[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f10b3rz2z388kj":3,"$f2otn3s0ucc3kl":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},"01j6cdm1tdp6vqrv02k3sttb9a","Jenni Emmanuel awarded Foundation Apprentice of the Year 2024","jenni-emmanuel-awarded-foundation-apprentice-of-the-year-2024","\u003Cp>We’d like to congratulate Jenni Emmanuel, who was crowned Foundation Apprentice of the Year at the prestigious \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apprenticeships.scot\u002Fevents\u002Fscottish-apprenticeship-awards\u002F\">Scottish Apprenticeship Awards\u003C\u002Fa>. This recognition is a testament to her unwavering dedication, exceptional skills, and leadership potential. Jenni was nominated by the Aberlour Futures team whilst completing her qualification in Social Services (Children and Young People).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenni attended the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards, run by Skills Development Scotland, on Friday, 8\u003Csup>th\u003C\u002Fsup> March, in Aberdeen. Many talented apprentices received nominations and together celebrated the very best of apprenticeship talent in Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenni’s career in childcare began with Aberlour Futures, our early learning and childcare training provider, in Aberdeen. It was here she started her Foundation Apprenticeship at school. During the apprenticeship, she gained invaluable practical experience through her work placement at Kaimhill Nursery. The staff at the nursery were impressed by her performance, describing her as an experienced team member who consistently took initiative and contributed creative ideas. Jenni’s positive impact was so profound that the nursery invited her back as a volunteer after completing her placement, a testament to her exceptional skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenni’s hard work and commitment paid off when she successfully secured employment at Bright Horizons Treehouse Nursery following the completion of her Foundation Apprenticeship. Now, she eagerly anticipates the next step in her journey – beginning our Modern Apprenticeship programme, where she will further develop her skills and knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenni attended the awards ceremony accompanied by her colleagues from the nursery, her parents, and the Aberlour Futures Team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>“I’m absolutely over the moon to win the award and know that my hard work has been recognised,”\u003C\u002Fstrong> said Jenni. “\u003Cstrong>My apprenticeship was absolutely amazing and I wish that I could do it all over again.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linda, Jenni’s assessor at Aberlour Futures, expressed her pride, saying, “\u003Cstrong>Jenni was a quiet girl, and she has blossomed into a confident individual, which is amazing. Jenni was highly motivated and went above and beyond with her learning.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>“We would also like to thank the schools where we offer our apprenticeship programs and the workplaces that provide invaluable placement opportunities. Without their unwavering support and collaboration, achievements like Jenni’s would not be possible.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a small training provider, Aberlour Futures are extremely proud of Jenni and her success. It highlights Aberlour Futures’ commitment to nurturing talent and unlocking potential in our apprentices. This achievement is a significant milestone for both Jenni and Aberlour Futures, as we continue to inspire and shape the future of the apprenticeship program.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Visit the\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.futures.aberlour.org.uk\"> Aberlour Futures website\u003C\u002Fa> to find out more about the fantastic training they provide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>We’d like to congratulate Jenni Emmanuel, who was crowned Foundation Apprentice of the Year at the prestigious Scottish Apprenticeship Awards. This recognition is a testament to her unwavering dedication, exceptional skills, and leadership potential. Jenni was nominated by the Aberlour Futures team whilst completing her qualification in Social Services (Children and Young People). Jenni attended … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fjenni-emmanuel-awarded-foundation-apprentice-of-the-year-2024\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-03-26T00:00:00.000000Z","Jenni Emmanuel awarded Foundation Apprentice of the Year 2024 - Aberlour - Web Backend","media\u002Fjennie-award-3.jpg","2024-08-28T11:58:31.000000Z","2024-11-25T07:22:18.000000Z",{"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},"01j6cdm1thwstcawdw2hzprfbd","Aberlour’s response to the child poverty statistics","aberlours-response-to-the-child-poverty-statistics","\u003Cp>Today (Thursday 21st March 2024) the Scottish Government published the latest child poverty statistics. Read Aberlour CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE’s, response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The latest poverty statistics show child poverty in Scotland is rising.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To describe child poverty as ‘broadly stable’ when 1 in 4 children are living in poverty is an absolute disgrace and fails to contextualise or understand the day-to-day experiences of families living in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broadly stable will mean nothing to those families struggling to feed their children or heat their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These figures tell us that despite the Scottish Child Payment the Scottish Government’s efforts to reduce child poverty are failing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there is no comfort from choices made in the most recent \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aberlour.org.uk\u002Fnews-item\u002Faberlours-response-to-the-scottish-budget\">Scottish Budget\u003C\u002Fa> which included spending decisions that offer nothing to reduce child poverty in the year ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scottish Government’s interim targets will now likely not be met, and we are deeply concerned that the statutory child poverty targets for 2030 will also be missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is clear that the Scottish Government must now make different political choices and these choices need to sit at the forefront of political decision making in Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This means increasing the value of the Scottish Child Payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This means investment in vital services that support all families across Scotland that need extra help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This means tackling the debt crisis that is trapping so many families in poverty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This means building enough social housing to ensure safe, secure and affordable homes for all families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by making such choices will we begin to make headway on tackling the scourge of child poverty in Scotland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>SallyAnn Kelly OBE\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Aberlour CEO\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Today (Thursday 21st March 2024) the Scottish Government published the latest child poverty statistics. Read Aberlour CEO, SallyAnn Kelly OBE’s, response. The latest poverty statistics show child poverty in Scotland is rising. To describe child poverty as ‘broadly stable’ when 1 in 4 children are living in poverty is an absolute disgrace and fails to … \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb-backend.aberlour.org.uk\u002Faberlours-response-to-the-child-poverty-statistics\u002F\">Continued\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","2024-03-21T00:00:00.000000Z","Aberlour's response to the child poverty statistics - Aberlour - Web Backend","Read Aberlour CEO, SallyAnn Kelly's response to the latest child poverty statistics published by the Scottish Government.","media\u002FSallyAnn-Final-scaled.jpg"]