6. Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25 - Cabinet 20250902
North Ayrshire Council · 2 September 2025
Back to Cabinet — 2 September 2025 and its agenda
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 2 September 2025 Cabinet (Education) Title: Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25 Purpose: To consider and approve the Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25. Recommendation: That Cabinet agrees to publication of the Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25 provided at Appendix 1 and its submission to the Scottish Government. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 This report presents the North Ayrshire Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25 which has been attached as Appendix 1. 1.2 The Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report is a statutory requirement by Scottish Government and is the responsibility of local authorities and NHS Boards. This Progress Report has been developed using a collaborative approach with internal and external partners. It provides an update on the wide range of actions taken and progress made for the year 2024-25. 1.3 For child poverty (relative, after housing costs), the Scottish rate is 23.3%, while the equivalent North Ayrshire rate is 24.3%. The reduction of 4.9 percentage points from the previous year represents the largest reduction in Scotland over this time period. 1.4 Whilst we have seen a reduction in child poverty rates, North Ayrshire continues to prioritise the significant challenge as we work toward meeting national targets. Reducing child poverty is an extremely complex and challenging issue; it is essential that we work with our partners in the public, private and third sectors and directly with our communities to create interventions that are informed by experience and delivered in trusted spaces with dignity and respect. 1.5 A key development this year has been the establishment of the new Child Poverty Strategy Team (CPST). For the first time, this central team provides dedicated oversight of all child poverty reduction and mitigation work across the Council and its partners. 1.6 As well as covering progress to date and actions that have been delivered, the report also contains a list of next steps. Many of these are already underway within 2025/26, included the expanded delivery of free school meals, the launch of Money Smart, the
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third annual Employability Week and progress across national programmes such as the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland and the Fairer Futures Partnership. 2. Background Legislation, governance and process 2.1. Under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017, we have a statutory duty to jointly publish a local child poverty action report with NHS Ayrshire and Arran. The report needs to meet particular criteria, including how we are seeking to reduce child poverty and describe any income maximisation measures taken to support particularly vulnerable groups. Under the legislation the report must be published as soon as reasonably practicable following year end. 2.2 In June 2023, Cabinet approved our Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-26, a joint plan with our partners. This report, the Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25, provides the annual update on activity. 2.3 Our Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-26 was developed by the previous Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board and is shaped around contributions captured through a series of mini enquiries with community representatives. The resulting activities were designed and delivered with consultation from partners and communities across North Ayrshire. 2.4 Public Health Scotland, in partnership with the Improvement Service, provided feedback on all local authority child poverty plans published for 2023-24, highlighting strengths and possible gaps to address. Feedback on our previous child poverty report recognised the reach of our referral pathways through health, education, social work, food provision as a strength, however highlighted that the report may benefit from additional support around using data to prioritise and target actions. This feedback has been used to help shape our reporting approach for 2024-25 and has been incorporated into the submitted report. Overall feedback on our activity and report was positive. National and local improvements 2.5 The most recent figures for 2023-24 indicate that the Scottish rate of child poverty (relative, before housing costs) is 16.3%, whereas the UK rate is 21.8%. The difference between these two figures is largely attributed to the Scottish Child Payment. The equivalent North Ayrshire rate of child poverty (relative, before housing costs) is 20.8%, making us the second highest local authority figure, joint with Clackmannanshire Council and behind only Glasgow City. 2.6 For child poverty (relative, after housing costs), the Scottish rate is 23.3%, while the equivalent North Ayrshire rate is 24.3%. This places North Ayrshire as the 9th highest local authority figure in this area, a significant improvement from our previous position as second highest (indeed, the reduction of 4.9 percentage points was the largest in Scotland over this time period). 2.7 These figures highlight that over 7,000 of our children may still be struggling to access everyday essentials such as food, clothing and transport. It is also important to note that specific priority areas within North Ayrshire have considerably higher levels of child poverty, for example, 40% in Stevenston Hayocks and 47% in Irvine Fullarton.
