Local Child Poverty Report and Action Plan for 2025/26

The plan and commitment is in alignment with national goals set by the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017. 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.

This comprehensive report, which was endorsed by the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) details the progress made in addressing child poverty in the Scottish Borders during the 2024/25 period and outlines the planned initiatives for the upcoming year 2025/26.

The report reflects the collaborative efforts and major contributions from all valued partners. The collective input from the CPP and their dedication have been instrumental in addressing child poverty in the Scottish Borders. The partnership's commitment to improving the lives of children, young people, and families is evident throughout the report, showcasing the significant progress made and the strategic initiatives planned for the future.

Key Highlights

Progress in 2024/25:

• The Financial Inclusion Team's efforts resulted in £1.3 million in financial gains for families in the Scottish Borders
• The Annual Participation Measure shows that 94.2% of 16–19-year-olds in the area were engaged in education, employment, training, or personal development, surpassing the national average of 92.7%
• The Consortium of Scottish Borders Bureaux achieved a client financial gain of £4,110,734.38 through various support services.

Challenges and Statistics – Current child Poverty statistics:       

• 15.9% of children in the Scottish Borders still live in poverty before housing costs, and 21.5% after housing costs
• 15.8% of households in the region receive Universal Credit.

The report highlights the importance of understanding local needs, improving service pathways, and engaging with families directly affected by poverty to inform service development. 

Strategic Initiatives for 2025/26:

• It aligns with the Scottish Government’s "Best Start, Bright Futures" plan, emphasising the need for tailored local interventions to complement national efforts
• The 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 £4million are attributed to various initiatives aimed at reducing child poverty and its impact on families. Other funding streams are also expected as set out in Best Start, Bright Futures.

Councillor Robin Tatler, Executive Member for Public Safety and Resilience

“As we continue to address child poverty in the Scottish Borders, our collaborative efforts with local authorities, health boards, and community partners are crucial.”

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.

Councillor Tatler

“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. 1675 people signed up to these events swapping for nearly 2100 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, preloved 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

“Tackling child poverty is fundamental to improving the health and wellbeing 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 serves as a comprehensive framework for addressing and mitigating child poverty in the region, highlighting the collaborative efforts of multiple stakeholders to improve the lives of children and families facing economic challenges. The Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Report and Action Plan is available to read on Scottish Borders website.

Notes to editors

Berwickshire Swap is a charity and social enterprise that organizes and delivers children's clothing, toy, book, and baby equipment swap events to help families struggling with clothing poverty. They also provide an emergency clothing parcel service for families referred by health visitors, social workers, and schools. Berwickshire Swap aims to reduce waste and support a circular economy by keeping good quality items out of landfill. Read mor on their website at https://www.berwickshireswap.co.uk/

Tweed Togs is a charity in the Scottish Borders that provides high-quality, pre-loved clothing to local children in need. They collect donated clothing, sort it, and pack it into gift bags, which are then delivered to families who need them. The charity's mission is to ensure that no child is disadvantaged due to a lack of suitable clothing. Read more on their website at https://www.tweedtogs.org/

Best Start, Bright Futures: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2022 to 2026 is the second tackling child poverty delivery plan due under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017. Outlining action for the period 2022 to 2026