[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f38tjn5pz0nnsv":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":39},"01kj7zrec5cqtr2s5sv46hy00h","1","Children must be heard in election campaign","children-must-be-heard-in-election-campaign","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour Children's Charity urges election candidates to support families on the brink\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice of Scotland’s children must be heard in the looming Holyrood elections, according to a leading charity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour Children’s Charity is urging party leaders and candidates to ensure young people and their families are not drowned out as Scotland goes to the polls in May.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief executive Justina Murray called on the next Scottish Parliament to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Fsupporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">show greater commitment to ending child poverty and supporting families on the brink\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Many voices will be raised during the election, but we would urge candidates to make a particular effort to hear the concerns of children, young people and their families.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Child poverty does not have to be something that our country simply has to tolerate. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our politicians can go further and faster but that will require greater commitment, more financial support for families, and the ambition to ensure they are not only lifted out of poverty but lifted out for good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Murray said every policy intended to support young people and safeguard their futures must be driven by the ambition of \u003Cstrong>“ending child poverty, not merely managing it.” \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>That demands practical, effective policies to encourage fair work, good housing, educational attainment, and better health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is much be done, but if politics is about priorities, there can be no greater priority for the next Scottish Parliament than supporting families and ending child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour, delivering frontline support for families across Scotland, is calling on the Scottish Government to prioritise ending child poverty, through policies including the strengthening of Scotland’s social security systems and an immediate increase to the Scottish Child Payment to at least £40 per week and rising to £55 by 2031.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charity, which will invite candidates to a hustings for young people during the campaign, is also urging newly-elected MSPs to overhaul the collection of public debt, such as council tax and rent arrears, which, it warns, is far too harsh on Scotland’s most disadvantaged families, with some debt recovery systems helping keep children in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murray highlighted additional risks faced by particularly vulnerable families, including those affected by disability, and called for greater financial help, stable support services and an ongoing commitment to on teenagers living with disability when they turn 18.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The transition to adulthood can be a fraught time for families affected by disability, when support for young people can fall between the cracks of different agencies and service providers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our politicians must ensure the rights of all our children and young people are better protected, but some families face particular challenges, demanding special attention and specific support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Herald and published on Saturday 21st February 2026.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-02-23T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity is calling for the voice of Scotland’s children must be heard in the looming Holyrood elections","media\u002FJustina - serious.jpg","2026-02-24T14:09:57.000000Z","2026-02-25T14:09:10.000000Z",{"id":29,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":30,"slug":31,"content":32,"content_overview":11,"published_at":33,"seo_title":34,"seo_description":35,"image":36,"created_at":37,"updated_at":38},"01kjajvqb2j0d8gde5kdk0fdm1","Aberlour rushes £500,000 of lifeline payments to families","aberlour-rushes-ps500000-of-lifeline-payments-to-families","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour promises emergency support is only the start\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lifeline payments delivered by a leading charity have helped pull more than 1000 families from the brink of financial crisis in just four weeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour Children’s Charity said £500,000 of crisis cash has eased immediate financial pressure on 1072 families, supporting almost 2000 children, since January while helping build foundations for a more secure future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The money was part of a £10million package announced by the Scottish Government to be shared between charities and government agencies providing emergency financial support to ease child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justina Murray, chief executive of Aberlour, said the extra funding for the charity’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Furgent-assistance-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urgent Assistance Fund\u003C\u002Fa> (UAF) has provided short-term help but has been an opportunity to underpin the stability and security of families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Our immediate priority was to ensure every pound of this funding was used most effectively to help families facing financial catastrophe right now. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These payments must avert financial crisis in the very short-term but can also, importantly, help families stabilise and find their feet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This money is a lifeline but remains only short-term relief and, when today’s emergency is averted, we must offer practical, life-changing support for families tomorrow and the days after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our frontline teams and partners have made an extraordinary effort to ensure the extra money awarded by the Scottish Government has had maximum impact but crisis care is not enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As a country, we must do more to raise our families out of poverty for good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour, delivering frontline support for families across Scotland, is calling on party leaders and candidates in the looming Scottish Parliament elections to prioritise ending child poverty by backing policies including the strengthening of Scotland’s social security system and an immediate increase to the Scottish Child Payment to at least £40 per week and rising to £55 by 2031.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charity, which will invite candidates to a hustings for young people during the campaign, is also urging newly-elected MSPs to overhaul the collection of public debt, such as council tax and rent arrears, which, it warns, is far too harsh on Scotland’s most disadvantaged families, with some debt recovery systems helping trap children in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost £164,000 of the extra funding for Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance Fund, announced by ministers in January, has helped relieve debt with the rest being awarded in crisis payments and top-up grants. The money, delivered within days of applications being approved, has eased financial pressure on 1072 families, supporting 3299 individuals, including 1958 children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emergency grants have helped ease household financial crises across Scotland last year but, most, almost £220,000 (42 per cent), has been delivered in Glasgow.  Research last year revealed child poverty is still rising in Scotland’s biggest city where one in four young people - 25,690 young Glaswegians, 26 per cent of the city’s children - are living in families where income is below 40 per cent of the national median.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since 2021, the charity, delivering frontline care and support for families and children, has distributed more than £3million from the fund with the majority of applicants seeking help to buy food, clothing and heating. The average payment was £236 last year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Justina Murray, who joined Aberlour, one of Scotland’s most influential charities, last year, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>These payments are relatively small, a few hundred pounds, but can mean children will not go to bed cold or to school hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many families are living from pound to pound and a single unexpected bill, for a broken washing machine or bedding damaged by damp, can topple them into crisis.