Poverty

These documents are a useful resource to build a knowledge base around current priorities and work around poverty in Glasgow and across Scotland. Please note that clicking on these documents will take you to external websites.  

The Glasgow City HSCP Health Improvement Team have pulled together a list of key strategy and policy links regarding children and young people. These documents should be used to inform planning and delivery within your classroom and school community.  

Glasgow City Food Plan and a 'Cash First' approach  

The Glasgow City Food Plan outlines ‘Fair Food for All’ as one of the priorities, this looks at addressing barriers to food insecurity and identifying and scaling up good practice in the city to support those in need of assistance. From 2024, Glasgow will be involved in a Scottish Government funded ‘Cash First’ approach pilot to enable further capacity building, enhanced sharing of practice/referral pathways and learning. Find out more about the 'Cash First' approach here 

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation   

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is an independent social change organisation working to solve UK poverty. Their website has a wide range of information and resources on child poverty. You can access it here

Poverty: Our Hidden Shame Film and Resource Pack   

‘Poverty: Our Hidden Shame’ film and resource pack explores the impact of poverty in local communities. It was co-produced by young people in Govan, Glasgow and was short-listed at BAFTA for the AHRC Inspiration Award 2016. You can access the film and resource pack here  

Rights Respecting Schools Resources - UNICEF

UNICEF provide a wide range of resources to support teaching and learning about children’s rights in your classroom. You can access the resources here  

Scottish Attainment Challenge   

The Scottish Attainment Challenge is about achieving equity in educational outcomes, with a particular focus on closing the poverty-related attainment gap. Resources and information are available here   

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – Poverty   

Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A range of facts, videos and further links are available here   

Outright- Speak out on children rights. 

Outright is a campaign for children, by children, that helps them to promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and around the world. For more information click here  

Cost of the Nursery Day

The Cost of the Nursery Day project aimed to identify poverty-related barriers to learning and participation in nurseries, and to develop ways to overcome them. The project was delivered in 2019 and involved working with parents and carers to understand their lived experience of how Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) policies and practices can affect low income households. It also involved working with ELC staff to explore the role of the nursery in reducing the effects of poverty on families.   

For more information on the Cost of the Nursery Day project, click here to access the full report.  

The cost of the school day toolkit can be adapted to support early years planning. For more information click here

Public Health Scotland Child Poverty Learning Hub 

The hub is aimed at those working in local authorities, the NHS, HSCPs and the third sector, and anyone interested in reducing child poverty in Scotland. The hub is pitched at foundation level. The hub is free and can be accessed through the PHS Virtual Learning Environment. Click here to access the hub.  

Child Poverty Dashboard  

This is a new tool which partners the child poverty report. The dashboard provides information on levels of child poverty across the city.  Click here to access the dashboard.  

Worrying About Money? Cash First Referrals  

'Worrying About Money?' cash first referral leaflets are co-designed as straightforward resources both for people facing money worries and support workers. The step-by-step guides identify which local agencies are best placed to help people maximise income and access any existing financial entitlements. All advice available in English, Slovakian, Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Urdu, Romanian, and Farsi. Click here to find out more and access the leaflets.  

Social Security Scotland - Financial Support for Families. 

The five family payments administered by Social Security Scotland can help pay for extra back to school expenses alongside everyday family costs like food, clothing and days out.   

This includes the Scottish Child Payment, a weekly payment of £26.70 for eligible families with children up to 16. The payment is unique to Scotland and is supporting over 329,000 children and young people.  

The three Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods, also part of social security support, are designed to help families at key stages in their children’s early years, including during pregnancy.

There is no cap on the number of children in one family who can receive these payments. Click here for more information.    

School Clothing Grants – How to apply 

Did you know that financial help could be available to cover the cost of your child's school uniform and shoes? Local authorities offer school clothing grants to eligible families. For more information click here

Benefits and grants  

Information on benefits, funds and grants, including the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, can be found here

Citizen’s Advice (Scotland)  

Citizen's Advice offer a range of advice some of which includes: work, benefits, money and debt and lots more. Find out more click here    

Citizens Advice Scotland's Money Map  

Citizens Advice Scotland's Money Map can help you find sources of online support to:    

• Increase your income    

• Reduce your bills    

• Ease the costs of daily living   

To access Money Map here   

Cost of Living Support Website  

Scottish Government has launched a new website in response to the current cost of living crisis. The website brings together information on a range of topics such as:  debt and money, benefits and income, energy and household bills, urgent help with food or fuel as well as information for children and families older or disabled people and health and wellbeing. For more information click here

Glasgow City HSCP Cost of Living Support Guide  

This directory provides easy access to available supports across Glasgow, clearly presented under the following themes: Holistic Supports, Food Supports, Money Advice Supports, Energy and Fuel Supports, Crisis Supports, Specific Population, Housing/Legal Supports, Practical Supports, Mental Health Supports, Support Directories and Helpline Supports. Click here to access the guide. 

Home Energy Scotland (HOS) 

HOS offer free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more.  

If you're struggling to heat your home, you could be eligible for support from the Scottish Government funded Warmer Homes Scotland programme to help make your home warmer and cosier. For more information click here

NHS Inform  

Provides helpful information about coping with money worries including how to feel more positive and financial support services. For more information click here

The Glasgow City HSCP Health Improvement Team have pulled together a list of key strategy and policy links regarding Child Poverty and Early Years. These documents should be used to inform planning and delivery within your establishment and school community.

These documents are a useful resource to build a knowledge base around current priorities and work around Child Poverty and Early Years in Glasgow and across Scotland. Please note that clicking on these documents will take you to external websites.

Bright Futures: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2022 to 2026

Child Poverty Action Group: The Cost of a Child In Scotland 2022  

Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 Glasgow’s Local Child Poverty Action Report 2022/23   Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-26 

The Cost of Living Crisis in Scotland: Analytical Report (Nov 22)

The pandemic impact on: Children and Young people in poverty