Hundreds of Scots have already provided nearly 900,000 meals for kids in crisis-hit Haiti with Scottish charity Mary’s Meals
Former Scotland star Stephen O’Donnell has backed a Scottish charity appeal to feed hungry children in Haiti ahead of the nations’ World Cup clash.
Scotland will play their first World Cup match in 28 years when they take on Haiti in Boston this Sunday. Haiti have qualified for only their second World Cup and first since 1974, but their participation is even more remarkable given they were unable to host any qualification matches on home soil.
The situation in Haiti is dire. Armed conflict has intensified and gangs now control an estimated 90% of the capital city, while dominating areas previously deemed safe. Widespread violence is devastating the economy, agriculture, and supply chains, leaving the country to face the worst hunger crisis in its history, with more than half of the population currently experiencing acute food insecurity.
Hardest hit are Haiti’s children. Hungry and surrounded by violence, many are being recruited into armed gangs – lured by the promise of food.
Mary’s Meals, the school feeding charity founded in a shed in the Scottish Highlands, has been providing school meals in Haiti since 2006. Under normal circumstances, Mary’s Meals reaches more than 196,000 children every school day, providing them with food, energy to learn and the hope of a brighter future.
In response to the escalating chaos, Mary’s Meals recently launched a crisis appeal. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of Scots, donations have already raised enough to provide nearly 900,000 meals for hungry Haitian children.
In the build-up to the World Cup opener, former Scotland international and current Motherwell footballer Stephen O’Donnell – a long-time supporter of Mary’s Meals – is backing the appeal.
Stephen says: “While all eyes will be on the pitch on Sunday, the match is also shining a spotlight on Haiti’s challenges off the pitch.
“The game holds so much excitement for me, my former teammates, the Tartan Army, and all of Scotland, but it gives everyone a chance to reflect on what’s happening in Haiti as well.
“As a father, I can only imagine how it feels to be struggling to feed your children, amid violence and the threat of your loved ones being recruited into gangs. I’m thankful there’s a charity in Scotland helping those in need, and I know the incredible work Mary’s Meals does in turning just one 10 pence coin into a nutritious meal for a child.”
Scottish donations are helping children in Haiti like Billy, who has overcome the loss of his father and his own difficult health issues to thrive in school and become top of his class. He says: “Receiving Mary’s Meals keeps me from being hungry. And it is much easier to follow the teacher and be active in class.”
Calling on people in Edinburgh to consider contributing to Mary’s Meals, Stephen adds: “It’s incredible – but not unexpected – that so many Scots have already responded to Mary’s Meals’ rallying call to reach families suffering in Haiti, and I’d urge anyone who has a spare 10p to follow in their footsteps.
“Although we’ll all be hoping for a Scotland victory this weekend, we can also support Haiti by donating to the appeal and providing a brighter future for Haiti’s next generation. Hopefully we’ll see some of the children fed by Mary’s Meals at a future World Cup too.”
Mary’s Meals UK Media Manager and Scotland fan Gary Armstrong says: “For the past 20 years, Scottish donations to Mary’s Meals have been helping feed children in Haiti. Today, our school feeding programme is more necessary than ever given the brutal violence and daily challenges families and their children are facing.
“We’d like to thank Stephen for his support, and the hundreds of people across the country who have responded to our appeal so far. Scots are known the world over for their friendliness and generosity, which I’m sure we’ll see in the US in the coming weeks. By helping friends in Haiti we haven’t yet met, this kindness has already been shown before a ball has been kicked.”
It costs Mary’s Meals just 10p to provide a child with a nutritious meal in school, or only £19.15 to feed a child for a whole school year. If you can, please donate today: www.marysmeals.org.uk
Scottish Child Payment key to eradicating child poverty
Across Scotland, 321,885 children are benefiting from Scottish Child Payment as of March 2026, according to newly published statistics.
Launched in February 2021, the Scotland-only benefit is a weekly payment of £28.20, paid every four weeks to every eligible child under 16 within a household.
Scottish Child Payment is expected to keep 50,000 children out of relative poverty in 2026–27. This underlines the critical role that Scottish Child Payment plays in eradicating child poverty in Scotland.
Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Eradicating child poverty and supporting families with the cost of living is a key focus for this government.
“It’s clear that the Scottish Child Payment is making a major difference to families which is why we will now go further by increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week for families with children under the age of one.
We remain fully committed to doing everything we can to support families and give every child the best possible start in life. Scottish Child Payment remains central to that mission.”
