[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f1z6xfb7iurh3o":16},{"id":4,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":7,"slug":8,"content":9,"content_overview":10,"published_at":11,"seo_title":7,"seo_description":12,"image":13,"created_at":14,"updated_at":15},"01m5yr36vzgnkxw06xbrd8qvy9","1",false,"We can change Scotland's story on alcohol","we-can-change-scotlands-story-on-alcohol","\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justina Murray, Chief Executive, Aberlour Children’s Charity\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This week we have seen further evidence of Scotland’s toxic relationship with alcohol, with the publication of the latest alcohol-specific death figures.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn1\">[1]\u003C\u002Fa> In 2025, 1,152 people in Scotland died through alcohol.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn2\">[2]\u003C\u002Fa> This may be 3% lower than the previous year, but it remains 13% up on pre-pandemic levels. Alarmingly, death rates for women are rising (3% up).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The human toll of this loss is traumatic for families and communities. So, so many lives lost. And this sits alongside the everyday harms felt by those concerned about their own drinking, and those desperately worried about keeping their loved ones alive. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The story of alcohol in Scotland today is that we have a higher rate of alcohol deaths than England and Wales. We buy more alcohol per adult than England and Wales. Almost 1 in 5 of us drink enough to harm our health and to be classed as hazardous, harmful or dependent drinkers. More of us are diagnosed with chronic liver disease each year. We don’t really think about alcohol being linked to over 200 health conditions or causing 7 different types of cancer. In a country where we routinely hear, “There is no money”, alcohol harm is estimated to cost us up to £10 billion a year.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn3\">[3]\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is little sign of any shift in Scotland’s entrenched ‘Alcohol Everywhere’ culture. Just this week (only a day after the alcohol death figures were released), a hospitality chain in Edinburgh asked for licensing permission for unaccompanied 12-15 year olds to be in their pubs until 8pm, describing these as “family-friendly” and “accessible” environments for young people.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn4\">[4]\u003C\u002Fa> And earlier this month we saw the First Minister raising a glass of whisky on the front cover of the SNP conference handbook, of all of the images which could have been used under the banner ‘Choose Scotland’.\u003Ca href=\"#_edn5\">[5]\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what is the story for the children and families we support? I joined Aberlour last year - our 150th birthday year. Perhaps due to that timing, or certainly encouraged by it, I often reflect on the organisation’s long history and deep legacy, including what might be the same or different now compared to the early days of the Aberlour orphanage. This grew to care for up to 600 children at any one time, all in one place. Nowadays our models of care have radically altered, with our remodelled Sycamore children’s houses providing safe and loving family-sized homes in the community for 3 or 4 children at a time, alongside a broad continuum of services to support babies, children, young people and families facing disadvantage and adversity, from early help to the most intensive support. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite all these changes, that thread of alcohol harm in families - and the havoc this creates in every respect - runs through every chapter of our 150 years. This harm impacts the lives of children and families across every one of our services today, just as it shaped the story for so many children arriving at the original Aberlour orphanage.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we are also working alongside families to change Scotland’s story on alcohol. There is quite rightly a call for better prevention and early support for families, but how we respond in a crisis speaks volumes. We offer a range of specialist services for pregnant and new mums and their babies where there is harm through alcohol and other substances. This includes our residential Mother and Child Recovery Houses, alongside community-based perinatal and intensive perinatal services. The impact of these services is mind-blowing, with 65-70% of mums staying safely with their babies, when previously their children were at extremely high risk of going into care - with all the accompanying human and financial cost of this. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These services provide concrete and costed evidence that with the right approach and investment, we can write a whole new chapter alongside children and families. This support offers a blueprint for whole family recovery, helps us #KeepThePromise (not just say it), delivers effective child protection, and models outcomes-focused Public Service Reform. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s time for a different story on alcohol harm in Scotland, let’s turn the page. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"mso-element: endnote-list;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportEndnotes]-->\u003Cbr clear=\"all\">\u003Chr align=\"left\" size=\"1\" width=\"33%\">\u003C!--[endif]-->\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn1\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn1;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref1\" name=\"_edn1\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[1]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nrscotland.gov.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Falcohol-specific-deaths-2025\">https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nrscotland.gov.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Falcohol-specific-deaths-2025\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn2\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn2;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref2\" name=\"_edn2\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[2]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">Note that alcohol-specific deaths only include those specifically caused by alcohol, such as alcoholic liver disease, alcohol poisoning.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn3\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn3;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref3\" name=\"_edn3\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[3]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">You can find lots of useful information and statistics at Alcohol Focus Scotland on Scotland’s relationship with alcohol and alcohol harm, including a great series of monthly blogs by Chief Exec Carolyn Lochhead, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk\u002F\">https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk\u002F\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn4\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn4;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref4\" name=\"_edn4\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[4]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002Fcm62yj7nqj77o\">https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002Fcm62yj7nqj77o\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn5\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\">\u003Ca style=\"mso-endnote-id: edn5;\" title=\"\" href=\"#_ednref5\" name=\"_edn5\">\u003Cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\">\u003C!-- [if !supportFootnotes]-->\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">[5]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C!