The Herald unites with 23 charities on child poverty push

The Herald Scotland

30-04-2025

It was revealed as part of the Scotland's Forgotten Children series that at least 80,000 children were now living in "very deep poverty", while other charities warned many families live in homes without essential items.
Other families have become dependent on food banks, The Herald's investigation found.
The Scottish Child Payment has been labelled a "game-changer", however charities have warned that it currently does not go far enough.
Families in receipt of means tested benefits, including Universal Credit, receive £27.15 a week, per child.
But independent research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggested increasing the rate to £40 per week would lift an additional 20,000 children out of poverty.
Modelling from the Fraser of Allander Institute separately estimated it could lead to a further 2.5 percentage point reduction in child poverty - putting the Scottish Government on track to meet its ambitious targets.
Read more in the series:
'Devastating': Charity boss reveals essential items children in poverty are missing
Swinney angers charity bosses over Scottish Child Payment increase warning
UK welfare cuts to plunge thousands of disabled children into poverty
Opinion: 'No child should be hungry. It's time for action to eradicate child poverty'
Rebecca McCurdy: I was ashamed of growing up poor – but I am proud of it now
Exclusive: Wake up call: Extreme child poverty in Scotland is now higher than 1990s
An open letter to the First Minister said: "The Herald, together with Scotland's leading children and anti-poverty charities, calls on you to take urgent action by raising the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week - a step that could lift thousands of children out of poverty and change lives."
The Scottish Government missed its legally binding interim targets to reduce the number of children living in relative poverty - 50% less than the average UK income - to 18% by 2023-24.
The current rate sits at 22%, down from 26% in the previous year.
While charities welcome that progress, they warn the Scottish Government is now at risk of failing to meet its ambitious 2030 targets of reducing relative child poverty to 10%.
Amongst the charities to sign the open letter are Aberlour, Action for Children, Amnesty International, Barnardo's Scotland and Save the Children.
The Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland has also backed the campaign alongside the Poverty Alliance, Trussell Trust and Oxfam Scotland.
Nicola Killean, Scotland's children and young people's commissioner, also signed the open letter after she wrote in The Herald on Monday: "Addressing child poverty must move from a vision to a reality. Politicians can and should make the decisions to finally eradicate it."
In an exclusive interview with The Herald this week, the First Minister described the level of child poverty in the country as a "matter of shame".
He also revealed the emotional toll tackling child poverty has had on him as his government looks to eradicate the issue in Scotland.
The Herald's child poverty investigation has heard directly from families on the scale of the issue.
It has also recognised the importance of the Scottish Child Payment in lifting children out of poverty, with the policy credited in reducing the current rate to 22%.
The open letter to Mr Swinney states: "This increase to £40 to £27.15 would be life-changing for families.
"The Scottish Child Payment has already been a game-changer. Parents have told us this support is a lifeline, allowing them to buy essentials and even share small moments of joy with their children that would otherwise be out of reach.
"This policy is working - but it now needs to work harder and reach further if we are to protect all our children from poverty."
"First Minister, you have the power to make a profound and lasting difference to the lives of Scotland's children," the letter adds.
"By urgently increasing the Scottish Child Payment, you would not only provide vital financial relief to families struggling to make ends meet but send a clear message that your government is committed to turning the vision of eradicating child poverty into a tangible reality.
"The time for decisive action is now."
However, the open letter also acknowledges the significant implications of UK Government policy on Scotland's child poverty rates.
The charities who join with The Herald for the campaign have said removing the two child benefit cap - which limits means-tested benefits to the first two children in the family - would lift an estimated 250,000 children in the UK out of poverty.
An open letter has also been sent to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to lift the cap, which has been described as "one of the most significant drivers of child poverty".
The letter to the Prime Minister states the cap "punishes children for circumstances entirely beyond their control and entrenches hardship across generations".
It adds: "We believe the removal of the two-child limit would be one of the single most effective measures your government could take to reduce child poverty swiftly and significantly."
"Prime Minister, we urge you to seize this opportunity for moral leadership," the letter to Sir Keir states.
"A fair and compassionate society does not discriminate against children based on the size of their family.
"We urge you to act now."
Catherine Salmond, editor of The Herald, said: "There is no greater power in a newsbrand than its voice.
"Today, The Herald is using its to speak up for those children living in poverty in Scotland. There are far too many and solutions are needed quickly.
"Equally as important, we have listened. This week, we have heard the human stories behind the statistics and from those charities fighting for a better quality of life for Scottish children.
"Together, we are now calling on the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 to help them have a better life. This marks the start of our campaigning for change."
The full list of charities and groups backing The Herald's call:
Aberlour
Action for Children
Amnesty International
Barnardo's Scotland
CELCIS (Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection)
Citizens Advice Scotland
Child Poverty Action Group
Children First
Nicola Killean, the Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland
Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
Families Outside
Fife Gingerbread
Includem
Independent Food Aid Network
One Parent Families Scotland
Oxfam Scotland
Parenting Across Scotland
Save the Children
Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
Scottish Women's Budget Group
Shelter Scotland
The Poverty Alliance
Trussell Trust