Latest news with #RebeccaMcCurdy
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Have we tried this novel idea that will close the attainment gap?
This week The Herald has published a special report on child poverty in Scotland. The series has been led by my colleague Rebecca McCurdy, who wrote an extremely personal and powerful essay about her experience of growing up in poverty, and who has brought together a range of stories, including brand new data, to shine a light on the harsh reality for too many children in this country. The Scottish Government is under pressure to increase the Scottish Child Payment (SCP) – a hugely successful new benefit – from £27.15 to £40 per week. According to experts this could lift thousands and thousands of children out of poverty and quite literally transform their lives. But the government doesn't seem so keen. In an exclusive interview with The Herald, First Minister John Swinney suggested that raising the payment much further might disincentivise people to look for work. That response has, unsurprisingly, angered many. Even if Swinney changed his mind, however, he'd still need to find the cash to pay for it, and as has been the case for a decade and a half now, we're being told that times are tough and there's not enough money to go around. Read more: Lessons to Learn | It's exams time again – what scandal will the SQA have this year? So let's talk about money and how it goes around. The Scottish Government currently spends about £130 million per year on a programme called Pupil Equity Funding, which it introduced as part of its pledge to eliminate (later downgraded to close, and then narrow) the 'attainment gap' between rich and poor pupils. Indeed, it is often referred to as 'anti-poverty funding'. Schools receive £1225 per year for each child in receipt of free school meals and must ensure that it is used to deliver 'targeted support for children and young people (and their families if appropriate) affected by poverty.' Ultimately, that PEF money is supposed to mitigate the consequences of poverty in an educational context, with schools introducing new support programmes, hiring new staff, bringing in new consultants, or buying new resources in pursuit of that goal. As it turns out, there's lots of money going around. When you get right down to it, the plan here is to find clever ways to make sure that poverty doesn't follow pupils through the school gates and into the classroom or the exam hall. There are lots of examples of schools using PEF money to very good effect, and plenty of examples of them using it to plug other funding gaps. But what this scheme and the wider Scottish Attainment Challenge (total cost: £1.75 billion) definitely have not done is eliminate, close, or even meaningfully narrow the attainment gap. So maybe we need to ask some potentially difficult questions. Is spending hundreds of millions for each percentage point of progress really the best use of limited cash? Are there any other ways to spend that money that might have a bigger impact on people's lives, or broader society, or both? Well here's one idea: instead of trying to mitigate the effects of poverty in schools by spending money on behalf of poor people, why don't we just mitigate the poverty itself by giving that money directly to poor people? What if we tackled the scourge of poverty by just making people less poor? This week The Herald has revealed that 80,000 children in Scotland are living in very deep poverty. New figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation show that a higher proportion of young people are classed as being in the most extreme form of poverty than was the case in the mid-1990s, and that the current total is equivalent to every child currently living in Edinburgh. If the government took the £130m Pupil Equity Fund and simply divided it up amongst the 80,000 poorest children in the country then each one would receive £1625 per year. If the cash were instead added to their SCP, the amount their parents receive each week would more than double to £58.40. That sort of increase could have an astronomical impact on the lives of children and their families. It might even close the attainment gap. You can get in touch with our education writers by email:
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Poverty inaction costs Scottish economy billions each year
Over half of that figure - £450 million – is spent on healthcare alone because of the detrimental causes hardship and hunger has on physical and mental health. Researchers also found that the Scottish economy loses out on £2.9 billion each year because of reduced employment and lower productivity, with the impact of hardship hindering the chances of gaining employment. Families interviewed by Trussell Trust for the report said that facing hardship led to deteriorating physical and mental health and had meant they were unable to afford transport or clothing to attend job interviews. The report found that the public purse also loses out on more than £1.4 billion in income taxes each year and needs to spend an additional £405 million on social security payments as a result of poverty. Across the UK, hunger and hardship costs £81 billion, with £64.4 billion specifically impacting England, £3.6 billion in Wales and £2 billion in Northern Ireland. Read more: Herald urges Swinney to increase Scottish Child Payment Swinney: 'I find rising child poverty difficult to handle' Rebecca McCurdy: I was ashamed of growing up poor – but I am proud of it now The anti-poverty charity, which supports more than 1,200 food banks across the UK, has backed The Herald's campaign which urges the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week to alleviate the hardship. It also calls for the UK Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap, with Trussell also separately calling on UK minister to 'urgently rethink' planned welfare cuts to disability benefits. Cara Hilton, senior policy and public affairs manager at Trussell in Scotland, said: 'Trussell's major new research demonstrates the huge impact of hunger and hardship on Scotland's public services and the cost of failing to act. 