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Approach and action 2.8 Whilst we have seen a reduction in child poverty rates, North Ayrshire continues to prioritise the significant challenge as we work toward meeting national targets. Reducing child poverty is an extremely complex and challenging issue; it is essential that we work with our partners in the public, private and third sectors and directly with our communities to create interventions that are informed by experience and delivered in trusted spaces with dignity and respect. 2.9 The six priority family groups are outlined in the Scottish Child Poverty Action Plan 2022- 26 ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’ as follows: • Lone parents • Families with three or more children • Families where the youngest child is under 1 year old • Mothers aged under 25 years • Households with someone with a disability • Minority ethnic families 2.10 We continue to focus our resources on supporting these six priority groups and measuring the impact of our interventions. This report sets out the wide range of activities undertaken by the Council and partners during 2024-25 to reduce child poverty and outlines areas of focus for 2025-26 for approval for publication and submission to the Scottish Government. 2.11 A key development this year has been the establishment of the new Child Poverty Strategy Team (CPST). For the first time, this central team provides dedicated oversight of all child poverty reduction and mitigation work across the Council and its partners. The CPST has been instrumental in enhancing collaborative working, data sharing and use, and evaluation across and between directorates. This team is also leading the implementation of our 'place-based tests of change', funded by the Scottish Government's Fairer Futures Partnerships, by facilitating co-design with community members with lived experience across two of our localities. 2.12 This Child Poverty Progress Report contains progress on activities undertaken across our services and partners. This has been captured through the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board, including a partners' workshop in March 2025. The CCP Board and CPP Senior Officers Group continue the oversight of the Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund. Following the previous allocations made, this year's expenditure from the fund includes: • An allocation of £50,000 to furthering our No Wrong Door initiative. Due to additional funding from elsewhere, the full amount has not needed to be drawn down yet. Of CPEIF funding, NWD spent £2,305 in the 2024-25 financial year, with a further £35,000 anticipated for 2025-26. • A budget of £61,322 was initially set aside to reduce School Meal Debt. However, as we successfully secured a separate £315,000 from a Scottish Government fund for school meal debt, this original allocation was not required for 2024-25. • £50,000 was allocated to explore initiatives supporting travel for training and employment and has been fully spent. This included the pilot to support parents who cannot afford driving lessons to help them into employment. • The full £50,000 committed to enhancing Digital Inclusion by providing computer equipment for our communities has been spent.
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• Of the £20,000 allocated to explore sustainable childcare provision, £7,000 was spent, with £13,000 remaining for 2025-26. • The full £20,000 for our targeted Active Schools programme has been spent this financial year to remove barriers to access to enriching extracurricular activities for our children and young people. • A further £20,000 was allocated for the Swim and Skate programme, of which £18,767 has been spent. 2.13 Building on this established programme, for the year 2025/26 a partnership proposal to work with the community and voluntary sector - co-designed with the Third Sector Chief Officer Group - is in its final stages and will represent over £300k of investment in a variety of initiatives delivered directly by the sector to help alleviate child poverty and cost of living pressures. 2.14 The report also covers a large range of other activities from colleagues and partners intended to reduce or mitigate the impact of child poverty in North Ayrshire during 2024- 25. These are focused on the three main drivers of poverty: income for employment, cost of living, and income from social security and benefits in kind. Key activities include: Income from Employment - Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire: A broad programme delivered with partners, including successful Modern Apprenticeship and Skills for Life programmes, available across North Ayrshire's six localities. - Parental Employment: A programme designed to address specific employment barriers through structured, flexible, paid work experience that aligns with family responsibilities. In 2024-25, 80 parents received mentored vocational placements for 26 weeks, earning the Real Living Wage. - We Work for Families: A partnership with The Lennox Partnership to support parents in removing barriers to employment, with a goal of enrolling 450 parents and placing 110 into employment, which was achieved in 2024-25. - Parental In-Work Support (CEIS Ayrshire): A new initiative to support parents from priority family groups with accredited training to help them progress in employment and increase their earnings. In 2024-25, 34 parents completed training and gained vocational qualifications. - Community Wealth Building: The Fair Employment pillar of this strategy encourages the creation of fair, meaningful jobs with progression opportunities. Over 600 unemployed people progressed into employment in 2024-25, exceeding a target of 450. Reducing the Cost of Living - Free School Meals: The latest phase of the expansion of FSM launched on 24th February 2025, encouraging families of P6 and P7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment to register. - Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP): The SHIP 2025-30 was approved in December 2024 to deliver affordable housing, with 71 new homes delivered in 2024- 25. - Early Learning and Childcare (ELC): Funded 1140 hours of ELC is now delivered flexibly. The uptake rate for eligible 2-year-olds increased to 57% in September 2024.