Pioneering fund announces long-term awards tackling poverty, racism and climate change across the city marking a major milestone in the ten-year commitment to community-led change.
Following an open city-wide application process, eleven organisations and collaborative partnerships have been selected to receive sustained support.
THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS ARE:
Be United;
Cables Wynd House Residents Group with Making Rights Real;
Sudanese Community Edinburgh with Edinburgh Science Foundation;
Transition Edinburgh South with Edinburgh Community Food.
Each award will provide up to a million pounds over ten years, offering rare long-term, unrestricted funding designed to enable deep and lasting change in communities across Edinburgh.
Funding decisions were made by a Residents’ Panel made up of local people with lived experience of poverty and racism.
Projects supported include those building financial security and tackling stigma around poverty within Edinburgh’s Sikh community, supporting paid opportunities for Black creatives to address structural barriers in the arts sector, and co-designing local food and medicine production and distribution.
Other awards span a range of organisations and partnerships across the city, delivering initiatives such as advocating for improved local housing conditions, supporting community-led climate focussed activities initially within the Sudanese community, and engaging local communities around the development of heat network implementation.
Leah Black, Co-Head of the Fund, said: “Reaching this stage is hugely significant, allowing organisations and partnerships to turn long-held ambitions into long-term action.
“The Regenerative Futures Fund represents a real shift in how funding can be transformational when communities are placed at the centre.
“We are deeply grateful to all involved, and to the Residents’ Panel whose time and insight shaped every stage of this journey. In the wealthiest city in Scotland, where 17% of people – including 21% of all children – live in relative poverty, we are operating in a complex environment.
“Poverty, racism and climate change are interconnected, real and present challenges for us all, and tackling them requires long-term commitment, trust and collective action.”
Aala Ross, Co-Head of the Fund, said: “This is a landmark moment for Edinburgh. These organisations will receive long-term, unrestricted funding to support the work they are already leading in their communities.
“This has been a long, collaborative process shaped by months of dialogue and reflection across the city. This Fund is about trust, and about recognising that communities already hold the knowledge needed to create change. We will continue working alongside them and learning from them over the years ahead.”
Representatives from Migrant Justice Edinburgh said:“The Regenerative Futures Fund represents a funding approach that feels both timely and important within the current landscape.
“It offers something that remains relatively rare: long-term, 10-year support that enables organisations to think and act beyond short-term cycles. This creates the conditions for work that is strategic, adaptive, and focused on long-term change.
“Just as importantly, the Fund places strong emphasis on centring residents — particularly those most affected by poverty — and encourages an intersectional approach that recognises how poverty is shaped by racism, the climate crisis, and wider structural inequalities.”
The Residents’ Panel said: “This wasn’t just about selecting projects, it was about responsibility to the city and the future.
“We wanted to create a better Edinburgh and that has driven this work from the very beginning. We’ve seen the strength, creativity and ambition that already exists across the city, and this process was about giving groups the capacity and trust to deliver the real change we all need to see.
“It has been a real privilege to be part of something that is so grounded yet so innovative.”
The Fund is supported by a coalition of national and local funders, including charitable foundations, local authority and philanthropic partners, who pooled resources but stepped back from decision-making to place control within communities.
Those who have already committed funding towards the pooled Fund include the City of Edinburgh Council, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, The Robertson Trust, Turn2us Edinburgh Trust, and Foundation Scotland, who also host the Fund.
Recent local philanthropic support from Tom Ward and other local philanthropists reflects growing confidence in the Fund’s approach. The Fund continues to welcome new funding partners supporting long-term, community-led change.
Giles Ruck, Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland, said: “The Regenerative Futures Fund represents something quite rare in the funding world.
“It offers long-term, collaborative funding, where those who already hold the expertise and lived experience of the issues this fund is designed to challenge, are leading.
“We need to see more of this. It puts trust in communities and gives organisations the time and flexibility they need to address complex challenges. This Fund offers a powerful alternative to short-term thinking and could influence place-based funding far beyond Edinburgh.”
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’ve been clear in setting ambitious targets to address poverty, reach net zero by 2030 and to tackle racist rhetoric in Edinburgh.
“This significant support will help us to move closer to our goals while backing grassroots projects and organisations which are already make a real difference across the city, selected by the people who live here.
“The challenges we face are real – that 17% of our residents still live in relative poverty is simply unacceptable, while people continue to face racism and exclusion, all while the climate crisis looms large. This funding will provide a welcome boost to a range of organisations addressing these challenges, and I look forward to seeing more from the projects it will help to deliver.”
