Children in Scotland congratulates John Swinney on FM appointment

Children in Scotland congratulates John Swinney on his appointment as Scotland’s First Minister.

Earlier this week, we were pleased to hear Mr Swinney reaffirm his commitment to eradicating child poverty. At a time when many families are facing significant cost-of-living pressures and 1 in 4 children in Scotland are growing up in poverty, it is clear more urgent action is required. We are calling on the First Minister to prioritise action on poverty by introducing an immediate uplift to the Scottish Child Payment with a view to increasing this to £40 by the end of this parliament.

To realise a Scotland where all children grow up loved, safe and respected, and where every child can realise their full potential, collaborative working is by essential. With the introduction of new UNCRC legislation coming into effect this summer, we have a unique opportunity to improve outcomes for children and young people in Scotland and to ensure our political decision-making is underpinned by children’s rights.

We look forward to working with Mr Swinney, the Scottish Government, MSPs, and our members and partners across the children’s sector to achieve our common goals. Together we can tackle significant issues impacting children, young people and families today, including poverty and inequality, access to public services, poor mental health, education reform, and the climate crisis.

David Mackay
Head of Policy, Projects and Participation