PROBLEM DEBT IN SCOTLAND
We’re calling on Scotland’s political parties to prioritise financial security.
Our Scottish election manifesto sets out actions to:
– Ensure room to repay council tax
– Tackle the energy debt crisis
– Rebuild financial resilience
– Address economic abuse
– Deal with problem debt
Read more:
https://stepchange.org/policy-and-research/parliament/scotland-policy-asks.aspx
Thousands of children living in kinship care are set to benefit from earlier, more consistent support as the government today announces seven new Kinship Zones across England.
Kinship carers are adults who step in to provide a loving and supportive home to children in their family whose parents are unable to care for them full-time for a wide range of reasons. They are often grandparents, aunts, uncles or family friends.
These children have often experienced trauma and might otherwise end up in the care system, where outcomes in areas like education and health are significantly worse.
Currently, kinship carers do not receive consistent financial support, unlike foster carers and adoptive families. This is despite the fact that kinship care is shown to lead to better outcomes the residential care homes, with a 2021 report by University College London showing lower rates of long term illness and higher rates of employment for adults with a history of kinship care compared to those that grew up in foster or residential care
The government is now trialling a financial allowance to eligible kinship carers, backed by £126 million to reach around 5,000 children, recognising the vital role carers play in the lives of their vulnerable children.
This starts with a pilot in the seven local authority area Kinship Zones announced today, with kinship carers to be provided with funding per child, equivalent to what foster carers receive.
Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, said: “As a country we owe kinship carers our thanks and our support, and the new financial allowance which we’re trialling as part of our plan for change recognises the vital role they play ensuring families can stay together.
“We promised to introduce this scheme to support kinship carers who step up for the children they love and give every child the best possible start in life.
“These Kinship Zones will lead the way in showing the impact for children when we unlock the power of grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives who could care for their kin in the place of the care system.”
Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive of Foundations, said: Kinship carers play a vital role in helping to ensure that children can stay safely looked after in their family networks.
“That’s why we’re pleased to undertake the evaluation of the kinship financial allowances pilot announced today, to help to build the evidence base and shape future support for kinship carers and the children they care for.”
Jahnine Davies, National Kinship Care Ambassador, said : “The launch of the Kinship Zones pilot marks an important milestone for kinship carers and the children they care for. For the first time, we have a government‑led initiative that will not only examine how best to provide financial support for kinship families but will also encourage local authorities to look holistically at the support they offer and adopt a genuine ‘think family’ approach.
“Alongside this, my report, also published today, sets out key learning in this area, and I hope it will be a valuable resource for all local authorities as they review and strengthen their approach to kinship care.
“I look forward to working with the Kinship Zones and celebrating the launch of this vital pilot.”
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said : “Kinship carers provide stability and love during moments of significant upheaval in a child’s life – their value often goes under-acknowledged, but the commitment they offer can be transformative.
“The overwhelming majority of children in kinship care who I have spoken to as Children’s Commissioner tell me they feel loved and cared for, a true testament to the unique bonds formed during kinship care.
“I have called for kinship carers to be given a financial allowance that supports the transition into these new living arrangements – so I am grateful to the government for listening and taking this important first step.”
Cathy Ashley OBE, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group said: “All children should be raised safely in their family wherever possible. Kinship carers step in, often at a moment’s notice, to make that happen.
“They often save the state thousands in care costs but many face real financial hardship in doing so. The pilot is taking a groundbreaking step which will make a difference to 4,500 children and their families in seven areas.
“In the meantime, as all local authorities develop their kinship local offer, this is a critical moment for national and local government to go further to build a fair, effective support system for all kinship families.”
James Bury, Head of Policy, Research and Development at CoramBAAF, said: “This is an encouraging and positive important announcement for kinship carers and CoramBAAF welcomes the launch of the financial allowances pilot.
“This important initiative will provide much needed financial support to kinship families in seven local authorities.