Over the coming months, the funded cohort will begin long-term delivery work across Edinburgh, focused on tackling the root causes of poverty, racism and climate inequality through community-led approaches.
The Regenerative Futures Fund will continue as a learning and collaboration network across the city, supporting knowledge-sharing and connection beyond the funded cohort.
A list of descriptions of the organisations and partnerships can be found here.
Some further writing about the collaboration and the connections between the organisations can be found here.
Cost of living boost with free bus travel for children and targeted food tariff cuts
Free bus travel for children throughout August, helping families across England get out and explore
Comes as products including biscuits, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts set to see targeted cuts to agri-food tariffs, to help to reduce pressure on food prices.
Move is latest in government drive to support families and help ease pressures on household budgets.
Families travelling this summer will benefit from free bus travel for children as the Chancellor ramps up efforts to help with the cost of living (we already have this in Scotland – Ed.)
The Chancellor is committing more than £100 million to fund the free fares scheme and also continuing to support bus services. Every child aged five to 15 in England will travel free on participating local buses throughout August – with unlimited journeys, no registration required, and at no cost to families.
It is part of a scheme called ‘Great British Summer Savings’. The Chancellor will set out more details today on how the Government will support families and businesses this summer.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We know many hard‑working families are still feeling the squeeze and too often think they have to hold back.
“By giving every child free bus travel throughout August and cutting tariffs on everyday food items, we’re putting money back into people’s pockets and making life that bit easier.
“This government is focused on practical steps that help right now — easing pressure on household budgets, supporting parents during the school holidays, and backing British businesses.”
It comes as the government prioritises protecting households and businesses from rising costs, and the announcements today will build on the work to cut energy bills, protect motorists and crack down on unfair profiteering.
This month the government has delivered £117 off energy bills on average, increased the minimum wage again and frozen rail fares and prescription charges, thanks to the choices the Chancellor made at the Autumn Budget.
As the war in Iran puts pressure on prices at home, the government has stepped in with a tax cut for hauliers to keep our shelves stocked and economy moving, extended the 5p fuel duty freeze to protect motorists at the pump, and emergency relief for families in rural communities who have been hit by a sharp increase in the price of heating oil.
The Chancellor will say that in an era of global conflict, this government has the right economic plan, as economic indicators showed the UK beating the forecasts again this week. The UK was the fastest-growing economy in the G7 at the start of this year, and Monday the IMF upgraded our growth forecast for 2026. Yesterday we saw inflation falling faster than expected, thanks to the action taken at the budget to keep energy prices down.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “My number one priority is protecting households from rising costs. This summer I want every family to be able to enjoy themselves, that’s why we’re launching the Great British Summer Savings Scheme, and why we’re helping kids with free bus travel throughout August.
“As the war in Iran pushes prices up at home, my economic plan is the right one. I will continue to make the right choices, to protect households and businesses, and build a stronger and more secure Britain.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Free bus travel for every child in August means parents can plan days out, visit loved ones and make the most of the holidays without the added financial pressure.
“We’ve already seen what’s possible – in the West of England, the Mayor’s free travel scheme is making a real difference, particularly for young people in the most deprived communities. That’s exactly the kind of impact we want to deliver for families right across England this summer.
“This builds on the work we’re already doing to make buses better for everyone – from the £3 bus fare cap and the landmark Bus Services Act, to our £3 billion investment in local services and frozen rail fares for the first time in 30 years. We’re making sure public transport works for people, not against them.”
Free bus travel for children will run from 1 to 31 August and covers participating local bus services across England. This could save a family with two children who make a weekly return trip at a £1.50 child fare £27 in August.
It comes following a successful pilot ran last summer by the Mayor for the West of England, Helen Godwin.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Kids Go Free in the West of England has seen around 1.4 million free journeys over the summer, Christmas, and Easter holidays since my election last year.
“It’s brilliant that, after we have invested devolved funding to make a difference that people across the West can see and feel, the government is rolling out Kids Go Free nationally this August!
“There’s been a huge increase in public transport use through our offer already, including children and families travelling on our new green buses. Bus travel from our lowest income areas doubled year-on-year last summer, with kids able to just hop on board and no registration needed.
“I’m so excited to see Kids Go Free return again for the school summer holidays – helping more children and young people to explore the best of what the West has to offer.”
This funding also includes support for bus services that have experienced increased costs, recognising the vital service they provide particularly for school children, pensioners and those living in rural communities. The Government will work with the sector to decide how this support can be allocated with the greatest impact.
