Friday June 6th 2025
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A vital plan to tackle child poverty in the Scottish Borders head-on was published this week.
The Child Poverty Act sets out the Scottish Government’s statement of intent to eradicate child poverty in Scotland by 2030 and requires local authorities and health boards to jointly prepare a Local Child Poverty Action Plan Report and an Annual Progress Report.
Latest statistics show that 15.9 per cent of children in the Borders still live in poverty before housing costs, and 21.5 per cent after housing costs.
Additionally, 15.8 per cent of households in the region receive Universal Credit.
Scottish Borders Council has been working to address child poverty in the region through collaborative efforts with NHS Borders and community partners.
The Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Action Plan report was published on June 5.
The key highlights of progress made in the last year include the council’s Financial Inclusion Team’s efforts resulting in £1.3 million in financial gains for families in the Borders.
The Annual Participation Measure shows that 94.2 per cent of 16–19-year-olds in the area were engaged in education, employment, training, or personal development, surpassing the national average of 92.7 per cent.
The Consortium of Scottish Borders Bureaux achieved a client financial gain of £4,110,734.38 through various support services.
The report highlights the importance of understanding local needs, improving service pathways, and engaging with families directly affected by poverty to inform service development.
The multi-agency Child Poverty Group will continue to focus on the six priority family types most at risk of poverty, including lone parents and families with members of the family with a disability.
Significant budgets and funding of over £4m are attributed to various initiatives aimed at reducing child poverty and its impact on families.
Councillor Robin Tatler, SBC’s executive member for Public Safety and Resilience, said “The report emphasises the importance of community engagement in shaping services and policies. Feedback from families indicates that support programs have significantly impacted their lives, helping to alleviate some of the pressures associated with poverty.
“Partners who work in and with communities are invaluable, like Berwickshire Swap who reduce waste and support a circular economy, they held over 45 swaps and mini swap events throughout the Scottish Borders between April 2024 and March 2025. 1,675 people signed up to these events swapping for nearly 2,100 children.
“Another of these community services which I had the pleasure of visiting recently and witnessing their great work, is Tweed Togs, they assist families who need a little extra support by gifting bags of recycled, pre-loved clothes generously donated by the local community.
“These are just a couple of the many organisations and charities who are committed to eradicating child poverty in Scotland by 2030. We are all committed to improving the lives of children, young people, and families in our region, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
NHS Borders Claire McElroy, head of Health Improvement, for inclusion said: “Tackling child poverty is fundamental to improving the health and well-being outcomes for children, young people and families in the Scottish Borders. Through strong partnerships, we hope to address not only the financial pressures, but also the long-term impacts on mental and physical health.”
The Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Report and Action Plan is available to read on Scottish Borders website.
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