Lottie

Lottie's Story

Silhouette of Lottie

“I’m Lottie, and I’m five. I live with my mum, dad, and big sister in our nice house near town. My parents run a business and work very hard.

They don’t worry much about everyday things, and I get to do activities and have nice things.

When I was younger, my granny looked after me all the time. But now she’s moved north to care for my great grandad, who isn’t well.  I’ve visited him a few times – his house is very old, and it makes me cold.

I don’t see her as much anymore, and I miss her.

My parents now have to manage more by themselves while running their business. Things still feel good, but I can tell they are busier and sometimes more tired.

Even though we’re comfortable, my family is still balancing a lot. Looking after each other takes time and energy.

I feel happy and safe, but I’ve learned that even when life looks easy, there’s often more going on underneath.”

Lottie at a glance

Well-supported. Until the people who supported her weren't there.

Section Content
Home and family Lottie lives with her parents and older sister in a comfortable home near town. Her parents run their own business and, after tax and mortgage payments, have a disposable income of nearly £48,042 a year.
What daily life feels like Her life feels busy, secure and full of opportunity. Activities, good housing and planned trips are normal - a family well-placed to absorb rising costs and weather the unexpected.
Pressures behind the scenes Her great-grandfather, Lowrie, now struggles alone on a remote island, in an ageing, hard-to-heat home with the nearest shop and GP around 30 minutes away. His decline meant the only realistic solution was for Lottie's granny to move back to care for him - separating her from her grandchildren, her friends and the community she had rebuilt for herself.
What helps For years, her granny's childcare from the end of maternity leave made full-time work possible and helped the business grow - and that foundation still underpins the family's stability. Business income and home ownership now provide flexibility as responsibilities shift and distances grow.
What this child shows us Lottie shows how caring for older generations in remote places can reshape even comfortable family lives - exposing the fragility of informal childcare and the hidden costs of distance, at every income level.

Read Lottie's story in full


Our Seven Children in 2043

By 2043, the seven children—now all 22—have grown into adulthood within a Shetland that has changed significantly. Wetter winters, stronger winds, and a shifting population have shaped not only the environment around them, but their opportunities, choices, and wellbeing. Their lives reflect how inequality has widened over time, with early childhood circumstances continuing to influence where they each stand.

Read about Lottie at 22