Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2024 - 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 24 September 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 24 September 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL HSCP 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 CHILD POVERTY ACTION PLAN REVIEW 2024 - 2025 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2024-2025 is a review of the Child Poverty Action Plan first published in 2019. It is a requirement under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 that local authorities and health boards jointly produce and publish an annual review of their plan, setting out work being undertaken to tackle child poverty in their region. This action is required up until 2030. The Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Group, led by Evan Beswick (Chief Officer; Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership) have produced this year’s review, it reflects a children’s rights approach children and young people are currently coproducing an updated graphic, plan on a page version of the plan. This will be published with the substantive plan. The review also seeks to reflect the vision that: We want an Argyll and Bute where no-one lives in poverty. Everyone should be able to achieve their potential and feel healthy, happy and valued. We want to be a place where everyone understands that tackling poverty is a shared responsibility. We believe that if we act locally, and in partnership, we can make a difference. DETAIL OF REPORT This report notes that although some progress has been made in tackling child poverty in Scotland, because of factors such as the Scottish Child Payment and other national and local actions, child poverty is still very much with us. The Foreword to this report mentions Danny Dorling, who in his Book “Seven Children; Inequality and Britain’s Next Generation” 2024, noted that: In the seven most recent years surveyed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2014 – 2021, child poverty has risen faster in the UK than in any comparable country worldwide. This report also sets out the challenges of tackling child poverty in Argyll and Bute goes on to show what progress has been made in the various key areas of the plan, including employability, housing, education, benefits, data analysis and fuel
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poverty. It acknowledges the work of the Council, the Health Board and their partners in continuing to work together to tackle child poverty. Other front Sections of the Report are: • Child Friendly Version of the Plan • Integrated Impact Assessments • Data and Child Poverty • Taking Action on Rural Poverty • Child Poverty and Mental Health • The Promise and Whole Family Support The Main Plan This section of the report reviews progress and changes in key areas of the plan and is laid out as always, in the following sections: A. Increasing Income from Employment and Earnings. B. Increasing Income through Benefits C. Cost of Living D. Helping Families in Other Ways E. Other Planned Work
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL HSCP 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 CHILD POVERTY ACTION PLAN REVIEW 2024 - 2025 2.0 INTRODUCTION This report is the annual Child Poverty Action Plan Review, for 2024 - 2025. It is a requirement under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 that local authorities and health boards jointly produce and publish an annual review of their plan, setting out work being undertaken to tackle child poverty in their region. This action is required up until 2030. Children and young people are currently working with a graphic artist to coproduce a graphic, plan on a page version for children, young people and adults who prefer a briefer, graphic presentation. This will be published alongside main plan. The introduction also discusses the Argyll and Bute picture and the factors that contribute including rurality, cost of living, transport, economic base and housing. Research is cited with regards to these factors. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS To approve this plan. 4.0 DETAIL Front Sections of the Report: • Child Friendly Version of the Plan (Graphic plan on a page being coproduced). • Integrated Impact Assessments (Notes the development of the impact assessments and the integration of children’s rights). • Data and Child Poverty (Notes progress in this area since the last review).
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• Taking Action on Rural Poverty (TARP) Describes the progress of the project and the Citizen’s Panel). • Child Poverty and Mental Health (Notes the causes and impacts of this key issue and gives information about services in Argyll and Bute). • The Promise and Whole Family Support (Notes progress and focuses on Children’s Residential Houses and Family Placement). The Plan This section of the report reviews progress and changes in key areas of the plan and is laid out as always, in the following sections: A. Increasing Income from Employment and Earnings. • Employability. • Skills Development Scotland Argyll and Bute. • UHI Argyll and University of the Highlands and Islands. • Education and Early Year. B. Increasing Income through Benefits • Benefits. • Social Security Scotland, Argyll and Bute. • Welfare Rights Update 2024-25. • Bute Advice Centre. C. Cost of Living • Housing. • ALIenergy Fuel Poverty & Education Summary (2024–25). • Free School Meals and Holiday Provision. • Infant Food Insecurity Pilot. • My Tribe Free Period Product Initiative. D. Helping Families in Other Ways • Public Health. • Young Carers. • Working with Refugees in Argyll and Bute. • Pre-loved School Uniform Project. • Schools Share and Recycle. • Street Connect. E. Other Planned Work • Establishing a Dedicated Poverty Prevention Service. 5.0 CONCLUSION This report notes the importance of tackling child poverty and for all agencies contributing to that objective to work together and make best use of resources. It also notes that indications are that some small progress is being made as a result of both local and national actions.
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Annual statistics published today show that compared with the previous year’s statistics, relative child poverty in 2023-24 reduced from 26% to 22% in Scotland while absolute child poverty fell from 23% to 17%. UK Poverty statistics published today show levels of relative child poverty at 31% and absolute child poverty at 26%. Scottish Government, 27/03/2025. (Scottish Government, 27/03/2025). This picture is reflected in 2023 - 2024 figures released in June 2025, by the End Child Poverty (ECP) coalition. The constituency Argyll and Bute and South Lochaber, shows a rate of 22.1%; the previous year was 23.5% so a small reduction can be seen. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy It is a requirement under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 that local authorities and health boards jointly produce and publish an annual review of their plan, setting out work being undertaken to tackle child poverty in their region. This action is required up until 2030. 6.2 Financial This report notes the actions taken to improve the financial circumstances of people living in poverty in Argyll and Bute. This includes third sector as well as Council actions. 6.3 Legal It is a legal obligation of the Council to produce a review of the plan on an annual basis up until 2030. The plan requires to be shared with the Scottish Government and published. 6.4 HR There are no HR concerns relating to this report. 6.5 Customer Service There are no customer service implications to this report. The report will be published on the appropriate Council website and hence be available to the public. 6.6 Risk There are no risks relating to this report, it fulfils the Councils reporting duty in this area. 6.7 Climate Change Climate change is not a subject directly addressed in this report, but the challenges of environment and fuel poverty are. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty The Fairer Scotland Duty has been addressed by this report which seeks to equity and decrease poverty in Argyll and Bute.
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6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics This report notes the particular challenges faced by key groups, such as single parents, young families, those with disabilities and larger families. 6.10 Consumer Duty This report notes this area. 6.11 Island Communities This report highlights the challenges of islands cost of living and how it is being addressed. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing This report is about tackling child poverty and therefore covers this area. Children’s voices are being heard, and they are coproducing a graphic version of this plan, which will be published with the main plan. Evan Beswick, Chief Officer – Health and Social Care Partnership 4 September 2025 For further information contact: Mandy Sheridan, Service Improvement Officer Tel: 01631 572952 APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2024/25 Appendix 2 - Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Plan Review 2024/25 - Graphic