[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f314vvaemt7fvq":17},{"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":16},"01m5fanaffkxrzkrpj1x4keag4","9cdbdd6d-4900-4646-a012-d3e67a5ee788","01j303dmcc6n6900v73fs88bc7",false,"Right to Food Commission supports Aberlour's Call to End School Meal Debt","right-to-food-commission-supports-aberlours-call","\u003Cp>School meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three words that should never be uttered in the same sentence\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children bearing the burden and stigma of debt should shame any society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, here in Scotland that is what we saw happening for thousands of children and their families around the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For many high school children having a negative balance on their parent pay account would mean being unable to access a meal at school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>School meal debt and hidden school hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sides of the same coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what side that coin lands on it would still show how badly we have failed many of Scotland’s most disadvantaged children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is why at Aberlour we were compelled to do something about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make sure we stood beside those children and their families and to call for something to change – urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We wanted to make sure we saw an \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fabout-us\u002Fpolicy-and-influencing\u002Fpublic-debt\u002Fschool-meal-debt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">end to school meal debt and hidden school hunger for good\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2023 we urged the then First Minister, Humza Yusaf, to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To bring an end to the shameful practice of children and their families being chased by debt collectors for school meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>School meal debt is a symptom of families not having enough money to provide the very basics for their children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fundamentally, it is about a lack of income.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We welcomed the introduction of a one-off School Meal Debt Fund to write off outstanding debt for one year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we were clear that was not enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our evidence shows that the majority of children with school meal debt are from low-income working families who do not qualify for free school meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, along with writing off the debt for struggling families, we called for the expansion of Free School Meals to all low-income families across Scotland to help prevent school meal debt in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, we welcomed John Swinney’s subsequent commitment to continuing the School Meal Debt Fund for a further year to write off nearly £3 million of school meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Figures show that this benefitted 70,000 children and their families across Scotland over the last two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A welcome relief for many, but still a limited intervention without a long-term solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our campaign to end school meal debt has continued up to and during the recent Scottish Parliament elections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year we also published evidence that pointed to the extent of school meal debt for children and their families in England.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What our research suggested was that around 1 in 4 children not eligible for free school meals in England had regular or persistent school meal debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so we called on the UK Government to act and follow Scotland’s lead by taking action to end school meal debt for children across the rest of the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This week saw the launch of the independent UK Right to Food Commission report and findings following their work to evidence the scale of food insecurity across the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commission’s report provides a roadmap and clear actions all governments across the UK must take to end food insecurity for all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This includes ending school meal debt for good for all children the length of the country, from Aberdeen to Aberystwyth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Scotland, the SNP made a commitment during the Scottish Parliamentary election campaign to end school meal debt once and for all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That manifesto pledge was then followed by the First Minister announcing that families struggling with school meal debt would continue to be helped by committing the same level of investment again this year to write that debt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time this will happen alongside the further expansion of Free School Meals in primary schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The urgent measure and a preventative solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is much more the First Minister must do to make real progress on his ambition to “eradicate child poverty”.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this is one example that the rest of the UK can follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making sure no child ever again is burdened with debt or goes hungry at school would be a quick win for Andy Burnham, to show his commitment to tackling food insecurity by ending school meal debt in every postcode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Martin Canavan\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Head of Policy & Influencing \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>",null,"2026-10-21T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity's Head of Policy & Influencing, Martin Canavan, shares what must be done to end school meal debt and hidden hunger in schools for good. He shares what has been done in Scotland and what must be done in England.","media\u002Fshared image.jpg","2026-10-21T13:33:25.000000Z","2026-10-22T08:11:54.000000Z",{"id":18,"blog_author_id":19,"blog_category_id":20,"is_featured":21,"title":22,"slug":23,"content":24,"content_overview":11,"published_at":25,"seo_title":26,"seo_description":27,"image":28,"created_at":29,"updated_at":30,"next":31,"prev":41},"01j997ghbnrsapd1ep7jd28yvb","9c8b0191-fcca-48df-af06-d7308bbd8d7b","2",true,"Blog: Challenge Poverty Week 2024","blog-challenge-poverty-week-2024","\u003Cp>This week is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.povertyalliance.org\u002Fcpw\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Challenge Poverty Week\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every year at this time we shine a light on the incredible efforts of all those organisations and individuals doing all they can to challenge poverty across Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite these efforts we’ve witnessed another year where child poverty has failed to reduce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, by some measures child poverty in Scotland is rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Aberlour, we stand at the forefront of supporting Scotland's most