'The Scottish Government has significant powers to turn the tide on hunger and hardship and must take bold and decisive action in the Programme for Government next month, so no one else has to experience hunger and hardship under their watch. Read more: Swinney angers charity bosses over Scottish Child Payment increase warning UK welfare cuts to plunge thousands of disabled children into poverty 'Devastating': Charity boss reveals essential items children in poverty are missing 'Not only is it the right thing to do, it's common sense for our economy. 'Scottish and UK Government's have both a moral and economic responsibility to act. There is no time to lose. 'At the same time, we are calling on Holyrood to use its voice to urge the UK Government to rethink its cruel cuts to disability benefits, which risk pushing more disabled people to the doors of food banks.' Research from Trussell, published in October, found that 670,000 people are facing hunger and hardship across Scotland, including 170,000 children. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'It was encouraging to see a five percent drop in the number of parcels distributed by Trussell food banks in Scotland for children between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2024 compared to the previous year, which shows our policies are working. We know there is more to do however, our policies are having to work harder than ever to make a difference, against a backdrop of a continuing cost of living crisis, rising energy costs and UK Government decision making, all of which is increasing poverty and hardship for many families. "To improve the response to the current crisis, our Cash-First approach to food insecurity enables people to choose the essentials they need whilst maintaining dignity.' A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said: 'We have set out a sweeping package of reforms to health and disability benefits that genuinely supports people back into work and lifts people out of poverty, while putting the welfare system on a more sustainable footing so that the safety net is always there to protect those who need it most. 'Our £1 billion employment support package will unlock work as part of our Plan for Change, alongside increasing the Living Wage, boosting benefits, and introducing a Fair Repayment Rate to help more than a million low-income households on Universal Credit.'
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
The Herald unites with 23 charities on child poverty push
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
The Herald Scotland
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Swinney: 'I find rising child poverty difficult to handle'
It was revealed that at least 80,000 children in the country are living in "very deep poverty," with leading charities calling for urgent action, including an uplift to the Scottish Child Payment. These figures were put to Mr Swinney during an exclusive interview in Bute House. He described the scale of deep poverty as a "very significant challenge" for the Scottish Government. Asked by The Herald if it was a source of shame for him, the First Minister replied: "Yes, it is," adding the country's poverty levels have a "very profound effect" on him. "I think, in a 21st century country, it is a matter of shame that we have children living in poverty, living in deep poverty and I accept unreservedly my obligations as First Minister." Mr Swinney took the top job on May 6, 2024 and immediately announced his biggest priority would be the eradication of child poverty. Prior to becoming First Minister, he served various roles in the Scottish Government for more than a decade, including as Education Secretary between 2016 and 2021. "When I was asked when I became SNP leader on May 6th 2024 what would be the biggest priority in government and I said the eradication of child poverty - and I mean it." Mr Swinney said he was "proud" of how his government had tackled poverty so far, adding: "I've done the best that I can in that period and what I see is a falling level of child poverty." "I'm not for a moment going to say that it is going to be achieved in a short space of time. "It's going to take a lot of tenacious work to do that." It was his work as Education Secretary that made the reality of poverty come to light, describing the conditions as "insufferable". The crisis was exacerbated, he said, by austerity policies, leading the Scottish Government to expand the provision of early learning and childcare in 2021, while also increasing the school clothing grant. Mr Swinney is clear to emphasise his own family did not grow up poor, adding he was grateful to his parents for a "comfortable" upbringing. "I had a very ordinary upbringing," he said. "My dad worked and we did not live in poverty. We didn't have an affluent life but we had a comfortable life. "My parents didn't have a lot of money but they used our money to support us and I'm profoundly grateful for that. "But I went to school where I rubbed shoulders with pupils who were living in abject poverty. "So I saw in my teenage years, abject poverty face-to-face and I can see how difficult that was for some of the boys that I was rubbing shoulders with at that time." READ MORE: UK welfare cuts to plunge thousands of disabled children into poverty Swinney angers charity bosses over Scottish Child Payment increase warning Rebecca McCurdy: I was ashamed of growing up poor – but I am proud of it now 'Devastating': Charity boss reveals essential items children in poverty are missing Wake up call: Extreme child poverty in Scotland is now higher than 1990s Mr Swinney also credited the Labour government under Tony Blair for having a "significant effect" on reducing child poverty, but said the austerity policies that followed from subsequent Conservative administrations exacerbated the problem. "There were periods of my political life where I was able to look at the issue and think, well actually, we're going in the right direction. "It all took a dramatic turn for the worst after the financial crash and the start of austerity and we've seen child poverty rising, and I do find it difficult to handle, to be honest, because