We are encouraged by the First Minister’s focus on eradicating child poverty in the Programme for Government 2024-2025, particularly through a Whole Family Support approach. The commitment to early intervention, prevention, and expanding advice services in accessible settings like hospitals and community centres is especially heartening. Our experiences of delivering daily place-based services and support highlights the importance of accessible services in communities.
Child Poverty
However, despite strong statements of intent, we are deeply concerned that the Programme for Government does not include an uplift to the Scottish Child Payment—something we have advocated for alongside our partners. Without significant investment in interventions aimed at tackling child poverty, it is unlikely that Scotland will get close to meeting its child poverty targets.
We strongly urge the Scottish Government to prioritise this essential support for families and call on them to take bolder, more decisive actions to ensure that all children in Scotland have access to the rights and services they deserve.
Reflecting on the themes of our Transforming Lives campaign, we want to highlight how the Programme for Government 2024/25 will impact the lives of children, young people, and families we support.
Children’s Rights
Our national Transforming Lives campaign has highlighted the ongoing issue of children in Scotland not having universal access to their rights. While the Programme for Government addresses some of our concerns, it falls short of outlining the comprehensive actions needed to create lasting change, especially given the challenging fiscal environment.
We welcome positive steps such as expanding Bairn’s Hoose, making commitments to #keepthepromise, and providing further support for carers. However, further clarity on how these commitments will translate into meaningful outcomes is essential.
Education
The First Minister’s pledge to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap and improve education outcomes for disadvantaged students is a crucial step forward. This commitment must be followed by action, co-produced with children, young people, families, and communities experiencing poverty to ensure real change in education access and outcomes. We are concerned, however, at the lack of timescales on the expansion of free schools for children in Primary 6 and Primary 7 who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.
Mental Health
The mental health crisis affecting children and young people is of grave concern to includem.
We welcome the recognition that further investment in CAMHS is required. However, the government must go further—statutory mental health services for children need significant development and additional funding to meet the scale of need in Scotland today and require support from a properly funded third sector.
Youth Justice
As an organisation that supports many children, young people, and families in conflict with the law, we are keen to see how the implementation of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 progresses. A youth justice system that truly aligns with Scotland’s commitments under the UNCRC Incorporation (Scotland) Act 2024 is essential for providing adequate support to young people.
Conclusion
Services for families must be tailored to their needs and led by them to deliver meaningful change. We are committed to working with partners and stakeholders to deliver innovative, creative services that meet the diverse needs of families across Scotland.
We look forward to engaging and working with the First Minister and his cabinet to amplify the voices of the children, young people and families we support so they can transform their lives and build positive futures.
