[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f1lfk9asepbrv6":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":37},"01kc6mna4ve9chgq9aj9kdpte4","1","'I Just Want My Kids To Remember A Happy Christmas'","i-just-want-my-kids-to-remember-a-happy-christmas","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>New mum on defying poverty to give her children a special day\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My youngest arrived two weeks early and, by the time of my actual due date, I was already back at work. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It didn’t feel like I had a choice because we needed the money so badly. I was absolutely panicking, we had nothing. When my manager saw me she was like ‘Why are you here? You’ve just given birth.” \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t ready to go back to work but all the benefits were a month behind, and I had nappies to buy, formula, wipes, food.  It was impossible. Eat or pay the gas. Buy the kids clothes or pay the electricity. I missed more meals than I can count but the kids never went hungry. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The house made everything worse. It felt like the enemy from the day we moved in. I remember the wallpaper lifting straight off the wall and underneath it was just black with damp and mould. The walls were wet to touch. The windows had no seals and the cold air was blowing in. The kids were constantly sick, chest infections, wheezy, colds that never really went away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The bath was all stained brown. It might have been rust but could have been anything. It was awful. The council came and painted it, like that would help. I refused to put my baby anywhere near it. We couldn’t use it for two months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We didn’t have much but anything we had was ruined by the damp. Clothes, toys, bedding, all of it. Living in that doesn’t just damage your things or your health, it batters your confidence. It made me feel like a failure, that I couldn’t even keep my kids safe. You feel uneasy all the time, completely stressed out. I was always cleaning clothes, wiping walls. It just gnaws away at you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But we’re getting through. Finding Aberlour, or Aberlour finding us, was a turning point and their \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fget-help\u002Furgent-assistance-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urgent Assistance Fund \u003C\u002Fa>was like someone throwing us a lifebelt. It was literally survival money. The application was made and the money was with me so quickly. It went on absolute essentials, food and nappies, milk and electricity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The kids were always sick so we couldn’t go to any play groups or anything. We had become so isolated and just having someone to talk to made all the difference in the world. The house is warmer now, we have a new bath. My kids are always clean and fed, even if I still have to go hungry every so often. And Christmas is coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just want them to feel it’s special. I didn’t have anything fancy growing up but always felt the magic of Christmas and I want my two to feel it too. They won’t get expensive stuff but their stockings will be full and there will be presents. I do everything I can to give them that feeling of excitement. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I watch every penny every day of the year but am always thinking about the kids’ Christmas. You can get good buys online, nice new toys for a few pounds, and I know all the charity shops inside out and upside down. I’m an expert at getting bargains and hiding them away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On Christmas morning, my kids won’t care where things came from or how much they cost. They’ll just know Santa’s been. That’s all they need to know. Hopefully, when they’re all grown up, they will look back and remember the happiness and excitement of Christmas morning and a mum who was trying her best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can help families across Scotland this winter by \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpovertyrelief\">\u003Cstrong>donating to our Poverty Relief appeal\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Sunday Post.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2025-12-15T00:00:00.000000Z","Mum supported by Aberlour Children's Charity shares the support she has had and her wish for her children this Christmas.","media\u002FiStock-2184955355.jpg","2025-12-11T12:02:35.000000Z","2025-12-11T15:49:38.000000Z",{"id":29,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":30,"slug":31,"content":32,"content_overview":11,"published_at":23,"seo_title":30,"seo_description":33,"image":34,"created_at":35,"updated_at":36},"01kc73b5gy1ck7vxn1ry4gawc3","Poll reveals most Scots support emergency action to ease poverty crisis","poll-reveals-most-scots-support-emergency-action","\u003Cp>Most Scots want more done to ease the lives of children growing up in poverty, according to research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An opinion poll for Aberlour Children’s Charity reveals the majority of Scots back increasing financial support and debt relief for families on the lowest incomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost one in four children in Scotland are growing up in poverty with the number rising to one in two in the poorest postcodes as experts warn the crisis is sabotaging the health, education and futures of thousands of young people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The survey shows \u003Cstrong>61% of Scots would like to see the Scottish Government increase support for the poorest families\u003C\u002Fstrong> while \u003Cstrong>almost seven out of ten (69%) agreed families’ low income is damaging children’s education and ability to participate in school activities\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour welcomed the results saying most Scots understand the escalating poverty endured by children is a national emergency demanding emergency action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justina Murray, chief executive of Aberlour, said giving financial support to families is the most effective response but warns the pursuit of public debt is trapping many in a cycle of debt and hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>This poll is a timely reminder to our political leaders that the overwhelming majority of Scots want the lives and life chances of disadvantaged children to be better protected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We live in one of the world’s wealthiest countries where child poverty should no longer be sabotaging young lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The gap between good intentions and impactful change, between policy and practice, must be closed to lift families out of poverty and, most importantly, keep them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The poll of more than 1000 Scots, conducted by nfpResearch in September 2025, also reveals \u003Cstrong>80% support free school meals for more children\u003C\u002Fstrong> with \u003Cstrong>71% urging the Scottish Government to clear all school meal debt\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, 70% said \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fabout-us\u002Fpolicy-and-influencing\u002Fpublic-debt\">long-term public debt\u003C\u002Fa>, such as council tax and rent arrears, is keeping families trapped in poverty. A \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Fgendered-nature-public-debt\">landmark report\u003C\u002Fa>, commissioned by Aberlour, Trussell and One Parent Families Scotland, last month revealed women in Scotland are more likely to face financial hardship because of government debt collection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Detailed analysis of the anonymised records of 71,000 people seeking debt advice in Scotland reveals 57% were women and they owed most in public debt, like council tax and rent with single mothers and those living in households where a child or adult is disabled are particularly at risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aberlour, one of Scotland’s most respected children’s charities, marked its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002F150\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">150th anniversary\u003C\u002Fa> this year when first minister John Swinney, attending a special event at the National Museum of Scotland, hailed its work underpinning the “national mission” to eradicate child poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maree Todd, minister for drugs and alcohol, also commended the charity’s record in keeping families together at the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launch of a report\u003C\u002Fa> detailing the work of Aberlour’s Intensive Perinatal services and two landmark recovery houses for mothers and their babies earlier this month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>We know that women often face additional challenges and get extra stigma when seeking recovery, making it harder to get the help they need. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We also know that women need different and specialist services like those offered by Aberlour. That work is vital in keeping families together and giving children the best possible start in life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for The Sunday Post and published on Sunday 14th December 2025.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","A poll commissioned by Aberlour Children's Charity reveals people living in Scotland support emergency action to ease the poverty crisis.","media\u002FJustina - serious.jpg","2025-12-11T16:19:11.000000Z","2025-12-11T16:19:54.000000Z",{"id":38,"blog_author_id":5,"blog_category_id":19,"is_featured":7,"title":39,"slug":40,"content":41,"content_overview":11,"published_at":42,"seo_title":39,"seo_description":43,"image":44,"created_at":45,"updated_at":46},"01kbn0a4sf7akr308p8256732m","Drugs Minister Backs Specialist Help For Mothers","drugs-minister-backs-specialist-help-for-mothers","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Landmark research supports rollout of recovery houses\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scotland’s drugs minister has warned new mothers are at extra risk because stigma stops them seeking life-changing support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maree Todd warned mothers and women, in general, face additional obstacles finding help for substance use before promising more support to protect them and their children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol was speaking at the launch of a report by Aberlour Children’s Charity detailing the work of two landmark recovery houses for mothers and their babies when she hailed their record in keeping families together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The event in Glasgow launched the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002Faberlours-families-voices-project-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Families’ Voices research\u003C\u002Fa> describing the experience of mothers, who were helped to recover while strengthening bonds with their babies at the houses in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-house-falkirk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Falkirk\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fservice\u002Fmother-and-child-recovery-houses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dundee\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Todd said their stories of recovery were powerful and inspiring, adding: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>One of the biggest challenges faced by Scotland today is the harm caused by alcohol and drug use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sadly, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of women experiencing these harms. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We know that women often face additional challenges and get extra stigma when seeking recovery, making it harder to get the help they need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We also know that women need different and specialist services like those offered by Aberlour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That work is vital in keeping families together and giving children the best possible start in life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>She said the Mother and Child Recovery Houses – The Burrow in Falkirk and Discovery Grove in Dundee – had received £5million from the Scottish Government to help increase the number of residential rehab beds.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>There were very limited options available for residential services for women and for those with childcare responsibilities and a clear need to create and grow those types of services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since stepping into my role earlier in the year, I have already seen how much of an impact both houses have had since opening. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was particularly moved by recent reports that nearly three quarters of the children referred into the houses have remained with their mothers full time, avoiding the need for care placements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is a powerful result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The minister also said more money was being spent on perinatal support in the community and, responding to questions about short-term funding for Third Sector support services, said the government was committed to longer contracts.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The insecurity of charity funding is a real challenge. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>“Charities are expending a lot of energy and effort just keeping their heads above water and I want them to spend that energy focusing on their purpose rather than keeping the wolves from the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The research published at the event on Monday warns the lives of new mothers and the life chances of their babies are being risked by a postcode lottery in specialist support and recommends the rollout of recovery houses to other regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scottish Government figures suggest up to 60,000 children may be affected by alcohol and drugs use in their families, while research found many deaths of new mothers are linked to mental health or substance harm, caused by suicide, and often follow a child being taken into care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>One of the 23 mothers who contributed to the research said their lives had been transformed by their time in a recovery house, adding: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>By sharing our stories, we can show why it is so vital these services are strengthened and made available to more families across Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>The charity’s chief executive, Justina Murray, welcomed the minister’s support and said investment in community-based services will be recouped from reduced spending on unnecessary crisis intervention and avoided care.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>She said: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>This important research focusing on our work in Dundee and Falkirk raises the voice of mothers, ensuring their stories of recovery are heard. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their experience must shape the support available and, wherever they live in Scotland, mothers and their children must have a clear route to effective and non-judgemental perinatal services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This article was written for the Sunday Post and published on Sunday 7th December 2025.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","2025-12-08T00:00:00.000000Z","Maree Todd MSP, The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol, speaking at Aberlour Children's Charity's Families Voices event backs specialist help for mothers in recovery and their children to keep families together.","media\u002FGroup photo 1 (1).jfif","2025-12-04T15:39:52.000000Z","2025-12-04T15:40:22.000000Z"]