Two reports out today show that the increase in life expectancy that has shown steady progress in Scotland since the Second World War, has now stalled and that health inequalities have worsened.
In the past seven years, Scotland has seen the slowest growth in life expectancy, since at least the late 1970s and death rates have now begun to rise for people living in our poorest areas. Continue reading “Unravelling”: Stalling life expectancy is a warning light for public health in Scotland
Positive progress on equal access to higher education
A record number of full time first degree students at Scottish universities were from the most deprived areas in Scotland last year.
New figures show that, in 2017/18, 15.6% of students entering university were from the 20% most deprived areas. This is 0.4% short of the Government’s target for 2021.
Last year also saw an increase in the total number of Scottish students enrolling in Scottish universities.
The statistics, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), show the latest progress in the drive to widen access to higher education.
Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead said: “These statistics highlight the good progress being made on widening access to higher education. I’m pleased to see more Scots going to university here and a record increase in entrants from our most deprived areas.
“Combined with recent UCAS statistics, this shows demonstrable progress towards giving every young person in Scotland an equal chance of success, no matter their background or circumstance.
“It is also great to see a record number of enrolments and an increased number of qualifications achieved in 2017/18. All of this speaks to the level of excellence found across our higher education institutions.”
Between 2016/17 and 2017/18:
Following the Commission on Widening Access, a target was set that, by 2021, 16% of students entering university will be from Scotland’s most deprived backgrounds, increasing to 20% by 2030. At 15.6% for 2017/18, this is just 0.4 percentage points off the 2021 target.
The latest UCAS statistics from the 2018 End of Cycle Report showed an increase in acceptances for 18 year old students from deprived backgrounds.
The full set of information on 2017/18 enrolments published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency is available as an interactive publication.
Britain is going into Brexit with half a million more children trapped in poverty, following a relentless rise in the number of working families struggling to make ends meet over the last five years. It means in a typical classroom of 30 children, NINE are now living in poverty.
The assessment comes in a state of the nation report by the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), the leading authority on poverty in the UK.
UK Poverty 2018 examines how poverty has changed over the last 20 years, providing the most comprehensive and up to date picture of the challenges and prospects facing low income families.
Overall, one in five of the UK population (22%) are in poverty – 14.3 million people. Of these, 8.2 million are working-age adults, 4.1 million are children and 1.9 million are pensioners. Eight million people live in poverty in families where at least one person is in work.
In-work poverty has been rising even faster than employment, with nearly all of the increase among working parents. There are now four million workers in poverty, around one in eight in the economy.
Edinburgh’s Poverty Commission met for the first time on Tuesday to define the long-term responses needed to significantly reduce poverty in Edinburgh.
Continue reading Edinburgh’s Poverty Commission holds first meeting
‘Poverty is a political choice. Austerity could easily have spared the poor, if the political will had existed to do so’ – Professor Philip Alston Continue reading “A state of denial”: UN Human Rights expert condemns UK Government
Continue reading “Heart-breaking”: Foodbank use on the rise in Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh has met a key Scottish Government objective to attract students from the country’s most economically challenged areas, three years ahead of schedule. Continue reading University hits social diversity recruitment goal three years early
The City of Edinburgh Council has appointed an independent chair to lead the Edinburgh Poverty Commission, which will shine a light on and recommend ways to address poverty in the Capital. Continue reading Leading poverty expert to head Edinburgh Commission
Ambitious targets to reduce child poverty will stall, warns charity
In its state of the nation report, Poverty in Scotland 2018 (below), the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) warns one in four (230,000) children in Scotland live in poverty. The report comes as Challenge Poverty? Aye we can! gets underway, a campaign by the Poverty Alliance which shows how poverty in Scotland can be solved and allow everyone to take part in society. Continue reading One in four Scottish children live in poverty as parents locked out of job market
Free basic toiletries to be made available to people in areas across Lothian experiencing social deprivation
A campaign being spearheaded by an Edinburgh Napier lecturer will see free toiletries made available to those who need them most across the Lothian region. Continue reading Edinburgh Napier launches Dignity Box campaign
