Child Poverty

Children are experts in their own lives. As such, Children’s Parliament is interested in learning about the experiences that shape children’s lives at home, at school and in the community. For roughly one in four children in Scotland (2018), poverty is one of the biggest issues they face. It has a deep and lasting impact on children’s development, educational attainment and aspirations.

If a child doesn’t have food, they won’t have energy to go to school meaning that they won’t be able to get a job and the chain will continue.

Member of Children’s Parliament, aged 11

As part of the wider consultation and engagement work around the development of the Child Poverty Bill and Delivery Plan, Scottish Government commissioned Children’s Parliament to facilitate a consultation with children to explore their experiences and views of how poverty affects their lives. 

For this consultation, Children’s Parliament worked with 96 children, aged between 8 and 13 years old from six schools across Scotland.

If Scotland is to become the best place for children to grow up, it is essential that all of our children have a childhood where they feel healthy, happy and safe and their life course is not limited by poverty.

Our report ensured that the experiences and views of children were reflected in the strategic and legislative developments taken forward by Scottish Government.


Consultation facilitated on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Date: 2018
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