Scotland programme: Tackling poverty
In Scotland we want an end to children living in severe poverty by 2015.
It is disgraceful that child poverty exists in Scotland today.
- 250 000 children in Scotland live in poverty in Scotland
- it is estimated a further 90 000 live in severe poverty
- there has been no change in the number living in severe poverty in recent years
- for a single parent with 2 children, severe poverty means having to survive on less than £8,000 a year
- 25 per cent of children in Scotland are missing out on basics such as proper winter clothing, after-school activities and nutritional food
Children who live in severe poverty do not enjoy the basic living standards that their peers take for granted. The effects of severe poverty are devastating and complex. Experiencing poverty in childhood may have lifelong consequences.
Influencing policy
Save the Children work to influence policy making in Scotland through:
- regularly briefing MSPs and decision makers on the issue of poverty
- actively campaigning to End Child Poverty in the UK. Read the debate in the Scottish parliament on our campaign in November 2006.
- developing solutions to provide more support for the poorest children in Scotland. Key issues include the extension of entitlement to free school meals, child care and fuel poverty.
- research. The report, Serving Children? - Children's experiences of public, private and voluntary services, highlights barriers that limit access to services for children from low-income households.
Work with partners
Our Young Eastend Speaking (YES) programme in Glasgow supports young people take part in local decision-making.
YES has helped over 245 children make positive changes in their own communities. It takes place in Glasgow's East End - an area with widespread poverty, deprivation, a lack of services and high unemployment.