Separately, as part of wider efforts to reduce pressure on prices, the Government is launching a business engagement exercise, with a view to making further targeted cuts to agri-food tariffs, suspending tariffs on over 100 types of products including biscuits, chocolate and dried fruit and nuts.
The expected benefit to consumers is more than £150 million a year. The full list of products will be published next week, with business engagement commencing next week. As per previous commitments, the list takes account of domestic production and food security and does not include any significant UK primary agriculture production. This is on top of the expected consumer benefits from agri-food tariff suspensions, announced at the end of April, of around £100 million to £400 million each year.
Today’s announcements build on action the government has already taken to reduce the cost of living, including cutting energy bills, freezing prescription charges, protecting motorists from fuel duty increases and raising the minimum wage. Yesterday (May 20) the Government announced extending the 5p fuel duty cut until end of year.
Michelle Ovens, CBE, CEO & Founder of Small Business Britain, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Chancellor’s commitment to additional funds for the free fares scheme.
“Giving children across the country the opportunity to travel freely during the summer holidays is vital in broadening aspirations, building life experiences, and encouraging young people to envision a future without boundaries.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “This is a welcome move to help more families to get out and about by bus this summer and highlights the importance of affordable public transport in easing cost-of-living pressures on hard-pressed households.
“Investing in affordable, reliable bus services is one of the most cost-effective ways of improving people’s quality of life and tackling rising energy costs year-round.”
Lydia Horbury, CEO of passenger champions Bus Users UK said: “Making bus travel free for children throughout August is a hugely welcome step that will help families, encourage greater use of public transport and give young people more independence and opportunity over the summer holidays.
“For many households, even small savings can make a real difference, and this initiative removes both cost and complexity by making travel simpler and more accessible. It is also a wonderful opportunity for more families to experience the convenience and value of local bus services first hand.
“We hope this not only supports communities over the summer but also inspires lasting confidence in public transport and encourages the next generation to see buses as an easy and sustainable way to travel.”
Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said: “Buses are the most used form of public transport, essential in connecting people to opportunities.
“Building on the successful fares offers of many of our member transport authorities, Kids Go Free is a welcome and timely intervention – helping to make public transport more affordable over the summer holidays, and supporting families and young people to get to where they want to go.”
THERE ARE SOME WORDS OF CAUTION, HOWEVER …
Helen Barnard, Director of Policy and Research at Trussell said:“We are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living and the risk this will drive even more people into hunger and hardship, piling pressure on food banks that are already under immense strain.
“This package of summer support will do little to reassure people already struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table that the government has grasped the potentially dire impact of coming price rises, or is prepared to protect people at most risk of being forced to the doors of food banks.
“We expect energy bills to start rising this summer, continuing into the winter, with food and other costs also expected to rise over the year into winter and especially in early 2027. The government must urgently prepare a package of targeted measures to protect people on the lowest incomes from being forced into severe hardship as these cost pressures take hold.
“Last year, food banks in the Trussell community provided more than 2.6 million emergency food parcels across the UK. This isn’t right. The UK government must put appropriate plans in place to protect people on the lowest incomes from bearing the brunt of further spikes in prices and ensure that everyone can afford the essentials.
“The government made a UK manifesto promise to end the need for emergency food. We will not see this become a reality without further bold action to build on the progress it has started.”
Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age Morgan Vine said:“The cost of living support measures announced today to reduce the price of some food and travel are positive, but do not address the biggest issue weighing on older people living in financial hardship right now, energy bills.
“It’s inevitable that energy prices are going to soar as we move through summer and into the colder months.
“People in later life on low incomes tell us they are increasingly anxious and are already cutting back on essentials. Many simply cannot afford any further increases in their bills. We urge the UK Government to announce as soon as possible additional targeted energy support for low-income households.
“People of all ages on low incomes urgently need this reassurance so that they have a chance at keeping their homes warm during the colder months.”
Three million UK households are being forced to skip meals and cut family visits according to new research from Which? that reveals the human impact of cost of living pressures and collapsing consumer confidence.
Which?’s latest Consumer Insight Tracker shows that households across the country are having to take more and more drastic measures to mitigate rising costs.
In the month to 10 April, Which? found consumer confidence fell to -62 – the lowest level since the height of the cost of living crisis in 2022 (-70). This decline reflects a widespread pessimism as the vast majority of UK adults (71%) think the UK economy will worsen over the next 12 months, while fewer than one in ten (9%) think it will improve.