I think it's very obvious to me the damaging effect of poverty on children and I saw that acutely in my time as education secretary. "I want to make sure that young people are going to be able to be supported out of poverty," he added. "I want them to be able to achieve their educational potential, because achieving their educational potential is going to help to keep them out of poverty in later life." Mr Swinney recently met with families involved in the Changing Realities project, research from the University of York, working with parents benefiting from the Scottish Child Payment. The payment has been hailed as a gamechanger in tackling child poverty, with evidence suggesting it contributed to the reduction in child poverty targets. Child poverty rates in Scotland fell to 22% in 2023-24, down from 26% in the previous year. But charities warn it must be increased to £40 per week to lift an additional 20,000 children out of poverty. Parents from Changing Realities told The First Minister they still struggle to make ends meet despite being in receipt of the £27.15 a week payment for each child. Mr Swinney said the meeting, held last Monday, had an enormous impact on him. But he admitted uprating the Scottish Child Payment further was not currently on the cards, arguing it would encourage families not to work - a claim that has been vehemently rejected by anti-poverty campaigners. The First Minister also told The Herald he was "bewildered" by proposed UK welfare cuts, and the UK Government's inability to remove the two-child benefit cap. It restricts means-tested benefits like Universal Credit to the first two children in a family. The Scottish Government has said it will mitigate the cap from 2026, but said that would result in funding pressures from elsewhere. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly said his government cannot yet afford to scrap the cap - despite pre-election pledges prior to the 2024 general election. A UK Government spokesperson said: 'No child should be in poverty – that's why our ministerial taskforce is exploring all available levers to give every child the best start in life as part of our plan for change. 'Alongside delivering on our Get Britain Working White Paper to support people into good jobs and make everyone better off, we're increasing the living wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions to help low-income households.'
The Herald Scotland
29-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Children in poverty living without bedding is not 'unusual'
It comes as the charity said the Scottish Government's legally binding targets to reduce child poverty to 10% by 2030 will not be met unless urgent action is taken. That action includes increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week after statistics showed it had made positive steps to reduce poverty. Speaking exclusively to The Herald as part of the Scotland's Forgotten Children: Poverty in Focus series, the charity boss warned: 'There are families waking up in the morning and planning their day around how do they get through because they live in poverty. 'Can their child have a shower? Can they wash their clothes? Do they have a fridge? Do they have food to eat, and if they do, can they cook it? Do they have nappies for their baby? Do they have beds and bedding? 'We had a practitioner who said she was in terms after being in a family's house because we had supported the family to get new quilts, new pillows and new bedding and the children were literally like this is the first time they've ever had new bedding in their house.' That is 'not unusual,' she warns. Approximately £150,000 has been spent by the charity since last July on essential items like bedding for more than 1,700 children, funded by Nationwide. READ MORE: Wake up call: Extreme child poverty in Scotland is now higher than 1990s Rebecca McCurdy: I was ashamed of growing up poor – but I am proud of it now 'Beds and bedding are very common for us to support families with,' she said. 'A practitioner was sharing with me last week about a family living in a house where there were concrete floors – there was no flooring. That is devastating." Ms Steel praised the Scottish Government's 'commitment' to eradicating child poverty after First Minister John Swinney declared it as his key mission in government last year. Figures showed that child poverty rates in Scotland decreased slightly to 22% in 2023-24, down from 26% the previous year, with policies like the Scottish Child Payment credited with making progress. But charities, including Action for Children want to see that figure uplifted from the current £27.15 per week, to £40. Doing so is estimated to lift an additional 20,000 children out of poverty and put the Scottish Government on track to meet legally binding targets to cut child poverty to 10% by 2030. Ms Steel told The Herald: 'There is an opportunity for the government to make a significant difference to child poverty through progressive policies.' She also described the commitment to mitigate the two-child benefit cap as a 'positive move'. 'We can't talk about what the Scottish Government is doing in a vacuum without considering the UK Government.' If UK Government scrapped two child limit that would lift 400,000 children out of poverty immediately – however, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has maintained there is not currently the means to do this. Ms Steel added: 'The Scottish Government has committed to mitigating against that. If they weren't having to do that they would have more money to spend on addressing poverty in Scotland, potentially. 'But what we would like to see is we still think there is scope to increase the Scottish Child Payment and we will be calling on the government to increase that to a minimum of £40 per week by the end of this parliamentary term. 'That provides that financial support which we know is really important.' But in an exclusive interview with The Herald, Mr Swinney said there were no current plans to increase the Scottish Child Payment. He warned it had reached its 'limit' and could remove the 'incentive to actually enter the labour market'.