--[endif]-->\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com\u002Fwww.snp.org\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F06\u002FSNP-Handbook-26-online-5-public.pdf\">https:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com\u002Fwww.snp.org\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F06\u002FSNP-Handbook-26-online-5-public.pdf\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"mso-element: endnote-list;\">\n\u003Cdiv id=\"edn5\" style=\"mso-element: endnote;\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>",null,"2026-10-29T00:00:00.000000Z","This week we have seen further evidence of Scotland’s toxic relationship with alcohol, with the publication of the latest alcohol-specific death figures.","media\u002F1301_transform.webp","2026-10-27T13:16:48.000000Z","2026-10-30T08:58:49.000000Z",{"id":17,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":18,"slug":19,"content":20,"content_overview":21,"published_at":22,"seo_title":23,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27,"next":28,"prev":37},"01j6cdm1qq84wyy26mrjztbm9e","A new dawn breaks for young Scots as Scotland becomes the first nation to implement the UNCRC","a-new-dawn-breaks-for-young-scots","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Today, Tuesday 16th July, Scotland begins implementation of the UNCRC Scotland Act. Our CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE, shares her thoughts on the importance of the day and what it means for children living in poverty in Scotland.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Children waking up in Scotland tomorrow will have a louder voice than when they go to bed tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At one minute past midnight, as they sleep, their lives will become safer and their futures more secure as Scotland becomes the first UK nation to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Across our public life and legal system, this declaration of fundamental rights has potential to be transformative with every young Scot now entitled to a safe, secure childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means every child, from every postcode, will have the same guaranteed right to education, health care and a life free of abuse, neglect and exploitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The international charter will mean greater legal protections for all children, including our most vulnerable young Scots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every public body and organisation working on their behalf across Scotland will soon realise the game has irrevocably changed. It is a chance for Scotland to step up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Landmark court cases may come but, hopefully, right now all those bodies and third sector organisations whose work touches on the welfare of children are already looking at what they do and how they do it to ensure it meets their new legal responsibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rights detailed in the 54 articles of the UNCRC range widely but, taken together, they mean no child should ever experience barriers to education, face discrimination or grow up in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In particular, Article 26 details their right to social security while Article 27 enshrines their right to an adequate standard of living, including a safe and secure home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Herald’s recent, revelatory reporting has laid bare the housing emergency in Scotland but the enduring and escalating crisis of child poverty is wider still and even more corrosive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unsafe, cramped and temporary housing undermines the lives and life chances of far too many young Scots but, in every way imaginable, poverty blights the lives of children today and sabotages their futures tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We know the damage inflicted by poverty, on mental health, physical health, educational attainment, and life chances. The evidence is everywhere, the jury is in. We do not need more proof, we need more action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is no more time to spare. Five years ago, the United Nation’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, spent time in Scotland before accusing the UK government of the “systematic immiseration of a significant part of the British population.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In November, his successor suggested things have got even worse and, today, one in four children in Scotland are growing up in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is not their choice but showing the will and dedicating the resource to help them is a political choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is about making child poverty an absolute priority, ensuring the best interests of all our children drive policy not financial imperatives, and about transforming warm words into impactful action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This United Nations Convention should, must, help improve young lives, and, whatever the forecast, tomorrow will be a good day for Scotland’s children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>SallyAnn Kelly OBE\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr \u002F>\n\u003Cstrong>Chief Executive of Aberlour Children’s Charity\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Herald and published on Tuesday 16th July.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Today, Tuesday 16th July, Scotland begins implementation of the UNCRC Scotland Act. Our CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE, shares her thoughts on the importance of the day and what it means for children living in poverty in Scotland. “Children waking up in Scotland tomorrow will have a louder voice than when they go to bed tonight. … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fa-new-dawn-breaks-for-young-scots\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-07-16T00:00:00.000000Z","A new dawn breaks for young Scots as Scotland becomes the first nation to implement the UNCRC - Aberlour - Web Backend","Aberlour CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE, shares her thoughts as Scotland becomes the first nation to implement the UNCRC and what it means for children living in poverty.","media\u002FSAK_Web.jpg","2024-08-28T11:58:31.000000Z","2024-11-25T07:22:17.000000Z",{"id":29,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":30,"slug":31,"content":32,"content_overview":33,"published_at":22,"seo_title":34,"seo_description":35,"image":36,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27},"01j6cdm1r07wt44k9hr6f1gtmg","Charity calls for urgent action to protect children in housing emergency","charity-calls-for-urgent-action-to-protect-children-in-housing-emergency","\u003Cp>A new international charter of children’s rights can protect young Scots at risk in the country’s housing emergency, according to a leading charity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour Children’s Charity said the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) will compel urgent action to deliver safe and stable accommodation for all Scots children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief executive SallyAnn Kelly OBE welcomed the implementation of UNCRC in Scotland on Tuesday 16th July and said it gives every young Scot the right to a secure childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SallyAnn warned too many children are living in uncertain and unsafe homes, a national emergency detailed by a landmark series in The Herald, and said the crisis is inflicting escalating damage on their health, education and life chances. She applauds the work of homeless charities like Shelter Scotland which has found that 10,000 children are living in temporary accommodation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Kelly