in and offer support where it is available.

There is likely more than the 2000 children needing help, but in the future when this investment starts to pay off there will be less need for it and a generation of healthier better educated people will grow up in the city.