Children from throughout Scotland arrive at Harmeny after experiencing significant early years trauma. Most have been in care from a young age and have been passed from pillar to post as carers and local authorities have struggled with the children's only way of coping: challenging behaviour. We want them to recover, discover their own eloquence, creativity and joy, and make their contribution to the world.

Referrals have increased during the Covid 19 pandemic: families and carers who struggled before are now in crisis. 

We are facing a lockdown legacy of trauma, abuse and neglect that is even harder to identify and support in these challenging times.

Harmeny's legacy is happy childhood memories, the development of self-belief and the knowledge that life can be good. 

We have 30 children. My fundraising target represents only one therapy session for each of them - in an ideal world, they would all have everything they need, for as long as it takes.

Why poetry? I'm no poet! But I'm weary of the nonsense and the rage that fills social media and the news. Let's enjoy living and live like it matters how we treat our children. Think of the kind of world they are inheriting, and let's do our best to hand it on to them in better shape.