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- North Ayrshire Fairer Food Network: This network operates 16 community food larders that were visited 28,095 times over 2024-25. The larders partner with organisations like Money Matters and Home Energy Scotland for holistic support. - Island Emergency Cost of Living Fund: This fund provides immediate financial relief for emergency, unexpected expenses for residents on Arran and Cumbrae. - Active Schools: Our Active Schools team works to remove financial and other barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. In 2024-25, extracurricular clubs were accessed by 9,781 young people, a 6% increase from the previous year. - Pupil Equity Funding (PEF): Schools have used PEF to fund initiatives such as breakfast provisions and 'resources shops’ to reduce the stigma of poverty. All schools are encouraged to use participatory budgeting approaches to inform how PEF is invested. - Progressive Finance: An initiative with 1st Alliance Community Bank to provide accessible and affordable credit. It has resulted in a collective saving of over £150,000 in interest for families. Maximising Income from Social Security and Benefits in Kind - Money Smart: The newly renamed Money Smart Team secured over £27.2 million in financial gains for residents from 7,233 referrals in 2024-25. - Single Shared Assessment: A test of change reduced 17 processes down to one for things like Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants Initial progress shows a high willingness for streamlined data sharing, with 97% of customers providing consent. - Welfare Rights Officer in Schools: This service secured £818,636.32 in financial gains for residents in 2024-25, a 46% increase from the previous year. - Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP): CHAP provides free, confidential advice on housing, welfare rights, and debt. In the reporting year, they supported 1,138 individuals and generated £3.33 million in financial gains for clients. 2.15 As well as covering progress to date and actions that have been delivered, the report also contains a list of next steps. Many of these are already underway within 2025/26. For example, free school meals have been successfully rolled out to Primary 6 & 7 pupils whose families are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, while we have also extended that same eligibility to S1-S3 pupils as part of a pilot project with the Scottish Government. Our welfare rights and debt advice service was relaunched as ‘Money Smart’ in May. Hundreds of people moved closer to finding new training and work opportunities as a result of our third annual Employability Week, which was held at the end of May. Within the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland programme, one of the three identified areas of enhanced focus covers early years and whole family support, with a series of engagement opportunities identified to incorporate the community voice. Significant progress has also been made in co-designing the test of change that is part of the Fairer Futures Partnership. Future evolutions of reporting and planning 2.16 Moving into 2026, we see potential opportunities to streamline reporting and align planning through the Scottish Government’s While Family Support project, where we are one of six ‘early adopter’ local authorities. By streamlining relevant indicators, we can gain a more coherent and nuanced understanding of the impact of our collective efforts on child and family wellbeing. This would continue to shift traditionally siloed data
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practices to reveal an interconnected picture of outcomes. With a shared and consistent evidence base, our strategic planning and decision making would become more robust, enabling us to target resources towards where they will have the greatest impact. 2.15 In particular, the Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-2026 and the Children’s Services Plan 2023-26 will both come to a natural end in 2026. In addition, our statutory responsibility to report on Children’s Rights will commence in 2026. While we are still at the scoping phase of this work, and recognise there will undoubtedly be issues to work through with local and national partners, we are currently considering the potential for a joint plan and report covering Child Poverty, Children’s Services and Children’s Rights for the period 2026-2029. 3. Proposals 3.1 That Cabinet agrees to publication of the Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25 provided at Appendix 1 and its submission to the Scottish Government. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 There are no financial implications arising directly from this report. Human Resources 4.2 There are no human resource implications arising directly from this report. Legal 4.3 This report meets our statutory obligations under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 The activity outlined within the Progress Report at Appendix 1 actively seeks to improve the socio-economic outcomes for North Ayrshire residents. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 There are no climate change or carbon implications arising from this report. Key Priorities 4.6 The Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25 directly demonstrates activity that contributes to our four Council Plan priorities, with a particular focus on transitioning to a Wellbeing economy. Community Wealth Building 4.7 A range of activity was undertaken with partners during 2024-25, as outlined in the report at Appendix 1, which contributed to our Community Wealth Building approach, in particular the ‘fair employment’ pillar.
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Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) 4.8 There are no Islands Communities Impact Assessment implications arising from this report. United Nations Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 4.9 The publication of the Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25 demonstrates our commitment to Children’s Rights and our continued work to ensure children’s rights are being met. Consumer Duty 4.10 There are no Consumer Duty implications arising from this report. 5. Consultation 5.1 Members of the Community Planning Partnership including NHS Ayrshire and Arran, TACT, Arran CVS and the HSCP contributed to the content of this report. Sam Anson Executive Director (Education) For further information please contact Laura Kayes, Policy & Performance Officer (Child Poverty), on laurakayes@north-ayrshire.gov.uk. Background Papers Appendix 1: Child Poverty Action Plan Progress Report 2024-25
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1 DRAFT – Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-26 Progress Report 24-25
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2 Contents 1. Welcome 3 2. Executive Summary 4 3. Progress So Far: Key Drivers of Child Poverty 6 3.1 Income from Employment - Key Activities and Impact 9 Community Member Feedback 13 3.2 Reducing the Cost of Living - Key Activities and Impact 14 Case Study 25 3.3 Income from Social Security and Benefits in Kind - Key Activities and Impact 26 Case Study 32 4. Next Steps for 2025-26 Actions 33 5. Conclusion 36 6. Appendices 37 6.1 North Ayrshire Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-26 Key Actions 37 6.2 Child Poverty Statistical Sources 37 For anyone requiring support with the cost of living, please visit our dedicated Cost of Living webpage or call 01294 310000.
