North Ayrshire Council fights child poverty with ongoing efforts

North Ayrshire Council’s Marie Burns is leading an ambitious drive to reduce child poverty in the region, with a joint plan approved in June last year. The Child Poverty Plan 2023-26 involves various partners and is a statutory requirement set by the Scottish Government. Recently, the council’s cabinet agreed to publish the first progress report on the Plan and submit it to the Scottish Government.

The progress report focuses on actions taken in 2023 and 2024, with a particular emphasis on the three main drivers of child poverty: income from employment, income from social security, and the cost of living. Key activities include the Money Matters Team assisting residents in accessing over £20 million in financial gains from nearly 6,000 referrals, allocating £20,000 from the Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund to investigate sustainable childcare provision, providing energy advice to 7,000 households, and granting £600,000 in Emergency Support payments to households struggling with high utility bills through the Energy Smart programme. Additionally, 130 families have seen increased household income through support services leading a parent into employment.

Looking ahead, the council plans to focus on key areas such as improving residents’ access to Cost-of-Living support, enhancing out-of-school care provision, and refining data collection on priority groups for better resource targeting. Marie Burns, the leader of North Ayrshire Council, emphasised the importance of working collaboratively with partners from the public, private, and third sectors to address the region’s high child poverty rate, which is the second highest in Scotland.

Burns stated, “We are determined to do everything in our power to help people living in poverty and will continue to prioritize our residents as we address this complex and challenging issue. The progress report outlines the magnitude of the challenge and the extensive efforts already in place to combat it.”

The council’s overall goal is to make a significant impact by working closely with partners like NHS Ayrshire and Arran, The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT), Arran Community and Voluntary Service, and the Health and Social Care Partnership. By collaborating with these entities, North Ayrshire Council aims to create a comprehensive strategy to tackle child poverty effectively and support those in need within the region.