disadvantaged children and families, and we do all we can do to tackle child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too often it feels like we are applying a sticking plaster to a gaping wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s because ending child poverty is a political choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children do not choose to grow up in poverty, but governments make choices that either improve people’s lives or don’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, neither the Scottish Government nor UK Government have chosen to end child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’ve now had three first ministers pledging to make child poverty their absolute priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time is long overdue for us to move beyond incremental shifts at best, and sound bites at worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resources haven’t followed key promises, and to our eternal shame, promises have been made and broken to some children who have only known uncertainty and broken promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lifting our people out of poverty and destitution benefits us all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evidence could not be clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Aberlour, what we see every day are parents absolutely trying to do the best they possibly can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they find themselves in intolerable situations – situations which anyone would find equally intolerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you cannot feed your children or have to choose between them eating or you, or sending them to school in uniforms that are too small, or ill-fitting shoes, the level of stress that creates in families is really significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The richness of childhood is under threat because of the way society is being fractured and changed by the relentless devastation of poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most recent child poverty figures tell us that despite Scottish Government’s efforts to reduce child poverty, including through delivering the Scottish Child Payment, progress has stalled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But ending child poverty does not start and end in with decisions made in Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We have two governments now – one in Holyrood and one in Westminster – who claim to be committed to ending child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Minister has been clear that his number one priority is to end child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prime Minister has commissioned a Child Poverty Taskforce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both are welcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those commitments must be matched by clear actions and investment – such as ending the heinous, poverty creating two child limit policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, they are simply warm words and good intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We need a different politics now across the UK, one of collaboration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each government must commit to working together to achieve the shared ambition to end child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then we would begin to see some progress that would make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of our poorest children and families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One area where I believe both governments must take action to help and support struggling families is by tackling public debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low-income families across the UK are in the midst of a debt crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overwhelmingly our evidence shows that public debt, such as council tax arrears, rent, and even school meal debt, is trapping families in an unbreakable cycle of poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our research has made clear that public debt is a key contributor to levels of child poverty, with one study showing that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fnews-item\u002Fnew-report-debt-to-public-bodies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">75% of debt owed by low-income families is public debt.\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Families already disadvantaged because they’re on the breadline are doubly disadvantaged because they’re getting automatic removals from their income before it hits the bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Families whose income already fails to meet their needs or allows them to provide the essentials for their children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These debts then trap families in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we’re serious about tackling child poverty, then we must be equally committed to tackling public debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We need a plan to tackle the debt crisis that means not reducing household budgets, but instead keeps money in families’ pockets for the things that they need for their children to thrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Challenge Poverty Week that is what I urge John Swinney and Keir Starmer to do.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>SallyAnn Kelly OBE, \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour Chief Executive\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Scottish Sun and published on Tuesday 8th October 2024.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2024-10-07T00:00:00.000000Z","Latest blog from Aberlour CEO SallyAnn Kelly, Challenge Poverty Week 2024","Read the latest blog from Aberlour CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE. Monday 7th October 2024 is the start of Challenge Poverty Week. SallyAnn explains what families living in poverty need now from the Scottish and UK Governments.","media\u002F01J997GHBJ5Z1VF9D0S25TJJSJ.jpg","2024-10-03T13:01:06.000000Z","2024-10-08T10:46:10.000000Z",{"id":32,"blog_author_id":19,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":33,"slug":34,"content":35,"content_overview":11,"published_at":36,"seo_title":33,"seo_description":37,"image":38,"created_at":39,"updated_at":40},"01j9txmwvysw3g2tm4pe9gwz58","Public sector debt collectors urged to ease child poverty","public-sector-debt-collectors-urged-to-ease-child-poverty","\u003Cp>Scotland’s public authorities are helping trap families in poverty by collecting debt without compassion, experts warn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour, the country’s biggest children’s charity, fears the way organisations, including local authorities and benefit agencies, claw back arrears is making it harder for families to escape poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charity, speaking during Challenge Poverty Week, hailed a landmark debt support service for showing how money owed for rent, council tax and school meals can be collected without inflicting more hardship on families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first three years, the pilot programme has eased the pressure of public debt on families across Tayside, Angus and Perth & Kinross while councils reviewed and adapted collection systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heather Kelly, Aberlour assistant director, said the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fnews-item\u002Fgroundbreaking-anti-poverty-approach-sees-debts-reduced-for-disadvantaged-families\">Family Financial Wellbeing service\u003C\u002Fa> has been built on partnership with public sector organisations; a better understanding of how families are trapped by debt; and changing how arrears are collected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The service offers expert advice and direct financial assistance through a hardship fund where the average award was £2700 for each family struggling to clear public debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Kelly said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>“Almost nine out of ten of the families referred to the service are vulnerable and already trapped in debt. They need support and £2700 is not a lot of money to help them escape poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It makes a huge difference and the improvement to mental and physical health and family life is immeasurable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Poverty is gruelling and can strip the hope from families. They can’t get on top of it and can’t see a way out. They feel like bad parents, that their children are missing out. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This service shows that can change, that direct assistance, financial help and family support can turn things around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People began to see the possibility of a different future for themselves and their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>All three councils supporting the service, backed by The Robertson Trust, have looked at how debt recovery can be adapted to help keep families afloat while repaying their debts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dundee City Council, for example, has introduced a debt collection charter ensuring debtors, possibly owing money to several different departments, now have one point of contact and a single priority payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new approach is built on early intervention to help stop struggling debtors becoming homeless, postpone legal action, and allow Aberlour to help them stabilise finances and build repayment plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Kelly said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “We’d like to see that charter adopted by other local authorities along with mandatory training for frontline staff. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’d like to see a family’s financial wellbeing become everyone’s concern in the same way that child welfare has become everyone’s concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How we collect public debt can reduce the impact of poverty on children and their families. The two go hand in hand. It is public debt but it has personal impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The ground-breaking work of the pilot poverty project will be highlighted at an event in Perth today (Wednesday 9th October), attended by Shona Robison, finance secretary and Dundee MSP, and officers from Scotland’s local authorities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martin Canavan, head of policy and participation at Aberlour, said the work of the service to help families find financial stability and escape poverty should be a template for public debt relief across Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said the pilot scheme has confirmed how helping change the pursuit and collection of public debt can ease child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Canavan said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “In Tayside, we have shown how councils can change and improve how debt can be recovered without the immediate need for national legislation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The public sector can recover debt differently, in a more compassionate way that will help them escape poverty and not risk making their financial situation even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means families prevented from becoming homeless, children prevented from being taken into care, and families being supported back into work. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These are tangible, practical outcomes that benefit families and their communities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>","2024-10-09T00:00:00.000000Z","To mark Challenge Poverty Week 2024 Aberlour Children's Charity and partners held an event in Perth to raise awareness that public debt is trapping families in poverty and what must be done to help.","media\u002F01J9TXMWVVZ3FKQJ12DZEYPCXF.jfif","2024-10-10T09:55:03.000000Z","2024-10-10T09:56:10.000000Z",{"id":42,"blog_author_id":19,"blog_category_id":43,"is_featured":7,"title":44,"slug":45,"content":46,"content_overview":11,"published_at":47,"seo_title":44,"seo_description":48,"image":49,"created_at":50,"updated_at":51},"01j96x6fsm0mfrb56554zznjgq","1","Memorial golf day raises staggering amount for children’s disability service","memorial-golf-day-raises-staggering-amount-for-childrens-disability-service","\u003Cp>A golf day held in memory of Prestonpans local man, James Murphy, has raised a staggering £3150 for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Foptions-lothian\">Aberlour Children’s Charity Options Lothian disability service\u003C\u002Fa> at Bankfoot in Prestonpans.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Held at Royal Musselburgh Golf Course, this was the fourth year The James Murphy memorial golf day has been run by James’s daughter Danielle Taylor and her brother Connor Murphy. Each year the fundraising golf day raises money for local charities and this year they chose Aberlour Options Lothian as the sole beneficiary.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Aberlour Options Lothian provides short breaks respite care for children and young people up to the age of 23 years with complex needs and disabilities. The residential house offers a safe homely environment where children and young people can stay giving their families and carers a break from their caring responsibilities.  \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Danielle said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote>“As a family it means the world to us that Dad is remembered. Born and bred in Prestonpans, he was funny, caring, larger than life and of course a keen golfer. This year’s golf day was a great success with over 50 players competing for the James Murphy trophy. We were thrilled that the event raised such an incredible amount. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“We decided that we would donate this year’s funds raised to Aberlour Options Lothian after we were made aware of the service by our friend who volunteers there. Not everyone is aware of the amazing things they do, which became very apparent when Lorna, the service manager, showed us around.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Children’s charities meant so much to Dad. By donating to Aberlour Options Lothian it’s great to know that Dad is still making an impact in his local community and through this his spirit lives on.”\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour Assistant Director, Cheryl Douglas said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote>“We are so grateful to Danielle, the Murphy family and all the participants from the golf day for the fabulous amount they raised for Aberlour Options Lothian. This will make a huge difference to the lives of children, young people and families in Prestonpans. Thank you so very much.”\u003C\u002Fblockquote>","2024-10-02T00:00:00.000000Z","Local family from Prestonpans raises over £3000 for the Aberlour Children's Charity's disability service in their area through an annual memorial golf day.","media\u002F01J96XCAP3Y5H3X8WKMJTC1HQW.jpg","2024-10-02T15:22:22.000000Z","2024-10-02T15:25:34.000000Z"]