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our teams offer a whole range of practical assistance and emotional support but, at times of absolute need, families require money most urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These crisis payments can literally keep the lights on for families and give them a chance, with our support, to find a more solid footing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The emergency funding became available after First Minister John Swinney confirmed £10 million originally earmarked to support the two-child limit mitigation payment in Scotland would be reallocated to tackling child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-02-26T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity rushes £500,000 of lifeline payments to families","Lifeline payments delivered by Aberlour Children's Charity have helped pull more than 1000 families from the brink of financial crisis in just four weeks through the Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund.","media\u002FiStock-1011762782.jpg","2026-02-25T14:22:16.000000Z","2026-02-26T09:30:32.000000Z",{"id":40,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":41,"slug":42,"content":43,"content_overview":11,"published_at":44,"seo_title":45,"seo_description":46,"image":47,"created_at":48,"updated_at":49},"01kfawqn3y8t4gc3v1gk8780qq","Aberlour rushes crisis payments to families on the brink","aberlour-rushes-crisis-payments-to-families-on-the-brink","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour Children’s Charity promises emergency support is only the start\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lifeline payments being delivered within days will pull some of Scotland's most vulnerable families from the brink of financial crisis, according to a leading charity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour Children’s Charity said frontline teams are already working with families in the city to ensure an extra £550,000 of emergency grants will deliver immediate help and build a foundation for a more secure future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The money is part of a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gov.scot\u002Fnews\u002F10m-emergency-support-for-families\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">£10million package announced by the Scottish Government  \u003C\u002Fa>to be shared between charities and government agencies providing emergency financial support to ease child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justina Murray, Chief Executive of Aberlour, said the extra funding for the charity’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Furgent-assistance-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urgent Assistance Fund\u003C\u002Fa> (UAF) is welcome with the emergency support providing both short-term help and an opportunity to build more stability and security for families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Our immediate priority is to ensure this money is used most effectively to help families facing financial calamity right now. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These emergency grants will help families unable to pay for absolute essentials, from food and heating to clothes and bedding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This money is a lifeline but remains only short-term relief and, when today’s emergency is averted, our responsibility is to offer practical, life-changing support for those families tomorrow and all the days after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This extra money awarded by the Scottish Government is welcome, and will undoubtedly protect hundreds of children and their families in the short term, but crisis care is not enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As a country, we must do more to raise our families out of poverty for good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Research last year revealed child poverty is still rising in Scotland’s biggest city where one in four young people - 25,690 young Glaswegians, 26% of the city’s children - are living in families where income is below 40% of the national median.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour said emergency payments to families unable to pay for food and heating surged by a fifth last year, with £378,000 of emergency payments from its Urgent Assistance Fund approved in the year to October 2025, up 17 per cent on the preceding 12 months.   \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since 2021, the charity, delivering frontline care and support for families and children across Scotland, has distributed almost £3m from the fund with the majority of applicants seeking help to buy food, clothing and heating. The average payment was £236 last year and delivered within days of approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Murray, who joined Aberlour, one of Scotland’s most influential charities, last year, said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>These payments are relatively small, a few hundred pounds, but can mean children will not go to bed cold or to school hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many families are living from pound to pound and a single unexpected bill, for a broken washing machine or bedding damaged by damp, can topple them into crisis.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our teams offer a whole range of practical assistance and emotional support but, at times of absolute need, families require money most urgently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These crisis payments can literally keep the lights on for families and gives them a chance, with our support, to find a more solid footing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>SNAPSHOTS OF CRISIS: FAMILIES ON THE BRINK\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Applying to Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance Fund, two Glasgow parents, whose names have been changed, reveal the toll of poverty on their children.  \u003C\u002Fem>  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Sandra: ‘My daughter’s shoes are leaking. She’s cold all day’\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>I need help to buy my children shoes as the cold is making them ill. My daughter goes to school in shoes that let in water and make her cold for the rest of the day. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She is picking up every cold and is tired all the time. Her mattress has springs poking through it and some mornings I find her sleeping on the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her youngest brother is still in nappies but it’s hard to buy the baby things he needs. Even the clothes to keep him warm are beyond me. A warm jacket is what he needs most. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s absolutely freezing and my kids are cold and exhausted. I’m doing everything I can but it’s not enough. It makes me feel ashamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Robert: ‘My son’s bedroom was flooded. The walls are black with mould’\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The upstairs neighbours flooded our flat and my son’s bedroom is now out of action until we can get it fixed. The hall is damaged too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was already a cold, cold flat. So poorly insulated but the flooding has made it worse. We need new flooring and beds but I don’t have a pound to spare. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We had mould before but it’s everywhere now. I’m always cleaning, wiping it down, but it smells awful and looks worse. My hands are ruined with bleach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hope the kids had a decent Christmas. I tried my best but, to me, it felt pretty grim, just something else to worry about. I was struggling to keep the kids warm never mind get them presents. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The state of the flat, the cold and damp, is bad enough but I’m most scared about what might be coming next? What’s around the corner?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>Do you support a family in desperate need? Find out more about \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Furgent-assistance-fund\">applying to the Urgent Assistance Fund\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Herald and publised on Saturday 17th Janaury 2026.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-01-19T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour Children's Charity rushes crisis payments to families on the brink","Discover how the Aberlour Urgent Assistance fund is helping families across Scotland who are on the brink of financial crisis to help feed and clothe their children. Recent funding from the Scottish Government will help deliver emergency grants.","media\u002FiStock-504539264.jpg","2026-01-19T10:27:43.000000Z","2026-01-19T10:35:43.000000Z"]