Which? found an overwhelming majority of UK adults (85%) are now worried about food prices – up from 83 per cent in February. This concern is forcing lifestyle changes as two thirds (67%) of households have made at least one adjustment to their shopping or eating habits in the last month to reduce how much they spend on food.
The most common adjustments are buying cheaper products (43%), buying more supermarket own budget-range items (37%), and buying extra items when on promotion (31%).
Concerningly, Which? found one in seven (15%) UK households reported going without some foods and one in ten – equivalent to three million households – are now skipping meals to keep the cost of their weekly shop down.
Food is not the only major concern for households, Which? found eight in ten (83%) UK adults are worried about fuel prices – this figure has shot up from 71 per cent in February of this year. Over two thirds (69%) have made adjustments to their driving habits to battle costs, with knock-on effects on their social and family lives.
Most common adjustments include making fewer leisure trips over the last month (33%), and planning journeys more carefully (23%). However, about one in eight said they had visited friends and family less (13%).
This increase in concern over everyday essentials reflects how financial difficulty has risen rapidly throughout 2026. Consumer sentiment was already bad prior to the Middle East conflict, but has fallen sharply in the last two months.
In the month to 10 April, over half (53%), or an estimated 15 million UK households, made adjustments to cover essential spending, such as cutting back on essentials (29%), using savings (25%), selling possessions (9%), or borrowing from friends or family (9%).
Worryingly, 7.7% of UK households missed a house bill, loan, or credit card payment. The average rate of missed payments over the last three months was 7.5%, up significantly from 5.7% at the end of last year. If this trend continues, missed payments will reach levels seen during the peak of the cost-of-living crisis over the next few months.
These findings intensify pressure on the government to find interventions that will ease household costs, improve consumer confidence and restore faith in markets. Businesses must also do everything possible to support their customers and ensure they are offering genuine value for money as millions of households struggle to cover the basics.
With many households now reaching a breaking point, Which? is calling for urgent policy interventions outlined in a manifesto launched in Parliament this week to tackle unfair rip-offs and improve access to essentials.
The manifesto includes a priority call to reform the Healthy Start scheme, a vital nutritional safety net for low-income families during pregnancy and early childhood. Which? is warning that its value has failed to keep pace with food inflation and is urging the government to uprate payments, expand eligibility to all families on Universal Credit, and encourage supermarket support to ensure those struggling most can afford a healthy diet.
As financial difficulty continues to rise, anyone struggling to afford essential payments such as housing, bills or credit cards should speak to their provider immediately for support.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Our latest research highlights the deepening strain not only on household finances, but also on people’s physical and social wellbeing as cost of living pressures bite.
“Many are already making difficult choices, such as skipping meals. Without meaningful interventions the number of people taking drastic measures is likely to increase.
“We need to see urgent action, as set out in our Cost of Living Manifesto, to address these costs and help restore confidence before even more households are pushed into serious financial difficulty.”
Campaigners say tens of thousands of people on low incomes are at risk of being ‘disenfranchised by deprivation’ in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.
New research by the Poverty Alliance has found an 11% gap in voter turnout at the last Scottish elections between the top and bottom 10 constituencies in terms of deprivation.
The charity is calling on politicians to close that ‘democratic deficit’ by supporting community get-out-the-vote campaigns – and by delivering on policies that close inequality and lift people out of poverty.
Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Our democracy can only work when politicians listen and act on people’s priorities. When that doesn’t happen, people lose trust in the system and simply stop participating.
“For years people in Scotland have put issues around the cost of living and the economy near the top of their political priorities. But lack of fundamental change has led to a democratic deficit, with people in areas of higher deprivation losing faith in the process more quickly.
“We regularly work with people struggling on low incomes. They are often highly political, with strong views about what is needed in their communities, in our society, and in our unjust economy. But they increasingly feel disenfranchised from a political process that is failing to address deprivation, poverty, and inequality. That has to change.”
The Poverty Alliance research found that in 2021 the average turnout in the 10 least deprived Scottish Parliament seats was 68%. In the 10 most deprived constituencies it was just 57%. That amounts to a gap of more than 60,300 voters.
The biggest democratic deficit was found between Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn with a turnout of 52%, compared to a 76% turnout in Eastwood. If the Glasgow seat had matched that level an additional 13,300 voters would have went to the polls there.
If the 10 most deprived seats had matched the turnout in Eastwood, an extra 108,000 votes would have been cast.