“Through our work supporting practice and hearing directly from families, we know the challenges that kinship carers can face, as well as the challenges facing local authorities in providing consistent and fair financial support.
“We look forward to seeing the impact of the pilots and look forward to this potentially leading to a wider roll-out to enable families across the country to benefit.”
Lucy Peake, Chief Executive of Kinship said: “Today’s announcement is an important first step towards ensuring kinship families have the financial support they need to provide children with stable, loving homes.
“A guaranteed allowance equal to the foster care allowance will be life‑changing for kinship carers in the local authority areas where this is being piloted, many of whom struggle to afford the basics for the children they have unexpectedly stepped in to raise.
“Following years of campaigning alongside kinship carers, we’re pleased the government has recognised the current system is inequitable and is putting a huge strain on kinship families, pushing many into poverty. Providing financial support to kinship families and investing in family networks will help children stay safely with those who love them, and reduce the need for more costly options in the care system.
“Kinship carers hold our care system together, and they deserve the right support to continue doing so.”
This ambitious pilot programme – the largest government investment in kinship care of its kind to date – will support around 5,000 kinship children, backed by over £126 million of new funding confirmed for the first two years with further funding to be confirmed in the next Spending Review period.
The pilot will run for up to three and a half years, with further expansion to be confirmed after evaluation.
The seven confirmed Kinship Zone local authorities are:
Each Kinship Zone will receive a package of funding and support, enabling local authorities to tailor delivery to local needs. Money saved by local authorities thanks to central government pilot funding will be redirected to other support schemes for family networks.
The seven local authority areas were chosen following a selection process last June. Together, they offer a useful mix of geography, demographics, and service models. This was intentional: the pilot is designed to test what works at scale in varied local contexts, so robust learning can be generated for future decisions.
Some councils offer support to kinship carers, but it can vary greatly. The Kinship Zones programme will enable the DfE and participating councils to work out how best to deliver financial support to kinship carers across the country and how it should be delivered in future.
The ultimate goal is to support more children to grow up within their family networks, avoiding care. The children’s care organisation Foundations, working in partnership with consultancy Alma Economics, will track outcomes for carers and children throughout the pilot to inform future decisions.
The Department for Education will publish findings from the programme to ensure transparency about what works and how support can be strengthened nationwide.
The Kinship Zones programme marks a significant step forward in ensuring they receive the right help at the right time, while building a strong evidence base to shape future national policy.
People may be missing out on social security support they are entitled to due to stigma around social security, new research shows.
Independent research commissioned by Social Security Scotland found that while nine in ten (91%) people agree anyone could need financial support when their circumstances change – four in ten (39%) say applying would make them feel less positive about themselves. This rises to almost half (48%) among 16 to 34-year-olds.
The survey also shows how negative portrayals could be fuelling this. Three quarters (75%) of people believe those who receive social security support are portrayed negatively by politicians and/or the media. Almost four in ten (39%) of people surveyed agreed people who receive social security are judged negatively by their family and friends.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Everyone should be able to access support without fear or shame, and these findings reinforce why we are delivering social security differently in Scotland — through a system rooted in dignity, fairness and respect.
“From the language we use to how we deliver our services – we designed our social security system based on feedback from people with lived experience. This has included using more compassionate language in letters, providing help in a format or language that best suits the individual and offering help with applications online, over the phone and in person. We all share responsibility for talking about social security with kindness – words matter.
“We’ll continue to work with clients and stakeholders to make further improvements and help break down the barriers that stop too many people getting the help they are entitled to.”
David Reilly, Communities and Networks Manager at Poverty Alliance added: “Our social security is a public good like the NHS – it’s there for everybody, especially those who need it most.
“There are 1.1 million people in Scotland who are struggling today on a low income – they have the same right to thrive as everybody else.
“But prejudice and negative stereotypes, often starting in our media and politics, then trickling down into our own communities and families – this unfair judgement can hold people back from reaching out and claiming what they’re entitled to – sometimes to the point of starvation and destitution. That’s simply wrong.
