Child poverty rate falls – but more needs to be done
CHILD poverty in Inverclyde has fallen to its lowest level in three years according to a new report but more still needs to be done to tackle the problem.
In 2024, the rate was 22.4 per cent– down 3.7 per cent from 26.1 per cent in 2023.
The figure is also two per cent lower than the 24.4 per cent rate recorded in 2022.
The data was included in a report by the End Child Poverty Coalition of all UK local authority areas based on research by Loughborough University.
The annual analysis is based on family income after housing costs, which is only one of many indicators of poverty and assessment of disposable family income.
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “The figures highlight that we are moving in the right direction and the hard work of this council alongside local and national partners is starting to bear fruit.
“But more needs to be done to not just tackle child poverty but to make it a thing of the past because in this day and age no child should be without basic essentials.
“It’s reassuring that the child poverty rate for Inverclyde is falling but this latest research shows that close to one in four children are still living in poverty and that is not something anybody should be proud of.
“Councils cannot do it all themselves and we need more support from the Scottish and UK governments to not just access more funding but to use our local knowledge and expertise to direct that funding into areas and projects that need it the most to make the maximum impact.”
Inverclyde Council has been leading the way in Scotland by piloting projects aimed at reducing child poverty by looking at the many factors contributing to child poverty and launching initiatives that bring together public, private and third sector organisations to provide whole family support.
The overarching project has become known as the ‘Inverclyde approach’ and includes the likes of the new £500,000 B-Hive Community Hub at Boglestone Community Centre in Port Glasgow, providing help with out-of-school childcare and a safe space where parents and children can meet, learn new skills, and get help and advice about a range of local services and support under one roof.
Inverclyde Council also remains the only local authority in Scotland funding free school meals for all primary pupils having first introduced the policy in 2023.
Other council-led initiatives aimed at supporting families and tackling child poverty include funded playschemes to make them free for young people to attend, free swimming for under-16s, Inverclyde’s Warm Hand of Friendship to provide access to warm spaces and practical advice during the winter months, zero waste food pantries and food growing projects, and employability and training opportunities.
Councillor McCabe said: “Child poverty is not just about money and income, that’s just one of several key contributing factors.
“It’s also about providing education, skills, opportunities and resources for young people and their families to thrive.
“A lot of great work is being done across Inverclyde by the council and health and social care partnership in collaboration with communities, community groups, third sector, private sector, and government.
“That partnership working and external investment is crucial in allowing us to achieve our collective goal of eradicating child poverty.”
The figures and further information are available on the End Child Poverty website at www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/child-poverty-2025/ or via the link in the Other Websites section of this page.
An update on the Inverclyde approach to tackling child poverty and some of the initiatives that have been established will go before the next meeting of the Inverclyde Alliance community planning partnership board on Monday 16 June 2025 at 2pm.
Papers are available on the Inverclyde Council website via the link in the Related Links section of this page.