[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f2nkcqjx51ax6r":16},{"id":4,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":8,"slug":9,"content":10,"content_overview":11,"published_at":12,"seo_title":8,"seo_description":13,"image":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15},"01m45vtvk0pdb1y7c1cqv76edp","9cdbdd6d-4900-4646-a012-d3e67a5ee788","1",false,"Panic and Promises Won't End Child Poverty","panic-and-promises-wont-end-child-poverty","\u003Cp>We live in a world that seems to spin faster every day, where all the dials are turned to 11 all the time.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headlines crash from one calamity to another as our political leaders rush to promise emergency action while their opponents demand even more urgency. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is noisy, tiring and a few hours later, when the news cycle spins to another red alert, the last one, whatever it was, is most often forgotten. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For years now, child poverty in Scotland has been routinely described as a national emergency demanding emergency action. It is and it does but, with more than one in five children still growing up in poverty in Scotland today, is it time to ask if the language of emergency and crisis is helping?  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it only encourages more haste but less speed, a birling carousel of taskforces and committees, policy papers and special reports, but too little measured and impactful action? Are we even checking if the blizzard of promises and commitments is being delivered before starting the snow machine again? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if the endless planning and process is actually slowing us down? What if somehow all the talk is delaying implementation of practical, tested, and effective measures to improve the lives and secure the life chances of the 210,000 children growing up poor in one of the wealthiest countries in the world? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because we already know what works. We have known for years.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there are no magic bullets, no simple solutions to the complex social issues that have blighted our poorest communities for decades. Child poverty, like Scotland’s drugs crisis, another national emergency, is embedded in longstanding economic trends that have stripped far too many of our neighbourhoods of jobs and hope. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those trends will not be reversed overnight but, in the meantime, we should not let perfect be the enemy of good. As Challenge Poverty Week begins today, the biggest challenge is to see the wood not the trees, to recognise and appreciate what is already working and build on it. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are things that we know ease the impact of poverty on young lives; that have been trialled, tested and measured; that inch their families from peril to safety; that give them new strength, confidence and a path to a more secure future. So why not have more of them? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are services that our charity and others are delivering every day, hand in glove with our partners in social work, health care and education. These are services delivering real, measurable success, making children safer, healthier and happier today and improving their chances tomorrow. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intensive family support, for example. The clue is in the name. It is the opposite of easy. Any family’s journey back from the very edge of crisis is one of hard yards and no shortcuts. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our teams arrive to work, shoulder to shoulder, with families on the point of collapse, with children often on the edge of care. Ensuring those babies and young people are safe is always the priority but, after that, keeping them with their families is the driving force because that, all research suggests, is the best way to stabilise childhoods and secure futures. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intensive family support means doing whatever it takes to keep children safe and families together. It can rebuild broken relationships; improve parents’ confidence in themselves; create new connections in communities; and help build firmer financial foundations with advice on welfare rights, maximising incomes and problem debt. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any investment in intensive family support and other specialist services, for pregnant women and new mums, for example, is more than returned in thriving families, stronger communities and money saved. Resource is better spent on intensive support keeping families safely together, than managing their separation through a lifetime of crisis-led state intervention.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our two Mother and Child Recovery Houses, in Falkirk and Dundee, for example, offer recovery spaces for pregnant and new mums with a history of substance use, allowing them to recover while staying safely with their babies. This helps keep families together and children at home, improves their futures and saves millions of pounds in avoided care costs. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is true child protection and the big question is not whether we can afford to roll out these services across Scotland but if we can afford not to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Justina Murray \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Chief executive of Aberlour Children’s Charity \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for the Daily Record and published on Monday 5th October 2026.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>",null,"2026-10-05T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity CEO, Justina Murray, explains what must be done to end child poverty in Scotland. We know what works and we've known for years. ","media\u002FRS873_0E5A9135.jpg","2026-10-05T11:05:26.000000Z",{"id":17,"blog_author_id":6,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"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":38},"01j6cdm3jjwcf5y7yrs3m0vs33","AbJam 2023: Creating Your Future","abjam-2023-creating-your-future","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>“New dawns”, “new experiences”, “thinking about the future.