Figures released by the Campaign to End Child Poverty show that 29% of children living in the Forth ward live in poverty, and campaigners believe that these already appalling figures will worsen as welfare reforms bite.
Research figures released on 15 February show that nearly all – 27 out of 32 – local authorities in Scotland have council wards where over 20% of their children live in poverty, and projections by both Government and the Institute for Fiscal Studies expect the number of children growing up in poverty to significantly worsen amidst UK benefit and welfare cuts.
The Campaign to End Child Poverty, a coalition of anti-poverty and children’s charities, has published up to date figures showing rates of child poverty across every local authority, constituency and ward.
It’s a depressingly familiar picture, and it’s absolutely no surprise to see areas like Forth (29%), Leith (28%) and Sighthill/Gorgie (35%, or more than one in three children) at the top (or bottom) of the Edinburgh league table, while at the opposite end of the scale come Inverleith (10%), Colinton/Fairmilehead (9%) and Meadows/Morningside at just 5%.
The statistics, compiled from mid-2012 data, are believed to be the most up-to-date local data on child poverty and they show that there are unacceptably high levels of child poverty in every part of Scotland. However, campaigners are stressing that action by local and national Government in Scotland can make a huge difference in minimising family hardship.
John Dickie, speaking on behalf of Scottish members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, said: “These latest figures show low-income families both in and out of work have to some extent been protected through recession by benefits and tax credit support. But the hidden picture is far more sinister as the current ripping away of that support is forecast to drive tens of thousands of children into poverty across Scotland in the coming years”.
Recent forecasts indicate that at least 65,000 more children in Scotland will be living below the breadline by the end of the decade.
Back in 1999, politicians promised to end child poverty by 2020 – these latest figures show just how far we’ve still got to go. The government says it remains committed to eradicating child poverty by 2020, however: “Helping children overcome poverty will make a huge difference not only to their lives but to the lives of their families, communities and to society as a whole. Ending child poverty means tackling a wide range of complex issues to improve children’s chances in life and empowering families to move themselves out of poverty for good.
“There are challenges ahead, but the Coalition’s Programme for Government made clear its commitment to ending child poverty by 2020. Success depends on finding the best long-term solutions to tackling child poverty and the national strategy sets out how the Government proposes to tackle child poverty in the forthcoming years.”
The UK is one of the richest countries in the industrialised world, and yet one in three of our children is living in poverty. Whatever your political persuasion, that just can’t be right.
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Councillor Hinds, Eddie Thorn of Church of Scotland Blackhall and Alex Dale, Drylaw Community Council voted for loads more dosh for NEN despite having to declare an interest at Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership last night. Well done Labour!
Sent from my iPhone
Stuart Roy McIvor BA
Inverleith Edinburgh EH3 5PY
SCOTLAND
Dileas agus Treun
On 18 Feb 2013, at 14:50, North Edinburgh News wrote:
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The Board of NEN notes Stuart McIvor’s comments and in the interests of clarity would like to make the following points:
The Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership, with one exception, all voted to grant the NEN funding to undertake a piece of work, which we think will help enormously towards our survival. We hope it will enable us to increase advertising so that we are able to become self-supporting. It wouldn’t have made any difference if Cllr Hinds, Eddie Thorn and Alex Dale had not voted at all.
Declarations of interest are a personal matter – however for the record Eddie Thorn and Alex Dale declared their positions on the NEN Board and Cllr Lesley Hinds declared a family connection with the Board at the start of the Inverleith Partnership Meeting. Members of the public should know that none of them have a financial interest in the NEN.
Eddie Thorn represents the Blackhall/Craigleith Community Council on the Neighbourhood Partnership and not the Church of Scotland as stated by Mr McIvor.
The vast majority of people in the North Edinburgh area are highly supportive of the NEN and wish the paper to continue – the NEN tries to support and provide information for the community. The Board, all of whom are voluntary and unpaid, are working very hard to ensure its survival. It is a pity that Mr Stuart McIvor does not feel this Community Newspaper is worth supporting