[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f29hvueihpwn2w":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":11,"image":24,"created_at":25,"updated_at":26,"next":27,"prev":28},"01j6cdm1pzdj812fbqkjrny3br","Calling all designers! Help co-design our 150th Anniversary Logo with young people!","calling-all-designers-help-co-design-our-150th-anniversary-logo-with-young-people","\u003Cp>Could you co-design our 150\u003Csup>th\u003C\u002Fsup> anniversary logo? Aberlour Children’s Charity is commissioning a logo for our 150th anniversary in 2025.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re looking for a designer to work in collaboration with children and young people in Aberlour’s care. The designer will create a logo that reflects them and Aberlour as a whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This logo is to be designed by and for young people. We would warmly welcome applications from young designers. Due to the participatory nature of the project, applicants must be based in the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>What we are looking for:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Aberlour is a children’s rights championing organisation, dedicated to person-centred, participatory and inclusive practices. This project is to be conducted in a way that aligns and reflects these values.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>You’ll be expected to attend meetings with Aberlour to discuss the brief and the approach, as well as facilitated discussion sessions with a group of young people (maximum of 3 sessions).\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>You’ll develop several branding options based on these discussions. The group of young people will then choose their preferred option, which you will refine based on input from the senior leadership team, marketing and the policy and participation team.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The logo:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re looking for a logo which celebrates the anniversary of Aberlour, and captures the essence of how children and young people see and experience the organisation and the work we do. We’ll be exploring what Aberlour means to them now, what it has meant to them in the past and what their ambitions are for Aberlour’s future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Call for proposals \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deliverables and time scales:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>The logo must work as a standalone logo although will also be used in conjunction with the Aberlour logo\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>The logo must include “150”\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>The logo will be used across all aspects of the organisation. For printed materials, the logo will be used on branded merchandise, apparel, documents and promotional materials for support services to run 150\u003Csup>th\u003C\u002Fsup> events in their own communities. Digitally, the logo will be used for video, online and social media.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>The logo must use Aberlour’s brand colours (which will be provided)\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Final design to be agreed by end of October\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>How to apply\u003C\u002Fstrong>:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please send the following to \u003Cstrong>Rachel Garden at rachel.garden@aberlour.org.uk\u003C\u002Fstrong> by midnight on Sunday 11th August 2024:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>A portfolio or website showcasing your work\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>A short cover letter explaining why you would like to take on this work, and outlining your relevant previous experience (be that through personal, professional or voluntary work)\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>An estimated quote for your fees (max budget for design of logo and assets £2K inc. VAT)\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n","\u003Cp>Could you co-design our 150th anniversary logo? Aberlour Children’s Charity is commissioning a logo for our 150th anniversary in 2025. We’re looking for a designer to work in collaboration with children and young people in Aberlour’s care. The designer will create a logo that reflects them and Aberlour as a whole. This logo is to … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fcalling-all-designers-help-co-design-our-150th-anniversary-logo-with-young-people\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-07-18T00:00:00.000000Z","Calling all designers! Help co-design our 150th Anniversary Logo with young people! - Aberlour - Web Backend","media\u002F150th-web-cover-scaled.jpg","2024-08-28T11:58:31.000000Z","2024-11-25T07:22:17.000000Z",{"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":11,"image":24,"created_at":25,"updated_at":26},{"id":29,"blog_author_id":6,"blog_category_id":6,"is_featured":7,"title":30,"slug":31,"content":32,"content_overview":33,"published_at":34,"seo_title":35,"seo_description":36,"image":37,"created_at":25,"updated_at":26},"01j6cdm1q7e1fkym00tmfs3n07","Letter to PM urging an end to the two-child limit","letter-to-pm-urging-an-end-to-the-two-child-limit","\u003Cp>Aberlour has sent the following letter to the Prime Minister, the Right Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP,  urging him to commit to ending the cruel and unnecessary two child limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Dear Prime Minister\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am writing to you to offer warmest congratulations from everyone at Aberlour on becoming Prime Minister. 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 across the UK.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To that end I urge that you commit to end the cruel and unnecessary two-child limit. Our children and young people at Aberlour made it clear ahead of the election that their priority is ending child poverty. The fact is they have waited long enough for governments at Westminster and Holyrood to prioritise tackling child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An entire generation of children has been affected by the damage done by austerity. This has had a profound impact on the levels of disadvantage we see at Aberlour every day within the families we work with and the communities we serve. Children cannot wait any longer for real and meaningful action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day we work with families impacted by the two-child limit. This results in families making 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 contributes to negative impacts on educational attainment and on children’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tackling 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. But it cannot be done without investment. I appreciate there are constraints on public finances, and I know you have difficult decisions to make about how you prioritise limited resources amid a challenging financial landscape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nonetheless, I urge you to accept that the financial saving of maintaining the two-child limit will only result in a longer term cost to society due to poorer outcomes for children as a result of the poverty and wider experiences of adversity it perpetuates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ending child poverty will not be achieved overnight. But abolishing the two-child limit would immediately lift three hundred thousand children across the UK out of poverty. This would be a good start. This would also clearly signal your intention to do the best for our poorest children and families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We know that more money in people’s pockets means more money in local economies. It is not a binary choice between ending poverty or driving growth. I believe we can do both at the same time. Ultimately, investment in social security and tackling child poverty is an investment in our communities, in our citizens, in our children and in our shared future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a decade and a half of austerity, now is the time to make the bold and necessary political choices that will improve the lives of struggling families and help the 4.3 million children across the UK who are currently living in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I believe this must begin by bringing an end to the cruel two-child limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I look forward to working with you and your government to make sure we end child poverty for good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With best wishes,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>SallyAnn Kelly OBE\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Chief Executive\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CC: Rachel Reeves\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Aberlour has sent the following letter to the Prime Minister, the Right Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP,  urging him to commit to ending the cruel and unnecessary two child limit. Dear Prime Minister I am writing to you to offer warmest congratulations from everyone at Aberlour on becoming Prime Minister. I believe we share the … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fletter-to-pm-urging-an-end-to-the-two-child-limit\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-07-17T00:00:00.000000Z","Letter to PM urging an end to the two-child limit - Aberlour - Web Backend","Aberlour has sent a letter to the Prime Minister, the Right Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP,  urging him to commit to ending the cruel and unnecessary two child limit.","media\u002FSallyAnn-Final-scaled.jpg"]