said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “There is no doubt the lives and futures of our children are being undermined by unsuitable accommodation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As Scotland’s housing emergency worsens so does the impact on our children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Issues like dampness, cramped living spaces and unsafe fixtures and fittings risk their physical health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meanwhile, they share the stress and anxiety of their parents living in precarious short-term accommodation not knowing where they will be living next week or the week after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That stress and instability affects their mental health and impacts every aspect of their lives at home, at school, and sabotages their futures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour, Scotland’s biggest children’s charity, has helped campaign for the introduction of UNCRC in Scotland,\u003Cbr \u002F>\nthe first of the UK nations to legislate for its adoption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its 54 articles deliver wide-ranging rights to education, health care and lives free of neglect, abuse and exploitation. Article 27 guarantees every child “an adequate standard of living” including food, clothing and housing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kelly said the international legally binding agreement will place new responsibilities on public bodies and third sector organisations and, taken together, every child, in every postcode, has the right to live free of poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, one in four young Scots are growing up in poverty – one in three across the UK – with research exposing an escalating impact on their physical and mental health, education attainment and life chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Kelly said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “The UNCRC means every public body and third sector organisation whose work involves the welfare of children must ensure we are meeting these new legal responsibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Its introduction in Scotland gives new legal duties and impetus for practical and effective measures to combat child poverty and the housing crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No child chooses to grow up in poverty but it is a political choice to make ending poverty a priority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Herald and published on Tuesday 16th July 2024.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>A new international charter of children’s rights can protect young Scots at risk in the country’s housing emergency, according to a leading charity. Aberlour Children’s Charity said the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) will compel urgent action to deliver safe and stable accommodation for all Scots children. Chief executive SallyAnn … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fcharity-calls-for-urgent-action-to-protect-children-in-housing-emergency\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","Charity calls for urgent action to protect children in housing emergency - Aberlour - Web Backend","Aberlour CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE, explains in The Herald why the UNCRC will compel urgent action to deliver safe and stable accommodation for all Scots children.","media\u002FSallyAnn-Final-scaled.jpg",{"id":38,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":5,"is_featured":6,"title":39,"slug":40,"content":41,"content_overview":42,"published_at":43,"seo_title":44,"seo_description":45,"image":36,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27},"01j6cdm1r7f7sf2fcgknhq8cxd","Leading children’s charity urges PM to scrap child benefit cap","leading-childrens-charity-urges-pm-to-scrap-child-benefit-cap","\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">Keir Starmer must scrap the two-child benefit cap and rescue thousands of young Scots trapped in poverty, according to the country’s biggest children’s charity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">One in four Scots children are now living in poverty and Aberlour is calling on the Prime Minister to take urgent action to improve their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly OBE called on the new Labour government to launch an immediate review of Universal Credit including the ban on low-income families receiving support for any more than two children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\u003Cstrong>She said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “We know beyond any doubt how much damage poverty is inflicting on the lives and life chances of children across Scotland. This is the true cost of not investing in these children and their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">“We also know beyond doubt that scrapping the two-child cap is the single most immediate way of reducing that damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">“The system of Universal Credit must be reviewed as a matter of urgency and the cap removed or neutralised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">“We have heard many promises about ending child poverty and easing its impact but now is the time for action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">“It is time to take effective steps to protect and improve the lives of children trapped in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">“No child chooses to live in poverty but offering them effective help is a political choice and there should be no greater priority for any country or any government.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">Kelly spoke out days before Scotland becomes the first UK nation to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) imposing a legal duty on public bodies to ensure children grow up in safety and security with Article 26 giving every child and their family the right to social security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">On Wednesday 10th July, the Daily Record revealed Anas Sarwar is also urging the new Prime Minister to review the two-child benefit cap which affects 27,000 Scottish households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">Starmer refused to commit to abolition during the election before detailing the costs but the Scottish Labour leader wants the policy scrapped as part of an upcoming review of Universal Credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\u003Cstrong>Keir Starmer told The Daily Record:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “We want to have the review of Universal Credit. We want to create the financial conditions where we can move on the two-child limit.”\u003Cbr \u002F>\n“We will continue to push for it to happen and we want to make sure we’re part of helping create the economic conditions to make that happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Daily Record and published on Friday 12th July 2024.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Keir Starmer must scrap the two-child benefit cap and rescue thousands of young Scots trapped in poverty, according to the country’s biggest children’s charity. One in four Scots children are now living in poverty and Aberlour is calling on the Prime Minister to take urgent action to improve their lives. Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly OBE … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fleading-childrens-charity-urges-pm-to-scrap-child-benefit-cap\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-07-12T00:00:00.000000Z","Leading children’s charity urges PM to scrap child benefit cap - Aberlour - Web Backend","Aberlour CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE, urges the UK Government Prime Minister to scrap the two-child benefit cap to lift children out of poverty."]