The Scottish Government has announced that a further 12 projects are to benefit from funding boosts that will support the mission to tackle child poverty.
Coming in Scottish Challenge Poverty Week grants worth up to £80,000 will be committed to the projects that will cover a range of work, including supporting families as they access health services, giving financial advice, and supporting employees to work flexibly around their personal lives. This comes alongside the Scottish Government’s commitment to ending child poverty, with the selected projects being both innovative and local.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said:
“We want to see this community-focused approach replicated across Scotland. That’s why our Fairer Future Partnerships are expanding to five new areas across Scotland – joining up local services, offering financial advice and supporting parents into work.
“Engaging people with experience of poverty as we build these services is at the heart of the government’s approach - and we are building on the strong foundations we have laid to end poverty in Scotland.
“The Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund will kick-start another 12 innovative projects across the country to give even more families the help and support they need.”
Funding will be allocated to projects around the country, including:
- West Lothian
- Aberdeen
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Edinburgh
- Stirling
Councillor Douglas Reid, East Ayrshire Council Leader and Chair of East Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Board, also commented:
"In East Ayrshire, we recognise that the challenges of addressing poverty and inequality require the combined efforts of a whole range of partners. We are therefore delighted to be one of five new Fairer Future Partnerships and look forward to working with Scottish Government and our partners, including the third sector, to advance local, innovative approaches that reduce child poverty through improving wellbeing, maximising incomes and supporting people into work.
“As a Council we have already committed £40 million to be spent over the next ten years in support of change, prevention and early intervention, reflecting our commitment to tackling poverty and increasing fairness in our communities."
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