[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f2tjkhdo18y07s":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":19,"is_featured":7,"title":20,"slug":21,"content":22,"content_overview":23,"published_at":24,"seo_title":25,"seo_description":26,"image":27,"created_at":28,"updated_at":29,"next":30,"prev":31},"01j6cdm1tz2z83w38a9st3e9cd","1","Children in Care Day sees launch of “My Journey” journal to empower care-experienced young people in Scotland","children-in-care-day-sees-launch-of-my-journey-journal-to-empower-care-experienced-young-people-in-scotland","\u003Cp>A new book aimed at helping care leavers in Scotland reclaim their stories launched today in celebration of Children in Care Day. The book titled “My Journey” was created by care experienced young people in The Highlands, in collaboration with Aberlour Children’s Charity, Barnardos, Highland Council and The Promise Scotland. The journal allows young people aged 12 and up with care experience to record important information about themselves. The Corra Foundation provided funding for the journal, and the young people behind it hope that every care-experienced young person in Scotland will receive a copy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journal was created in consultation with young people in the Highlands who expressed a desire to have more control over their lives. Growing up in care, the young people sometimes felt lost in what was going on around them, and it was difficult for them to hold onto information about themselves, such as where they lived, the names of adults they trusted, and important details about their life. That’s why they created “My Journey,” a secure space where they can record their stories, accomplishments, rights, and plan for the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young people who created the book shared how it would help them to feel more confident in their care journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lyndon said, “It’s going to help me keep record of important things that I might forget – like things I’ve achieved!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biz another young person, said, “I can use it as and when I want and at my own pace… This is my book, my journey and my goals are my own. It’s going to help me understand things – like what are my rights.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kelly Blackmore, Service Manager at Aberlour’s YouthPoint Moray service and head of the “My Journey” project said, “We couldn’t think of a better day to launch this empowering book. This journal will enable Scotland’s care leavers to document their histories, thoughts, and goals in their own words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The launch of “My Journey” aligns closely with the principles of The Promise, set out in Scotland’s Independent Care Review. Applying The Promise throughout this project has given young people with care experience more control over their lives, allowing them to have a voice and feel empowered once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Copies of the book will be distributed to care leavers across Scotland through local councils and social workers. The goal is for every young person with care experience in Scotland to receive a copy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To request free copies of the “My Journey” journal, please contact Liz Nolan at Aberlour via email \u003Ca href=\"mailto:liz.nolan@aberlour.org.uk\">liz.nolan@aberlour.org.uk\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>A new book aimed at helping care leavers in Scotland reclaim their stories launched today in celebration of Children in Care Day. The book titled “My Journey” was created by care experienced young people in The Highlands, in collaboration with Aberlour Children’s Charity, Barnardos, Highland Council and The Promise Scotland. The journal allows young people … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fchildren-in-care-day-sees-launch-of-my-journey-journal-to-empower-care-experienced-young-people-in-scotland\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-02-16T00:00:00.000000Z","Children in Care Day sees launch of “My Journey” journal to empower care-experienced young people in Scotland - Aberlour - Web Backend","A new book aimed at helping care leavers in Scotland reclaim their stories launched today in celebration of Children in Care Day.","media\u002F8I4A7762E-scaled.jpg","2024-08-28T11:58:31.000000Z","2024-11-25T07:22:18.000000Z",{"id":18,"blog_author_id":19,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":20,"slug":21,"content":22,"content_overview":23,"published_at":24,"seo_title":25,"seo_description":26,"image":27,"created_at":28,"updated_at":29},{"id":32,"blog_author_id":19,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":33,"slug":34,"content":35,"content_overview":36,"published_at":37,"seo_title":38,"seo_description":39,"image":40,"created_at":28,"updated_at":29},"01j6cdm1v5k9c29swdyx3fwzn2","Aberlour Foster Carer raises over £4,200 for families in desperate need","aberlour-foster-carer-raises-over-4200-for-families-in-desperate-need","\u003Cp>Aberlour foster carer Sarah Byrom launched her new book \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fnews-item\u002Flocal-foster-carer-launches-new-book-in-aid-of-aberlour-childrens-charity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">‘Marmalade Raspberries & Albrecht – a Poetry Prose Memoir,\u003C\u002Fa>’ in the summer of 2023. Sales of the book, which is a celebration of the importance families and the ‘often bonkerness of daily, family life,’ has raised over £4,200 for Scottish families trapped in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local author values family life and two years ago became a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fhelp-us\u002Ffostering\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">foster carer with Aberlour Children’s Charity\u003C\u002Fa>. Recognising the importance of Aberlour’s work to support struggling families through its Urgent Assistance Fund, Sarah has covered all costs of publishing her book herself and has donated every penny from the book and cards sale to the emergency relief fund.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Sarah Byrom, author and Aberlour foster carer said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “It has been a joy to finally release ‘Marmalade Raspberries & Albrecht – a Poetry Prose Memoir’ and see it in print after working on it for 14 years. But it has been even more fulfilling to know that the money raised through its sale is helping families struggling across the country to buy the basic essentials their children desperately need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour works across Scotland providing a range of services including family support and fostering. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Furgent-assistance-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance Fund\u003C\u002Fa> has been a lifeline for many desperate families during the pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis, giving emergency cash grants to pay for food, utilities, clothing, nappies and other basics. Since April 2021 thousands of families including over 12,000 children have benefited from grants from the Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund worth over £2 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Abby Parkhouse, Community Fundraiser at Aberlour said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “We are thrilled that Sarah has been able to raise over £4,200 through the sale of her book for the Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund. Right now, 1 in 4 children are living in poverty in Scotland. Across the country children are going without the basics – things most of us take granted – and the need has never been greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sarah has been able to help many local families buy food, clothe their children and keep the heating on this winter. We are so grateful to Sarah and without supporters like her we wouldn’t be there for the families who need us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Maggie*, a mum supported by the Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund said:\u003C\u002Fstrong> “Being awarded a grant from Aberlour got me back on track. I was able to buy food for me and my girls and pay my gas and electricity bill so I could keep my home warm for them. All it took was that little bit of help and it affected everything. It improved my mood; it helped me financially and it helped my relationships with my kids. It was more than just money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Marmalade Raspberries & Albrecht – a Poetry Prose Memoir’ was launched in Sarah’s childhood home’s garden, an important place in both her and her family’s life, and then at Carberry Tower in June 2023.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Name changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Aberlour foster carer Sarah Byrom launched her new book ‘Marmalade Raspberries & Albrecht – a Poetry Prose Memoir,’ in the summer of 2023. Sales of the book, which is a celebration of the importance families and the ‘often bonkerness of daily, family life,’ has raised over £4,200 for Scottish families trapped in poverty. The local … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Faberlour-foster-carer-raises-over-4200-for-families-in-desperate-need\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-01-16T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Foster Carer raises over £4,200 for families in desperate need - Aberlour - Web Backend","Aberlour Foster Carer raises over £4,200 for families in desperate need through the sale of their own book.","media\u002FAuthor-Sarah-Byrom-with-launch-book-table-min-e1708965350497.jpg"]