“Together, we can stand up for each other and reclaim the idea of social security as a basic human right, and a foundation that allows people to build better futures for themselves and their households.”
Karen Wylie, Policy and Participation Manager at Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) added: “GDA hears from our members that disability benefits are a lifeline not a luxury for disabled people.
“In our survey conducted in October 2025, we heard that stigma played a significant, prohibitive role in how and when people apply for benefits.
“Our members call for a change in narrative around social security so that it’s seen as a human right that not only covers the basics but also covers the additional costs of being disabled and enables people to live full and participative lives with choice and control.”
A Scottish Government Parent Club campaign is supporting parents and carers in Edinburgh to access free, trusted advice on employment, managing household costs, and applying for benefits.
The campaign recognises that money worries can feel overwhelming, particularly for parents balancing work and caring responsibilities. It aims to remove stigma by encouraging families to take the first step to seek support through Parent Club and connect with local services offering tailored, confidential advice.
Emma Jackson from Citizens Advice Scotland, which is supporting the campaign said: “We know that many families in Edinburgh are under real financial pressure at the moment and we also know that asking for help isn’t always easy. With this campaign we want to take the stress and worry out of finding help, and guide parents every step of the way.
“Because help is available — the local Citizens Advice Bureau and other partner organisations are ready to give you the free, confidential support and advice you need for your family, whether that’s online, over the phone or in person.
“We can help you to review your spending, manage any debt, or make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to — without putting your current support at risk. You can also get advice on finding work that fits around your family or boosts your income.
“If you’re feeling worried or unsure where to start, Parent Club is a good first step to find information and support that’s right for you and your family.”
For parents looking to find work or increase earnings, Parent Club makes it easy to find support, from job searching and interview tips to finding affordable childcare that fits around your family, training opportunities and improving your CV.
The campaign forms part of a wider package of measures announced recently by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to tackle economic inactivity and support parents into work.
Funding of £90 million in the draft Scottish Budget for 2026-27 is expected to help up to 7,500 people furthest from the labour market into work, with thousands more benefiting from qualifications and training. This includes a £40 million package focused on supporting parents most at risk of poverty into jobs and training opportunities.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes commented: “Our employability services are helping people into work who may otherwise face barriers to employment due to factors such as illness, disability or simply taking time out to have a family.
“the involvement of major employers and a wide range of partners delivering support across Scotland, we are building people’s confidence and providing access to new skills.
“Tackling economic inactivity is a win-win situation – it boosts the economy and tackles child poverty by providing families with a secure income – and our £90 million Budget commitment will enable more people to access employment support.”
Parent Club is the Scottish Government’s online support hub for parents and carers, offering trusted advice and helping families connect with local services. You can get more information about support with money and employment at: parentclub.scot/money-work
Dear Editor,
We’re reaching out with a feel good community story we hope you’ll help us share:
At LIFT – Low Income Families Together, based at Muirhouse Millennium Centre, we are preparing for our Easter celebration taking place on Friday 3rd April, and we need the support of our amazing local businesses and community.
Every year, we support families across Edinburgh who are facing incredibly tough circumstances. For many of the children attending our Easter event, an Easter egg isn’t just chocolate, it’s a moment of joy, a sense of belonging, and a reminder that their community cares.
This year, we are inviting local businesses to be part of something truly special by donating:
Easter eggs Easter-themed gifts or treats Vouchers or small prizes for our event Baking or party food Monetary donations to help us purchase eggs and supplies
Our Easter event on 3rd April will bring families together for a day filled with fun, smiles, and celebration — and with the right support, we can ensure every child leaves with something special.
We would be so grateful if you could help us spread the word and encourage local businesses to step forward. We are also happy to acknowledge and publicly thank businesses who support the event.
Donations can be dropped off at:
LIFT – Low Income Families Together
Muirhouse Millennium Centre
7 Muirhouse Medway
Edinburgh
EH4 4RW
Mobile: 07591 718 995
Centre: 0131 467 3578
Email: enquiriesmuirhouse@gmail.com
Together, we can turn small acts of kindness into big Easter smiles.