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the phrases used to describe this year’s theme at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fabout-us\u002Fabjam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AbJam\u003C\u002Fa> 2023: “New Horizons”. This year, with over 40 young people in attendance, it was a fantastic success! Each year, our young people work hard to organise AbJam and plan a weekend where they can get together, have fun and make new memories whilst developing skills and meeting friends. The weekend featured a variety of workshops and activities all imagined, delivered and chosen by the AbJam Young Planners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weekend kicked off with a game of human bingo, a quiz, and the first of the much-loved football tournaments. Other activities featured throughout the weekend included a ‘Mystic Tales’ story writing workshop, a scrapheap eco-challenge, the AbJam traybake off and lots of outdoor activities like the big swing, archery and Jacob’s ladder. There was also the much-anticipated annual event ‘Aberlour’s Got Talent’ where the young people got to showcase their skills and talents. It was great to see such a supportive environment where everyone felt confident and truly excelled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weekend concluded with a workshop on ‘Environment, Health and Climate’ and a prize giving for achievements over the weekend, including young people’s participation. There was time for a reflection on their experiences over the weekend to capture what went well and what can be improved upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One young person loved: \u003Cstrong>“getting to see everyone, new folk and old as well.” \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another young person said: \u003Cstrong>“I loved every single minute of the weekend especially Mackenzie doing the worm at Aberlour’s Got Talent, I even enjoyed taking photos of the weekend with my Canon camera.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weekend was described as \u003Cstrong>“interesting and enjoyable”\u003C\u002Fstrong> by one of the attendees, and a good quote to summarise \u003Cstrong>“it was fun, and I would love to come back next year, the food was decent, and the activities were great.”\u003C\u002Fstrong> In terms of improvement, one young person felt an \u003Cstrong>“inspirational key speaker would be good”\u003C\u002Fstrong> and another would like \u003Cstrong>“better workshops e.g., dance, beauty, art for girls”\u003C\u002Fstrong>, these provide great ideas and feedback for planning AbJam 2024.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>AbJam continues to help build a sense of community among Aberlour young people and teams by bringing them together through activity, singing, enjoyment, conversation, and the sharing of experiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We already can’t wait for AbJam 2024!\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>“New dawns”, “new experiences”, “thinking about the future.” These were the phrases used to describe this year’s theme at AbJam 2023: “New Horizons”. This year, with over 40 young people in attendance, it was a fantastic success! Each year, our young people work hard to organise AbJam and plan a weekend where they can get … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fabjam-2023-creating-your-future\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2023-12-13T00:00:00.000000Z","AbJam 2023: Creating Your Future - Aberlour - Web Backend","Discover what our young people loved about Aberlour Children's Charity's Youth Conference: AbJam 2023 .","media\u002FMicrosoftTeams-image-19.png","2024-08-28T11:58:33.000000Z","2024-11-25T07:22:18.000000Z",{"id":29,"blog_author_id":6,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"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":37},"01j6cdm3jz0vyk9tjvp9aw2kjt","United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Bill","united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-uncrc-bill","\u003Cp>Last Thursday the reconsidered United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Bill was passed unanimously by MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. This means that, after a long-delayed process, the UNCRC will finally be incorporated into Scots law. This is a huge step towards making rights real for all children and young people across Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In our organisational strategy, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F04\u002FFINAL-Aberlour-Strategy-2021-2025.pdf\">Being Brave\u003C\u002Fa>, we made the commitment that Aberlour will “\u003Cem>work relentlessly to ensure that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is fully embedded in law and is visible across our organisation and obvious in what we do and how we work with children, young people and their families\u003C\u002Fem>.” Through our influencing work, and alongside many other organisations, Aberlour has campaigned to see the UNCRC incorporated into law. Most importantly we have been able to elevate and amplify the voices of our own children and young people in this work to make sure they have been heard. Securing children and young people’s human rights in law through UNCRC incorporation is what many of our children and young people have been clear must happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Chief Executive, SallyAnn Kelly OBE says\u003C\u002Fstrong>: “As we look towards 2024 the work of implementing UNCRC in practice must continue at pace. I am proud to see the incredible work that goes on every day in Aberlour to make sure that the rights of our children and young people are respected, protected and fulfilled. However, the new UNCRC legislation does place further duties on organisations that work with children, young people and their families, including Aberlour, to make sure their rights are being supported and promoted in practice. Therefore, our Senior Leadership Team will take time to consider what more we need to do as an organisation to ensure we are compliant with these new duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This will mean strengthening the foundation of children’s rights practice that is already established at Aberlour. In the coming months we will set out