The Poverty Alliance has more than 450 members organisations across Scotland. It has created ‘Vote Your Values’ campaign materials that those groups can use to help people in their communities get registered to vote, and to get to cast their ballot on election day.
Peter Kelly said: “There is evidence that get-out-the-vote campaigns can help decrease the democratic deficit in communities, and we’d like to see greater support for them from political leaders for future elections.
“But the biggest thing politicians can do to help strengthen our democracy is to invest in a better future free from the threat of hunger, debt and destitution, where each of us has what we need to build a more secure life for ourselves and our households, and a better society for everyone.”
The Poverty Alliance manifesto calls for progress towards a Minimum Income Guarantee – which would give everyone the right to an income that never falls below what is needed for life’s essentials. The policy would be delivered through a combination of fair paid work, high quality services, and strengthened social security.
The charity says new MSPs can commit to piloting the approach among unpaid carers and in rural areas. And it calls for policy steps along the road to a full Guarantee, including encouraging and incentivising employers to deliver fair work with real Living Wages, raising the Scottish Child Payment to £55 a week by 2030, and investing in home energy efficiency and affordable heating to cut people’s energy bills.
“Projects that tackle the impact of poverty and promote inclusion.”
Funding available:
In 2026 our grants will be available up to a maximum £6,000 each. However, we recognise that impactful activities can often cost less and we welcome applications of less than £6,000. We want to see projects that promote community activities, reduce poverty and the impact of poverty, tackle inequalities and enhance diversity and equality e.g. lunch clubs, cooking groups, arts and crafts and DIY projects.
Who can apply:
Any registered Scottish Charity or constituted community group, provided they are based in Edinburgh and focus their activities within the city boundary.
Organisations with an overall income of no more than £750,000. Please note priority will be given to those with an annual income of less than £600,000.
Applications may include core costs related to the delivery of the project such as utilities, salaries, venue hire and other costs which make the project viable.
Applications from partnerships or consortiums are welcomed, however, one of the partners must apply as the lead organisation who will be accountable for the grant.
Organisations funded by the Trust within the past two years can apply again, provided their application is for a completely different proposal than that which was previously funded.
A governing document, bank account in the name of the organisation and the most current signed charity accounts MUST be supplied.
We will not fund:
Requests from individuals or non-constituted groups.
The following Projects or initiatives.
bodies constituted as statutory or other public-sector organisations.
Profit distributing companies, partnerships or organisations including CICs with share capital.
The promotion of faith groups, religion, political beliefs, or animal welfare.
Projects seeking repeat or multi-year funding.
large Festivals, Events, or theatrical adaption.
Foreign trips or overseas projects.
Organisations less than one year old.
Organisations out with the city boundary of Edinburgh, and
Organisations involved in the distribution of grants or funds to other organisation’s/individuals.
Campaigners have called for a Minimum Income Guarantee and an immediate increase in the Scottish Child Payment that will lift thousands out of poverty.
He said: “Poverty is a profound injustice that robs people of what they need to build a decent life for themselves and a better future for our country. These figures show that MSPs in the next Scottish Parliament need to invest much more in the social foundation we all rely on.
“Because of changes in the way the figures have been worked out, we have to be cautious about the comparisons we make. But they show some welcome progress over the last few years, with the overall number of people in poverty falling by about 130,000 since 2021/22, and the number of children in poverty from 540,000 to 420,000.
“But we have serious concerns that those numbers could increase again, as people face yet another energy crisis and the prospect of rocketing living costs across the board.
“The figures show that there are 630,000 people in severe poverty – with children making up 150,000 of them. It is simply wrong that so many of our fellow citizens find themselves pushed so close to deprivation.”
The Poverty Alliance repeated its calls to boost the Scottish Child Payment to £55 a week.
Peter Kelly said: “Our new MSPs will have a legal responsibility to make sure that fewer than 10% of Scotland’s children are in poverty by 2030/31. Today’s figures show that 21% of our children are living with that daily injustice.
“We simply cannot allow this to continue. The Scottish Government can help by strengthening the support we give to households with children, and the UK Government can help by scrapping the unjust benefit cap.
“And over the course of the next Parliament, we will continue to build public support for real Living Wages and a Minimum Income Guarantee that will make sure everyone has what they need to use their talents for the benefit of themselves, their households, and all of us.”
Responding to today’s statistics on household incomes and poverty which show one in five children in Scotland are trapped in poverty, Chief Executive of Children First, Mary Glasgow said: “A small drop in child poverty does not change the urgent need for action to tackle Scotland’s childhood emergency and meet Scotland’s 2030 child poverty target.