With love and gratitude,
Pam
LIFT 
A £620,000 package to support the continued growth of the Gaelic language has been announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes on the first day of World Gaelic Week.
The funding includes an additional £200,000 for MG ALBA (the Gaelic media service) to deliver high-quality content including series two of BBC ALBA’s award-winning crime thriller An t-Eilean.
Independent research has found that Gaelic media generates £1.34 for every £1 invested and supports 340 jobs across Scotland, including 160 in island communities.
The new funding will also support ongoing work to establish the first dedicated Gaelic cultural centre in the Highlands and structural improvements at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – the world’s only Gaelic-medium college on the Isle of Skye.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “This year’s World Gaelic Week is particularly special, being the first since Gaelic gained official status through the Scottish Languages Act.
“This new investment will help the language thrive, from broadcasting that brings Gaelic to new audiences to education initiatives that help more people learn it.
“An t-Eilean’s success demonstrates there is a global appetite for high-quality Gaelic content. The programme has brought Gaelic into living rooms around the world and this funding will ensure the communities and talent behind that success continue to flourish.”
Sorcha Groundsell, who will return in series two of An t-Eilean in the lead role of Detective Sergeant Kat Crichton, said: ‘’I’m so pleased that An t-Eilean has been recommissioned for a second season.
“It was a wonderful and deeply fulfilling experience to be a part of season one and I have every faith the team will build on the work they did and that they will take the show to new heights and even broader audiences.
“It’s so important that we continue to platform Gàidhlig and to provide further opportunities for Gael creatives so that we can reinforce the language as a vital and vibrant force on the global cultural stage. I’m looking forward to picking up Kat’s journey and seeing where the show takes her in this next series!’’
The First Minister is expected to unveil the Scottish Government’s Islands Plan in Shetland later today. The plan includes measures to support Gaelic’s growth in island communities where it is traditionally spoken.
Information about World Gaelic Week is available online.
Jobseekers are to benefit from the roll-out of mobile jobs vans across Great Britain – appearing outside leisure centres, supermarkets and even football stadiums.
Following hugely successful pilots in the Scottish Highlands, North and Mid Wales and Greater Manchester, the number of Jobcentres on Wheels will triple, providing enhanced support in six new areas, with a view to explore rolling out the scheme more extensively after testing its impact.
The vans will take jobcentre staff on the road to communities with some of the highest rates of unemployment where support is needed most. Vans will park up outside family hubs, leisure centres, supermarkets, local events and football matches to make taking that first step towards work as easy as possible.
Once on board, people can meet with one of the DWP’s experienced work coaches who will who offer expert support with job searching and training opportunities.
They can also provide information to those with health conditions or disabilities and for accessing childcare costs.
As well as existing customers, the service is open and accessible to all members of the public and forms part of the government’s wider plans to Get Britain Working, kickstart economic growth and give more opportunities for people to get on in their career.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “We want to break down the barriers that stop people from finding good work, and that means meeting people where they are.
“Jobcentres on Wheels are doing exactly that – bringing employment support into the heart of communities.
“That’s why we’re building on the success we’ve already seen, expanding the service so we can unlock opportunities for even more people across the country.”
The areas the vans will now be extended to are Wakefield, North Nottinghamshire, Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Clevedon and Rhondda Cynon Taf/Bridgend.
To mark the roll out, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited the Bolton Mobile Jobcentre which was stationed outside Horwich Leisure Centre.
The Bolton Mobile Jobcentre, which was first launched in January 2025 has already supported nearly 800 customers – many of whom had never set foot into a jobcentre. Bolton has one of the highest inactivity rates in the North West, at 29.2% compared to the national average of 20.8%.
It has parked in a range of spaces including Bolton Wanderers’ football stadium on match days, Horwich Leisure Centre, family hubs and community centres, reaching those who might not otherwise access a traditional Jobcentre.
