FM must try harder on child poverty

For families across Scotland, the last few weeks have been all about returning to school. Shiny new school shoes and pressed uniforms, brightly coloured pencil cases, and full-to-bursting school bags packed with excitement and anticipation for the year ahead. 

This will have been true for many children, but sadly not all. For so many children we support at Aberlour, returning to school brings uncertainty and anxiety, prompted by the stress and strain of growing up in poverty.

Today it’s the turn of Scotland’s MSPs to return for their new term at Holyrood, for their ‘first day at school’. The most pressing subject for them must be making real and lasting progress on ending child poverty.

Despite commitments to tackle child poverty by successive First Ministers over the last quarter of a century, Scotland remains a country where 1 in 5 children continue to grow up in poverty. This is shocking and shameful. 

John Swinney has repeatedly stated that, as Scotland’s First Minister, it is his number one priority to “eradicate child poverty”. We welcome that renewed commitment and sharp focus.

Not only is this the right thing to do to make Scotland a fairer and more equal society, but the Scottish Government also has legally binding targets to reduce child poverty, set down by the Scottish Parliament. 

Ending child poverty and meeting Scotland’s child poverty targets means that welcome words must be backed by clear and targeted actions, significant investment and a coherent plan. 

As he sets out his Plan for Government today, the First Minister has the chance to tell 210,000 children living in poverty exactly what he plans to do to help them and their families. So we expect to hear about urgent and immediate support for those in greatest need, alongside longer-term strategies to lift children and families out of poverty for good. This means working across all parts of government to end the housing emergency, strengthen routes into fair work, remove barriers faced by children with disabilities and tackle the public debt crisis. 

It is no easy task. We need connection, coherence and collaboration across government, the wider public sector and third sector, with everyone stepping up for children and families.

The most direct action the First Minister can take is to put more money into families’ pockets. The Scottish Child Payment is already providing real help, by increasing incomes for Scotland’s poorest families. But much more is needed as cost of living pressures continue to bite. We want to see this Payment increased immediately, reaching £55 a week by the end of this Parliament.

This is essential, but social security alone is not enough. High quality whole family support is also vital, to reduce the impact of poverty now and prevent it in the future. Easy-to-access, community-based support services, which stay alongside families for as long as they need help, means challenges don’t become crises. Offering practical, emotional and financial support together responds to the multiple challenges that families face.

Making sure social security measures and good quality family support reach all children and families living in poverty can only happen with long term funding and investment at scale. This is the approach we need to lift families out of poverty for good. 

When the First Minister stands up in Parliament today to share his Plan for Government, we will be standing alongside Scotland’s children and families, ready to mark his homework.

Will he get full marks and go to the top of the class? We can’t wait to see.