[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f1nhqf56d31n1s":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":5,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":18,"slug":19,"content":20,"content_overview":11,"published_at":21,"seo_title":18,"seo_description":22,"image":23,"created_at":24,"updated_at":25,"next":26,"prev":35},"01kyj22d6hbfxjaexk6d4nxm5a","An open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham","an-open-letter-to-prime-minister-andy-burnham","\u003Cp>Dear Prime Minister,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would like to offer you our warmest congratulations from everyone at Aberlour Children’s Charity on becoming Prime Minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I believe we share the same values of equality and social justice and the ambition to see an end to child poverty. I am sure you and your government will work hard to realise and embed these values for the benefit of children, young people and families in Scotland and across the UK. Ending child poverty is the first and most important thing any government must do to if it wants to create a fairer and more equal society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the largest solely Scottish children's charity, our driving mission is to end child poverty and make sure that all families who need extra help get the support they need. An entire generation of children has been affected by the damage done by nearly two decades of austerity. This has had a profound impact on the levels of poverty and disadvantage we see at Aberlour every day, within the families we work with and the communities we serve. It is shocking and unacceptable that four million children across the UK are currently growing up in poverty. Children cannot wait any longer for real and sustained action to turn the tide on child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As part of our mission, we aim to work with government at all levels, and with all political parties, to influence and shape legislation, policy and practice to improve the lives of Scotland’s most disadvantaged and marginalised children, young people and families. I am pleased to say that Aberlour has worked closely with the UK Government in recent years, for example contributing to the work of the Child Poverty Taskforce and the development of the Child Poverty Strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We long campaigned to see an end to the cruel two-child limit and enthusiastically welcomed the action taken by your predecessor to finally end such a harmful and discriminatory policy. However, that one, albeit important, action does not mean that child poverty has now been fixed. Your government must now go much further and faster, with clear and targeted actions that respond to the entrenched and often intersecting challenges in families’ lives, in order to lift children out of poverty for good. We are keen to work with you and your government to help achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to you speak in recent weeks, I have been particularly encouraged by your message of hope. We often hear from children and families at Aberlour of the hope they feel as a result of the help and support we are able to provide. It is a privilege to be part of the lives of our children and families, and to know that we can help to create hope, where too often there is hopelessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nonetheless, every day we work with families who have to make impossible choices of whether to put food on the table, pay their energy bills or provide adequate clothing for their children. This puts a massive stress on families and creates adversity that impacts on children’s education and learning, their social development and their mental and physical health and wellbeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A significant consequence of the overwhelming financial strain that too many struggling families face is debt, and in particular public sector debt in the form of council tax debt, rent arrears and even school meal debt. Aberlour’s research and evidence over many years shows that public sector debt is a fundamental feature of child poverty, too often trapping children and families in poverty. We have described this as a public debt crisis. The State is the single biggest debt collector in the country frequently reducing, rather than increasing, the incomes of our poorest families through deductions from Universal Credit and other benefits or via other punitive debt recovery processes. This has to change if your government is truly committed to ending child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since becoming Prime Minister, you have talked about giving families and households ‘breathing space’ by alleviating the financial pressures they are feeling. Aberlour has called on government at UK, Scottish and local levels to tackle the public debt crisis to help end child poverty, and we have illustrated a range of policy solutions to help ease the pressure of that public debt burden and help provide breathing space for so many families across the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect of taking action to tackle public debt would not be to put more money in families’ pockets, but to keep money in families’ pockets for the things they need for their children to thrive. This means more money in local economies. It is not a binary choice between ending poverty or driving growth, we can do both at the same time. Ultimately, investment in social security and tackling child poverty is an investment in our communities, our citizens, our children and our shared future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Aberlour we will continue to use our voice and influence to help secure the changes that our children, young people and families demand and deserve. To that end, I would be delighted to meet with you and relevant Cabinet colleagues and officials at the earliest opportunity to discuss our priorities further. We are also happy to organise visits and conversations with children, young people and families themselves whenever you visit Scotland. In doing so I hope we can work together to help achieve our shared ambitions to improve the lives of children, young people and families and to end child poverty for good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yours,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Justina Murray\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cbr>Aberlour Chief Executive\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-07-27T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour CEO, Justina Murray, writes to the new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking him to go further and faster to end child poverty for good across the UK.","media\u002FJustina_Murray_Happy_beside window.jpg","2026-07-27T15:11:07.000000Z","2026-07-27T15:17:17.000000Z",{"id":27,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":28,"slug":29,"content":30,"content_overview":11,"published_at":31,"seo_title":28,"seo_description":32,"image":33,"created_at":34,"updated_at":34},"01kzrc8c0sdxdchtebdgx0g4hj","Hundreds enjoy outdoor fun at Playday in Aberdeen ","hundreds-enjoy-outdoor-fun-at-playday-in-aberdeen","\u003Cp>Hundreds of children and families came together at Hazlehead Park this month to celebrate the joy of outdoor play as Aberdeen Playday returned for another successful year. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Organised by Aberlour Children's Charity alongside community partners for the third year, the free event transformed the park into a giant playground, giving children the chance to explore, play, make friends and enjoy a break from screens as part of the UK's annual Playday celebrations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Families from across the city took part in a wide range of activities designed to encourage active, imaginative outdoor play and strengthen community connections during the summer holidays. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Sarah Calder, Manager of Aberlour's Options Aberdeen service, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>It was a terrific day, bringing children, families and communities together in a really simple and fun way. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're delighted so many groups and organisations have helped us return this year and couldn't be happier to see so many children having fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The event highlights the importance of play in supporting children's confidence, wellbeing and sense of belonging, while providing families with opportunities to connect with local services and support organisations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.playscotland.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Play Scotland\u003C\u002Fa>, the national charity for children's play, partnered with Aberlour for the event and encouraged families to share their views on outdoor play provision through its Play Park Survey, helping shape future improvements to play spaces. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Mary Ramsay, Chief Executive of Play Scotland, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Playday is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the power of play and create lasting memories and connection. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are excited to speak directly with children and families in Aberdeen about their spaces for play as part of our Play Park Survey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>With hundreds of children enjoying a day of outdoor adventures, creativity and friendship, this year's Playday once again demonstrated the value of accessible, community-based activities that bring families together and celebrate the simple power of play. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour would like to thank all the organisations, volunteers and community partners who helped make the event such a success and ensured children across Aberdeen could enjoy a fun-filled day outdoors.\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-08-05T00:00:00.000000Z","Hundreds of children and families came together at Hazlehead Park this month to celebrate the joy of outdoor play as Aberdeen Playday returned for another successful year, organised by Aberlour Children's Charity.","media\u002FPlayDay 2026_2.jpg","2026-08-11T12:20:17.000000Z",{"id":36,"blog_author_id":37,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":38,"slug":39,"content":40,"content_overview":11,"published_at":41,"seo_title":11,"seo_description":11,"image":42,"created_at":43,"updated_at":44},"01kvg9g9re3699age7njzbmy5d","9cdbddb3-27e4-445e-ba80-d11bf304127a","Aberlour CEO Justina Murray Reflects on Refugee Week and Being Brave","some-reflections-on-refugee-week-and-being-brave","\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">Today (Saturday 20 June) marks World Refugee Day and the penultimate day of Scotland’s own \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">Refugee Festival\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">, celebrating our solidarity through art, culture and community. This weekend I’m looking forward to diving into the Festival, and its lively programme of activities and events. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">The theme for this year’s Refugee Week is courage - a value and a behaviour which sits very comfortably with us at Aberlour. Those who know us will also know that ‘Being Brave’ is absolutely in our comfort zone. The fact this is the name of our strategy says it all, we’re not ones to wheesht when something needs to be said. We are not afraid to Be Brave, and this includes being brave for those children and young people who have arrived in Scotland from elsewhere, having had no choice but to make new lives for themselves far from home. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">Our \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Fguardianship-scotland\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">Guardianship Scotland\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\"> service, a partnership with our wonderful colleagues at the Scottish Refugee Council, provides specialist support to all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, victims of trafficking and children vulnerable to trafficking who arrive in Scotland alone. Our Guardianship young people have shown an incredible amount of courage and overcome huge challenges just to be in Scotland. They have life experiences that no childhood should include, such as violence, persecution, trafficking and exploitation, and they have had to make incredibly hard choices whilst being completely alone. By the time they reach us, they are exhausted, scared, traumatised, and carrying memories and experiences which would defeat most adults. And far from their trauma being over when they arrive here, they must then navigate the UK’s asylum, refugee and trafficking systems and processes which can only be described as overwhelming, bewildering and frightening.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">Despite their journeys to Scotland being so difficult, the enthusiasm and commitment our young people show as New Scots making their life here fills me with hope about the kind of country we are building, and the kind of country we want to be. During the recent Scottish Parliament election campaign, I co-chaired our ‘Speak Up!’ political hustings with Ahmad, one of our Guardianship young people (who kept cool as a cucumber while I fluffed my lines and accidentally talked over one of the candidates on the panel). It was heartening to hear all those politicians present voice their commitment to champion and protect the rights of unaccompanied children, and to make sure that Scotland remains a country that welcomes those seeking refuge and protection. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">We feel such pride in this version of Scotland as a welcoming place for many generations of New Scots to call home. But the recent violence and intimidation on our streets, amidst an increasingly hostile political climate, has left our young people feeling anxious and frightened. One of the young people at the hustings asked, “How will you advocate for and ensure protection of the rights of unaccompanied children in Scotland?” This should be the challenge to all of us, not just our politicians.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;\">Now more than ever we must continue to show courage, to Be Brave, standing alongside and speaking up for those who find themselves the focus of hatred and abuse; calling out and challenging discrimination and prejudice\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif;\">. Let’s be that version of Scotland where all unaccompanied children and young people feel safe and welcome, so they can live, learn and thrive.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-06-19T00:00:00.000000Z","media\u002FiStock-2148694425.jpg","2026-06-19T15:55:28.000000Z","2026-06-19T16:01:04.000000Z"]