“It is not acceptable that one in five children in Scotland are living in poverty. It has a devastating impact on children’s mental health, wellbeing, education and prospects that can last into adulthood. Reducing child poverty is an investment in Scotland’s future, improving public health, strengthening communities and reducing public costs in the long term.
“In the run up to the election, every political party must prioritise policies that support families, strengthen incomes and uphold Scotland’s commitment to eradicating child poverty.”
Commenting on today’s latest official poverty statistics, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “Today’s statistics show there are still too many pensioners living in poverty in Scotland.
“As the national charity supporting older people on low incomes, we know that older people are skipping meals, washing in cold water and not turning the heating on. This is wrong and a social injustice.
“As the Holyrood elections approach, all political parties must prioritise action to reduce pensioner poverty. This should start with a national strategy, a plan setting out the key actions to reduce poverty in older age and act as a map for how we will get there.
“They must also pledge to improve the social security support for older people on low incomes, and commit to supporting older people improve the energy efficiency of homes.
“We also urge the UK Government to introduce a social tariff for energy across the whole of the UK to reduce the cost of heating for older people on low incomes. The UK Government must also improve the take-up and adequacy of the payments they administer to older people.
“The levels of poverty in later life are too high in Scotland, and with around 1.7 million older people now in poverty across the UK, today’s figures must be a call to action.”
TRUSSELL commented: “It’s encouraging that child poverty is falling in Scotland. It shows the power of investing in social security.
“But it’s not acceptable that 1 in 5 children are locked in poverty. All parties must commit to decisive action to ensure every child has a decent start in life.”
Cara Hilton, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Trussell, said: “Today, the Family Resources Survey has revealed a heartbreaking injustice; persistently high numbers of people across Scotland are trapped in the grip of severe hardship.
“While the latest figures indicate that some people are getting back on their feet, the numbers of people facing hunger in our communities are still too high. As we find ourselves yet again facing uncertain times, we know that progress can be too easily undone. People just surviving could once again be pushed over the edge if the price of food and bills increases.
“Food banks in our community provided more than 220,000 food parcels in Scotland in 2025 – that’s 64% more than in 2015. These new figures from the government confirm that 500,000 people are facing hunger across Scotland. This isn’t right.
“With the Holyrood election just six weeks away, Trussell is calling on all political parties to commit to building a Scotland where everyone can afford the essentials and where every child has a decent start in life.
“This should include immediate investment to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week, increasing to £55 by the end of the next Holyrood session. We need the Scottish government to build firmer foundations for people on the lowest incomes so all of us have the support we need to thrive.”
Latest poverty statistics published
Two poverty statistics publications were released by the Scottish Government yesterday. Poverty and income inequality in Scotland 2022-25 covers the period up to March 2025, presenting poverty rates for children, working-age adults and pensioners.
Methodological changes have been applied to the statistics in this report as the Department for Work and Pensions have linked the source data from the Family Resources Survey to administrative records on social security benefits.
As a result, there have been revisions to previously published poverty rates back to 2021/22, and further revisions are planned as part of on-going development work. Users should therefore note that caution is needed when interpreting the statistics to assess trends over time.
The most recent three-year averages for 2022-25 show that:
Around 17 per cent of Scotland’s population (940,000 people) were living in relative poverty after housing costs. This was 15 per cent (840,000 people) before housing costs. Poverty rates for Scotland’s population have been broadly stable for around a decade.
Children are more likely to be in relative poverty: 21 per cent of children are in relative poverty after housing costs, compared to 13 per cent of pensioners and 18 per cent of working-age adults. Children in relative poverty are more likely to be in a working household; 75% of children in relative poverty have at least one person working in the household while 25% have no-one in household working.
The median household income before housing costs was £707 per week and after housing costs was £636. Prior to 2021/22, median incomes had increased slowly but steadily since the recession in 2008/09.
Persistent Poverty in Scotland 2010-24 presents statistics on people who live in relative poverty for at least three out of the last four years. The latest figures show that around one in ten people in Scotland (11 per cent) were in persistent poverty, after housing costs, between 2020 and 2024. Persistent poverty rates were highest for children (17 per cent), and lower for working-age adults (10 per cent) and pensioners (9 per cent).
Persistent poverty is an important measure because the longer someone is in poverty, the more it impacts on their health, well-being, and overall life chances. These impacts can affect an individual throughout their lifetime.
