Parents participating in the University of York's Changing Realities project met with Scotland's First Minister for an in-depth discussion focused on tackling child poverty.
Parents met with Scotland's First Minister for an in-depth discussion on tackling child poverty.
The meeting, which took place at Bute House in Edinburgh with John Swinney, provided a vital platform for parents with lived experience of life on a low-income to share their insights and proposals for strengthening efforts to eradicate child poverty across Scotland.
Child poverty rates
The discussion comes in the wake of recently released annual poverty statistics which highlighted Scotland as the only part of the UK where child poverty rates are currently falling.
Changing Realities, a research project based at the University of York, is actively involved in the development of the Scottish Government's forthcoming Child Poverty Delivery Plan, which will outline concrete steps to achieve their primary policy objective of eradicating child poverty.
During the meeting on Easter Monday, parents shared their direct experiences and key priorities for policy change, including:
- Strengthening the Scottish child payment by raising rates; including those aged 16-18; and finding a way to get this support to all children in Scotland; including those currently excluded due to no recourse to public funds
- Improving child care provision; with a key focus on providing support to low-income families with 100% of costs; ensuring access to wrap-around child care; and improving support for families with children with additional needs;
- Embed lived experience in policymaking by actively involving individuals with direct experience of poverty in the policymaking process
Follow-up meeting
The First Minister welcomed the meeting and the open dialogue and a commitment was made to hold a follow-up meeting between the First Minister, parents from the Changing Realities project, and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice.
He said: "I am grateful for the work of Changing Realities, and for the opportunity to meet with parents to discuss what is working, and what needs to change to support families.
"Eradicating child poverty in Scotland is a national mission and my top priority as First Minister. It is welcome to hear that policies, such as our Scottish Child Payment, are making a difference. However as parents have made clear, we must continue to drive forward ambitious action to tackle poverty.
"That's why we are accelerating our action through the 2025-26 Scottish Budget - including through investment in breakfast clubs, employability and to develop the systems to mitigate the two-child limit.
"We want to listen to our partners and to people with lived experience to ensure we understand the challenges and opportunities ahead. I am pleased that my government will work with Changing Realities in the year ahead to help inform Scotland's next Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan."
Supported and empowered
Zahida Purves, a Scottish parent who attended the meeting, said: "We were all able to speak directly to the First Minister about our experiences and challenges, and felt supported and empowered to do so.
"We asked the First Minister to act, not just listen; and emphasised that these meetings are only effective when something happens after them.
"On poverty, we need to see strong political will and significant reform. I left feeling optimistic and hopeful; and stand ready to support making the changes required."
Professor Ruth Patrick, who leads Changing Realities from the University of York, said: "Our meeting with the First Minister was a constructive opportunity for parents on a low-income from Changing Realities to discuss how best to drive child poverty down in Scotland.
"Parents shared the difference the flagship Scottish Child Payment is making, and ideas for how it could be strengthened to support all children on a low-income in Scotland.
"We were delighted that the First Minister has invited us back for another meeting, and look forward to playing our part in the development of Scotland's forthcoming Child Poverty Delivery Plan."
"This meeting underscores the crucial role of research projects like Changing Realities in bridging the gap between lived experience and policymaking, ultimately contributing to more effective strategies for tackling societal challenges."
