Scotland
One in five children in Scotland live in poverty. Children living in severe poverty simply don’t have enough money to pay for essential items. This can mean having to choose between a hot meal and a warm home, or between a winter coat and a decent pair of shoes. That’s unacceptable.
Take action against soaring childcare costs
Scots families on low-incomes are being forced to leave work and turn down jobs because they can’t afford to pay for childcare.
According to a new survey we ran with the Daycare Trust, parents on all incomes say they can’t afford not to work, but struggle to pay for childcare.
As a result, despite many parents cutting back on spending, one-third of those living in severe poverty have ended up in debt as a result.
We are urging the Scottish government to take action at the earliest opportunity, with an extension of free entitlement to childcare and nursery education for the poorest families in Scotland.
Museum of Poverty
Save the Children in Scotland is demanding that local councils and the Scottish and UK governments keep their promises to end child poverty. A big part of this work is making Members of the Scottish Parliament and local councillors aware of the problem and convincing them to do something about it through the Museum of Poverty.
The Museum of Poverty was developed through work with families in Glasgow, who were asked to consider what items would be placed in a museum if poverty was eradicated today. The Museum has been touring around Scotland, and children from across Scotland have had the opportunity to discuss the issues raised with local and national decision makers.
Our programmes
The Families and Schools Together programme is an award-winning programme which supports parents to improve their children’s learning and development at home, so they can reach their full potential at school. An eight-week FAST programme piloted at a school in West Dunbartonshire will now be expanded following its success.
In My Back Yard is our new nationwide programme that gives children, young people and parents the power and resources to make positive changes to the areas where they live. We work with local groups to identify and agree on key issues that can be turned into a practical project and provide workshops to build their confidence and skills in team work and campaigning. Each group will have the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £1,000 to support their project.
Policy and Research
We also carry out research to help us better understand how poverty affects children and their families, and what needs to change so that we can end it in Scotland for good. You can find a list of our briefings on the right.
Contact us
For more information about our work in Scotland, please contact infoscotland@savethechildren.org.uk or call us on 0131 527 8200.