[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f7jc5yjbzkxdj":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":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":20,"slug":21,"content":22,"content_overview":11,"published_at":23,"seo_title":20,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27,"next":28,"prev":29},"01k4mnmv0m3fqffx2v13hvrf9r","1","Blog: Scotland must end child poverty not just manage it","blog-scotland-must-end-child-poverty-not-just-manage-it","\u003Cp>Far-reaching reform and “a new honesty” is needed to transform the lives and futures of Scotland’s poorest children, according to a charity leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SallyAnn Kelly OBE, chief executive of Aberlour Children’s Charity, called for a new culture of cooperation across public, private and third sectors in Scotland to improve the lives and life chances of one in four children growing up in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Kelly, who will stand down as chief executive later this year, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>We can take pride in the charity’s achievements since 1875 while having huge frustration that there is still so much to be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The poverty risking children and their futures 150 years ago is doing exactly the same damage today. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any improvements have been incremental and that has to pose serious questions for all of us working to support these children and their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We cannot keep doing the same things day after day, year after year, and expect different outcomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Kelly said too much of the resource and support being offered to families on the brink of financial crisis is only addressing the immediate emergency and not securing long-term stability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She called for far greater cooperation and communication between charities, councils and government to better understand priorities and build on best practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Of course, we must deal with the immediate crises today but it is tomorrow that matters most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To give families stability in the long-term, to make changes that stick, means helping families live on an adequate income, reduce the stress in their homes and remove the chaos that can follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is when the education and health outcomes start improving and real change becomes embedded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If what we are doing is not delivering that, we must do things differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is not just about money but is absolutely about ensuring every pound spent is spent with maximum effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are spending too much time, energy and resource on managing not ending poverty, on keeping crisis from the door of one family today and tomorrow but not preventing its return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We must be more flexible and less territorial. We need more collaboration and less competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We must break barriers between local and national government, charities and health boards and start exchanging our best ideas, best practice and best people back and forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Kelly speaking before Aberlour, one of Scotland’s most respected children’s charities, marks its 150th anniversary at an event in Edinburgh this week, called for a new urgency and focus how families can be lifted out of poverty and kept there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The immediate priority may be getting families through this week or the week after but the bigger ambition must be to see them thrive not just survive next year and the year after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The key to that will always rest with families not us, however, and they need to make the change with our support to minimise the stress factors that might derail them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meanwhile, we need to examine and evaluate all our services to ensure they are focused on those families most in need of additional support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We need an honest conversation about what we have been doing and why? We need the right people around the table including, most importantly, the families and assess what is being done with clear eyes and be led by the evidence wherever it goes. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is working? What are we doing that is achieving the best outcomes for children and families? And how can we do more of it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.heraldscotland.com\u002Fnews\u002F25450422.leading-charity-demands-new-honesty-child-poverty\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Herald \u003C\u002Fa>and published on 9th September 2025.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2025-09-09T00:00:00.000000Z","In Aberlour Children's Charity's CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE's latest blog she discusses ahead of Aberlour's 150th anniversary event in Edinburgh why Scotland must end child poverty and not just manage it.","media\u002FSallyAnn-Final-scaled-serious.jpg","2025-09-08T12:43:35.000000Z","2025-09-09T10:48:54.000000Z",{"id":18,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":20,"slug":21,"content":22,"content_overview":11,"published_at":23,"seo_title":20,"seo_description":24,"image":25,"created_at":26,"updated_at":27},{"id":30,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":31,"slug":32,"content":33,"content_overview":11,"published_at":34,"seo_title":31,"seo_description":35,"image":36,"created_at":37,"updated_at":37},"01k4n0wk3tc1a3zhkjjz9d7zzg","Lifeline support gives hope to Falkirk families on the brink","lifeline-support-gives-hope-to-falkirk-families-on-the-brink","\u003Cp>A lifeline support service in Falkirk has saved more than £4m by helping keep children with their families and out of care, according to research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The success of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fsustain-falkirk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sustain\u003C\u002Fa>, delivered by Aberlour Children’s Charity, in supporting families on the brink of crisis has been hailed by researchers assessing the impact of its first three years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The service offers intensive support to children and their families, who are referred by \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.falkirk.gov.uk\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Falkirk Council\u003C\u002Fa> and struggling with a range of issues from domestic abuse and offending behaviour to poor school attendance and mental health issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Independent researchers at the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsocialvaluelab.org.uk\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Social Value Lab\u003C\u002Fa> estimate the “highly effective” service has saved the council an estimated £4.3m by strengthening families and keeping youngsters out of care. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The report, based on data and interviews, suggests every £1 spent on the service, saves the council and other public authorities an estimated £19 in the long-term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The analysis concludes: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The service has played a significant role in preventing family breakdowns and reducing the number of young people requiring residential or secure accommodation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Families reported improved parenting confidence, better emotional wellbeing, increased engagement with school and reduced antisocial behaviour among young people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The in-person support is specifically tailored to each family and often delivered in some of the most disadvantaged postcodes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is designed to strengthen families and help children and young people, at risk of going into care, to continue living at home in safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Social Lab, respected experts in analysing Third Sector services in Scotland, were commissioned by Aberlour to scrutinise the record of the Sustain service since launching in 2021.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five-strong team works with around 20 families each year but the report’s authors reveal demand consistently outstrips capacity and recommends expanding the service and encouraging its rollout across other council areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>It said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The service is delivering significant social and economic benefits, supporting family stability and reducing financial pressure on public services. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Further investment would sustain and expand the service’s long-term impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>A number of families supported by Sustain told the researchers how the charity’s engagement helped pull them back from the edge of crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>One parent said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>They took the pressure off during the most stressful times, which helped me feel calmer and more in control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They did not just come in and take over. They asked us what we wanted and helped us get there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Another said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>They gave me ideas for how to handle things when I felt like I could not cope, and it has made such a difference. We were at breaking point before they came in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour, one of the biggest children’s charities in Scotland and celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, welcomed the report’s findings and said the outreach support delivered by Sustain had become a crucial support for families at risk. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Liz Nolan, director of children and families, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>This research is welcome but only confirms our own data showing the positive, life-changing impact of Sustain over the last three years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is a service that is offering support to families at an absolute critical moment, right at the very edge of crisis, and helps them endure and reach calmer waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is about building the confidence of young people and their families so they can not only cope but thrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is about being there, wherever and whenever we are needed, building personal relations and offering practical help and support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most importantly, it works. This research confirms how Sustain keeps children with their families in safety and out of care or secure accommodation. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our team is helping families to stay together and improving the lives and life chances of countless children and young people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The support and relationships changing the lives of children and their families in Falkirk could easily and successfully be replicated across Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>","2025-09-05T00:00:00.000000Z","Discover how Aberlour Children's Charity's Sustain service in Falkirk is keeping families together by strengthening relationships and keeping children out of care.","media\u002FLiz Nolan web.jpg","2025-09-08T16:00:04.000000Z"]