our plans for any new initiatives and work required to support all of our colleagues to feel confident in what UNCRC means in practice across all of our roles and functions, and how it informs and guides our work as an organisation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to all our Trustees, staff and volunteers for the work they already do in making Aberlour a place where children and young people’s rights are real and visible every day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Last Thursday the reconsidered United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Bill was passed unanimously by MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. This means that, after a long-delayed process, the UNCRC will finally be incorporated into Scots law. This is a huge step towards making rights real for all children and young people … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Funited-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-uncrc-bill\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Bill - Aberlour - Web Backend","Last Thursday the reconsidered United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Bill was passed unanimously by MSPs.","media\u002FSRC0003-scaled.jpeg","2024-11-25T07:22:19.000000Z",{"id":39,"blog_author_id":6,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":40,"slug":41,"content":42,"content_overview":43,"published_at":44,"seo_title":45,"seo_description":11,"image":46,"created_at":26,"updated_at":37},"01j6cdm3k49sz37p1qsqmyrrbb","Freedom, Equality and Justice for All: Reflecting on 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence","freedom-equality-and-justice-for-all-reflecting-on-16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence","\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">International Human Rights Day coincides with the final day of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence. This year’s theme for Human Rights Day is “Freedom, Equality and Justice for All.” As we reflect on the 16 Days of Activism campaign, it’s clear how intertwined these issues are. Victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault deserve the right to freedom, equality, and safety in their communities. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">Throughout the 16 Days, our domestic abuse services in Falkirk and Glasgow gathered with survivors and community members to spread awareness. They participated in local marches for safer streets, held lunches educating staff on the realities of domestic abuse. The team in Falkirk hosted an open day where the public could learn how to recognise warning signs and support victims. We also shared survivor stories on social media.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">Why is this campaign so crucial? One of our support workers shares: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">“All the survivors we support are so strong, brave, and genuinely wonderful. How they manage keeping their children safe, themselves safe and continue to be willing to give so much to help keep others safe is just amazing to me.”  \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">However, she notes that until societal systems and norms that reinforce violence against women change, survivors cannot fully heal and recover. Bringing abuse out of the shadows is the only way forward.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">Another supporter on our team echoes, “Working in the Equally Safe Service brings to light the efforts still required to tackle Gender Based Violence. Women feel that they are not equal, treated differently and have less a superior place in society than men. They feel fear and dread when thinking of their daughters growing up in a society where there are not safe when out with their friends. Having to plan routes home, checking in with one another to make sure they get home ok. Making sure their drinks are not spiked, stalked, and sexually assaulted. Women and girls not only feel unsafe in the community, but they also feel unsafe within their own homes, social media plays a part in grooming, bullying and sexual cyber-harassment, no one should feel unsafe in their own homes.”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">Survivors would simply like basic freedom – “to think for themselves without fear of recrimination…to stop looking over their shoulder…[and] not need to keep ‘second guessing’ or ‘staying one step ahead’ just to survive.”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">As one brave survivor shares regarding her own experience: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">“Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, it’s not always a partner either, sometimes living with parents can be just as bad as watching a toxic relationship or living in the same house as one, often starts the footprint on what you find acceptable from a partner…Learn the signs. Speak up, fight for your life.”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">She goes on to offer many concrete tips – from using safety apps to documenting evidence of abuse to seeking out support groups and advocates. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">Her core advice: “You don’t deserve this, you don’t need it and the abuser doesn’t deserve to get away with it.” Women have worth that far outweighs their suffering. There is hope.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan data-contrast=\"auto\">The 16 Days Campaign plays a crucial role in driving public understanding and reform for gender-based violence. By shedding light on these truths we can aspire towards a society where all are safe, valued and free. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>International Human Rights Day coincides with the final day of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence. This year’s theme for Human Rights Day is “Freedom, Equality and Justice for All.” As we reflect on the 16 Days of Activism campaign, it’s clear how intertwined these issues are. Victims of domestic abuse and sexual … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Ffreedom-equality-and-justice-for-all-reflecting-on-16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2023-12-08T00:00:00.000000Z","Freedom, Equality and Justice for All: Reflecting on 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence - Aberlour - Web Backend","media\u002FUntitled-design.png"]