Data shows that just over half of customers visiting the vans are not in receipt of benefits, demonstrating the service is reaching many economically inactive people who may not engage with traditional jobcentres.
For example, in Bolton, a customer with health conditions walked onto the van looking for work. Within one visit, staff found him job leads, referred him to digital support, and connected him with training. The customer said this support was something he would never have thought to look for at a traditional Jobcentre.
Ben Lawton, CEO of Bolton Wanderers in the Community, said: “Here at BWitC we understand the drivers behind the increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
“The relational, holistic, community-based support delivered in trusted settings support those in our community facing these challenges.
“Working alongside Bolton Jobcentre and their Jobcentre Van is key to our Vision of One Bolton Connected in Success.”
The mobile Jobcentres will now operate in nine areas across England, Scotland and Wales, covering a mix of urban, rural, coastal and post-industrial communities. Trebling the Department’s mobile fleet will ensure the service reaches those who may face barriers accessing traditional jobcentres across Great Britain as a whole.
The initiative is part of the government’s commitment to reforming employment services and helping more people overcome barriers to work, including health conditions and caring responsibilities.
It is part of a major programme of reform as a test and learn approach which includes transforming Jobcentres and creating a new national jobs and careers service, backed by £55m as well as launching a new digital offer to deliver a transformative new service that will give anyone access to DWP support wherever they are.
NSPCC Scotland is urging politicians in all parties to help prevent harm to children and prioritise early support for families in future plans and investment decisions, as the charity publishes an overview of early years policies since devolution.
The report calls for a strategic, long‑term commitment to the early years to ensure every child in Scotland has the best possible start in life.
Published on the NSPCC Learning website it provides a descriptive summary of early years policymaking in Scotland over the past 25 years.
The NSPCC believes there are clear opportunities for improvement in current early years policy and is calling on the next Scottish Government to prioritise it. This is one of the charity’s five priority areas for child protection that it will be setting out next month in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections.
Early years – the period from pregnancy until a child turns five – is widely recognised as a critical stage in child development during which the foundations of learning, behaviour and lifelong mental and physical health are established.
In 2024, nearly half (45%) of the children on the child protection register in Scotland were under the age of four. This consisted of 93 unborn children and 913 aged newborn to four years old.1
Despite the youngest children in Scotland being the most vulnerable to harm, the 0-3 age group in particular can often be overlooked. It’s been called the ‘baby blindspot’.
Babies and very young children rely on sensitive and responsive care to grow and thrive. Evidence shows that investing in children’s earliest years not only reduces the need for costly interventions later in life but also helps tackle inequalities and ensures every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
In this report, the NSPCC sets out how the Scottish Government’s strongest focus on the early years can be traced back to 2011–12, with multi-agency initiatives that were designed to improve outcomes for children, reduce inequalities for those who were particularly vulnerable, and shift services toward prevention and early intervention.
However, the charity’s analysis reveals that strategic focus on the early years has not been maintained as attention shifted toward tackling the poverty-related attainment gap and addressing the long-term effects of childhood adversity in adulthood.
This has meant that targeted support for families and children, from pre-birth to age five, to prevent problems from developing or getting worse, has inadvertently declined.
The NSPCC’s view is that these days early years policy is too often viewed by the Government as meaning early learning and childcare provision, rather than as a broader agenda, which focuses on supporting families to build nurturing, responsive caregiving relationships.
Rachel Love, NSPCC Scotland Senior Policy Officer and report author, said: “Investing in early childhood provides significant long-term benefits for children, their families, and communities, including improved educational attainment, reduced health inequlaities and economic returns.
“Our analysis shows that prioritisation of early years has been inconsistent, leading to gaps in service planning and delivery; and when it has been a priority, funding and resourcing has not matched ambitions.
“As we approach the Scottish Parliament elections, all political parties have an important opportunity – and responsibility – to place the early years at the heart of future policy and public investment in Scotland.
