No limits to childhood? This election risks falling short on poverty

Child poverty continues to blight communities in Scotland | Scotsman Publications

Ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections next month, there is one question we should all be asking ourselves: what kind of Scotland do we want for children?

The election campaign kicked off on the same day that the annual poverty statistics were released. They showed there has been a slight drop in child poverty levels. But the real headline is that there are still one in five children in Scotland growing up in poverty.

Ollu*, a mum from Glasgow, puts it plainly: “No child in Scotland should ever experience poverty – not one. It’s good that rates are reducing but these are not just statistics, they are children’s lives.”

Child poverty continues to blight communities in Scotland | Scotsman Publications

Her words should cut through the political noise. Because these are not abstract figures. They represent individual children who are going without the basics, missing out on opportunities and feeling excluded from the world around them. They represent parents who are carrying the weight of constant pressure and worrying about what the future holds.

Ollu tells us that poverty has an impact on everything, “from what [children] eat and how they sleep, to their confidence, wellbeing and future opportunities.”

Ailsa*, a mum from Paisley, agrees. “Poverty isn’t just about money,” she says. “Poverty encompasses a child’s entire life.”

It’s no wonder families feel left behind by politics when so many of our children are locked out of the opportunities that should be part of every happy childhood.

It doesn’t have to be this way. This calls for politicians to step up and prioritise the things that really matter to families. We’re asking all parties what is your big vision for a better Scotland where no child is held back by poverty? We want leaders to set out an ambitious vision for a better Scotland where no child is held back by poverty. Families need politicians to make bold and brave commitments to putting money in families’ pockets, making jobs work for parents, easing the burden of rising living costs and investing in community-based family support. It will take more than tinkering at the edges, we need a package of policies that meet the scale and urgency of the challenge, to ensure there are no limits to childhoods.

Scotland has set itself ambitious targets to reduce child poverty by 2030. These targets matter: they represent a promise to make things better for all children in Scotland. But a few weeks out from the next Scottish parliament election, we have not heard enough on how political parties will deliver on this promise.

Fiona King, head of policy, research and influencing at Save the Children | Contributed

The uncomfortable truth is that Scotland is not currently on track to deliver this promise to children. We can turn that around with political will, brave commitments and parties working together. The next five years are critically important: by ensuring every child has what they need to thrive, we can build better childhoods and build a better, more prosperous Scotland.

Alex*, a mum from Fife, wants the next Scottish Government to do more. “The fact that any children are living in poverty in Scotland points to a failure in the support available to parents and families,” she says. “We want and need the next government to push harder on clear and measured steps if we’re going to fix this for the children of Scotland.”

The solutions are clear. Families tell us regularly what is needed. Decent housing, adequate and secure incomes, affordable childcare, and public services that are properly funded and accessible. These are not radical demands, but the basic components of what families need to ensure every child has the best start in life.

It is parents like Alex, Ailsa and Ollu who know what is needed. They should have a much more prominent role in shaping how we build a Scotland that delivers the best for every child. Ollu puts it simply: “Policies should be shaped with input from those with lived experience, so they reflect what actually works on the ground.”

Too often, those directly affected by poverty are excluded from the conversations that determine the support available to them. That disconnect matters. Policies designed without that insight risk missing the mark entirely.

This election is a moment for political leaders to confront the reality head-on and set out what they will do to end child poverty for good. Across Scotland, people are crying out for political leaders to act on the things that matter most to them. There should be no issue more important to politicians.

If political leaders are serious about building a fairer Scotland for everyone, child poverty cannot remain on the margins of this election campaign. As Ailsa reminds us, “One child in poverty is one too many.” It’s time to invest in a better future for all children where hope can be matched by real ambition.

*Parents’ names have been changed

Fiona King is head of policy, research and influencing at Save the Children

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