Further information on the two publications is set out below:
This Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland publication contains statistics on poverty, child poverty, poverty risks for various equality characteristics, household income and income inequality for Scotland. This report also includes statistics on household food security. The data comes from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey (FRS), Households Below Average Income dataset. Comparable UK income and poverty figures are published on the same day by DWP.
Statistics from this report have been revised, back to 2021/22, due to a methodology change. The FRS is now linked to administrative data, which means the majority of FRS responses for benefit income and tax credits have been replaced with data from DWP’s administrative sources. Further years of linked estimates back to survey year 2018/19 will be published in summer 2026 in a follow up release. The absolute poverty measure has also been amended as a result of the data linkage; full details can be found in the report.
This publication has been designated as official statistics in development in line with the other devolved administrations in order to acknowledge the changes to the methodology and that there will be a period of flux as further methodological changes are implemented. Future changes are announced by DWP in their release strategy, which is updated periodically as plans develop. A statistical blog has been published on the Scottish Government website to inform users of developments.
Figures are presented in the main report are three-year averages of each estimate. Three-year estimates are better to identify trends over time. The four child poverty measures in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act are based on single-year figures. These statistics are available in the reference tables and in the child poverty summary.The single-year estimates exhibit more year-on-year fluctuation compared to the three-year averages and should be interpreted with caution.
This Persistent Poverty in Scotland publication presents estimates of the proportion of people in Scotland who live in persistent poverty. The data comes from the Understanding Society Survey, and the latest statistics cover the period from 2020 to 2024. Statistics from this report are badged as official statistics.
Poverty statistics are used by the Scottish Government and other organisations to monitor progress in tackling poverty and child poverty, and to analyse what drives poverty and what works for tackling poverty and income inequality.
Relative poverty: A person is in relative poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the current UK median. Relative poverty statistics fall if income growth at the lower end of the income distribution is greater than overall income growth.
Absolute poverty: A person is in absolute poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the UK median in a given reference year, adjusted for inflation. Absolute poverty statistics fall if low income households are seeing their incomes rise faster than inflation. Due to the structural break introduced by the data linkage the reference year for absolute poverty has been moved from 2010/11 to 2024/25.
Combined low income and material deprivation identifies the proportion of children in households with incomes below 70% of the median UK income and going without certain basic essential goods and services.
Persistent poverty identifies the number of people in relative poverty for three or more out of four years. People who live in poverty for several years may be affected by it throughout their lifetime.
The poverty publications present poverty figures before and after housing costs. Before-housing-costs figures are a basic measure of household income from earnings and benefits. After-housing-costs figures subtract spending on rents, mortgage interest payments and other unavoidable housing costs from this basic income. In Scotland, poverty statistics focus mainly on poverty after housing costs.
Thousands of families to gain new opportunities to learn, earn and thrive
As a result of £21 million of new, targeted investment in colleges and skills, families at risk of poverty will receive additional support to train, to help them enter stable, well-paid work or progress in their career.
The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan includes £9 million for a Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) Fund, which will give parents and carers practical help to build new skills – offering training they can fit around family life, along with essential support with childcare, travel, and study costs.
A £2 million Training Access Fund will support working adult learners most at risk of poverty to access skills training, to give them the chance to earn more and build a stable career.
A new £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund will aim to incentivise businesses to offer training opportunities to parents earning low incomes in a way that meets employer needs while helping working parents and carers increase their earning potential and progress in their careers.
Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said: “We are committed to making sure that education and training works for everyone, especially those who need it most, as part of our wider efforts to eradicate poverty in Scotland.
“Every person deserves opportunities to build a better future for themselves and their household. This £21 million package of targeted investment in skills will help remove barriers to training, such as childcare and transport costs, which can too often stand between parents and the skills that they need to get on in work.”
Gavin Donoghue, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said: “Colleges are strong community anchors across the country, and the funding pledged kick starts a range of ways that colleges can accelerate and expand programmes that support people to leave poverty.
“The investment into more anti-poverty programmes is welcome recognition of the huge part that colleges play in making people’s lives better.
“Colleges are an opportunity that works, serving learners from some of Scotland’s most deprived communities and are a driving force for social good in every part of the country.”
Jacqui Brasted, Scottish Funding Council Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes, said: “Every child should have the opportunity to flourish. Scotland’s colleges can play a vital role in transforming lives by providing a lasting route out of poverty.
“They offer access to the skills and education needed to support families enter, remain and progress in work. We are delighted to be working with Colleges Scotland to ensure that the welcome funding provided by the Scottish Government is targeted where it is needed most.”