“The NSPCC wants the new Government to give families the support they need, so every child gets the best possible start – ensuring Scotland keeps The Promise to its youngest children.”
The charity wants the new Government to:
For the full report visit:
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/2026/over-25-years-of-early-years
More than a hundred third sector organisations that work to address violence against women and girls have received a multi-year funding agreement from the Scottish Government.
Funding of £43.28 million over two years through the Delivering Equally Safe Fund will support organisations to deliver projects across Scotland. These will provide direct services to victims and survivors of gender-based violence and carry out vital prevention work.
This two-year funding agreement marks a significant step in the Scottish Government’s commitment to developing a more sustainable funding model for the third sector in line with fairer funding principles.
It follows a multi-year commitment of £3.5 million a year over the next three years for disability organisations as set out in the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27.
In addition to the Fairer Funding pilot announced last year, this means that almost 50% of the value of third sector grants in the Social Justice Portfolio in 2025-26 are now covered by multi-year funding agreements. This approach aims to protect the sector’s future by providing the certainty organisations need to plan ahead, retain specialist staff and sustain their vital services.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We have listened carefully to the third sector about the challenges they face.
“This includes the impact of single-year funding settlements on their ability to plan ahead and retain the specialist staff who are so vital to delivering these services.
“This multi-year investment demonstrates that we have heard and responded to those concerns. It will give organisations the stability and greater certainty they need to continue their essential work to protect victims and survivors of gender-based violence across Scotland.”
The Delivering Equally Safe Fund supports the work of the Equally Safe strategy, which underpins Scotland’s approach to preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.
The list of funded organisations is available on Inspiring Scotland’s website.
This winter, Children First is urging families in Edinburgh struggling to make ends meet to call its national support line.
The charity’s experienced team can give confidential assistance with money worries, and thanks to extra funding from the Scottish Government, can provide emergency support to families living in poverty.
As well as immediate help, every family that contacts the charity’s support line will be offered expert debt management advice, support to access benefits, and guidance to help families build a more secure financial future.
Thanks to partners British Gas Energy Trust, the charity is also able to offer eligible families new white goods ranging from fridges to washing machines – but only until the end of February.
In 2025, the charity’s support line helped nearly 1,500 families with money worries. The team put £1.8 million back into household budgets and supported families to manage over £1 million pounds in debts.
Simon McGowan, Assistant Director at Children First, said: “We know it can feel hard to talk about money worries, but getting help early can make an enormous difference. Our friendly team listens without judgement and helps parents and carers get the support they need to make life better for their children.
“As well as immediate financial help to alleviate a crisis, we can offer practical, down-to-earth help with budgeting, benefits, debt and energy bills. And thanks to British Gas Energy Trust, until the end of February we can provide white goods like washing machines and fridges to families living without these essentials.
“We want parents and carers to know they don’t need to face their money worries alone. If you’re struggling, please get in touch. We can help you straight away.
“Call the support line team free on 08000 28 22 33 from 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday or 9am – 12 noon Saturday and Sunday or start a webchat with the team on our website at www.childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline.”
When Amy* first called Children First’s support line, she was at breaking point. Trapped in a damp flat with two young children, suffering from postnatal depression and £190 short every month, she felt invisible and hopeless.
Children First’s support line arranged immediate food and heating support so Amy’s children could stay warm and fed. They secured £1,500 from the Home Heating Fund and negotiated lower bills, cutting Amy’s broadband by £38 per month. The team also secured £180 per month in child maintenance and connected Amy to housing, mental health and local family support services.
Amy’s financial situation improved by more than £4,500, lifting a weight off her shoulders and helping give her and her children a brighter, more secure future.
Amy said: “I felt invisible before I called. Now I feel like someone is on my side. My kids are happy, and I can breathe again.”
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the family.
In January 2026, Children First was awarded £1.5m in funding from the Scottish Government to provide extra emergency support to families in crisis as part of the national mission to eradicate child poverty.
Find out more here: £10m emergency support for families – gov.scot