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3 1. Welcome Welcome to our 2024-25 Progress Report on child poverty in North Ayrshire. This report outlines the tangible actions that North Ayrshire Council (NAC), NHS Ayrshire & Arran and our partners in the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) have taken to reduce and mitigate the impact of child poverty as we work towards its eradication. Data from End Child Poverty showed that 24.3% of children in North Ayrshire were living in relative poverty after housing costs in the year 2023-24. Whilst this marks a decrease from the previous year's figure of 29.2% - indeed, the reduction of 4.9 percentage points was the largest in Scotland over this time period - it remains a significant challenge, with thousands of children and families in our local area potentially struggling with the costs of daily essentials. Our efforts are central to the priorities of both NAC and the CPP. The Council Plan 2023- 28 has a core mission of ‘A North Ayrshire that is fair for all’, which is supported by the priority of transitioning to a wellbeing economy to improve the quality of life for local people. This work is a fundamental part of that commitment. Our Council Leader, Marie Burns chairs the CPP Board, demonstrating the highest level of leadership and oversight for this crucial work. The progress outlined in this report shows how we are coordinating action across the Council, the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), NHS Ayrshire and Arran, and our third sector partners. This year's work has been underpinned by our commitment to a holistic, interconnected and evidence-informed approach, driven by the establishment of our new Child Poverty Strategy Team. The team's role is to provide central oversight and champion systems change, enhancing collaborative working, data sharing, and evaluation across directorates. Crucially, they have prioritised deeply embedding community voice by working closely with our third sector partners to begin co-designing meaningful interventions with individuals who have lived experience of family poverty. This process, funded through the Scottish Government's Fairer Futures Partnerships, ensures our interventions can be truly responsive to the needs of our residents and marks an exciting progression in how we work. The progress outlined in this report demonstrates our collective, unwavering commitment. You will see how our joint efforts are making a tangible difference across the three key drivers of child poverty: income from employment, reducing household costs, and maximising income from social security and benefits in kind. Addressing child poverty is a complex, long-term challenge, but we are confident that by continuing to listen to our residents and working together with our communities and partners, we will make further strides towards a North Ayrshire that is fair for all. Sam Anson Gordon James Executive Director (Education) Chief Executive North Ayrshire Council NHS Ayrshire and Arran
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4 2. Executive Summary This report outlines the tangible actions taken by NAC, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, and our partners in the CPP to reduce and mitigate the impact of child poverty as we work towards its eradication. Aligned with national policy and practice across Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), The Promise and UNCRC incorporation, our targeted work recognises the inequalities that children and families encounter when living in poverty. We are pleased to report a significant decrease in relative child poverty this year, from 29.2% to 24.3%. This represents the largest reduction of any local authority in Scotland during this period, although we know we still have much work to do. National Indicator 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Percentage of children in low-income families in North Ayrshire (relative poverty, AHC) 27.9% (2019/20) 24.7% (2020/21) 29.0% (2021/22) 29.2% (2022/23) 24.3% (2023/24) Our progress is based upon a collective, interconnected, and increasingly evidence- informed approach that prioritises addressing the three key drivers of child poverty: 1) Income from Employment: We have continued to implement a range of initiatives, including our Parental Employment programmes and Community Wealth Building strategy, which have helped parents gain employment and increased the household income of families in our communities. 2) Reducing the Cost of Living: We have focused on practical and immediate support mechanisms, such as the provision of free school meals, our community food larders, and our Active Schools programmes, which have seen participation from 4,978 young people from the most deprived SIMD groups this year. 3) Income through Social Security and Benefits in Kind: We continue to work hard to reduce barriers to accessing financial support that our community members are entitled to. For example, our financial inclusion services, including the newly rebranded Money Smart team, have secured over £27.2 million in financial gains for our residents this year. This year has seen a renewed focus on systems change and the authentic inclusion of community voice, with the establishment of our new Child Poverty Strategy Team. We have also begun the co-design of meaningful interventions with individuals who have lived experience of family poverty, ensuring our work is truly responsive to the needs of our residents. While challenges remain, the progress outlined in this report demonstrates our unwavering commitment to making a tangible difference to the lives of children and
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5 families. We are confident that by continuing our collective efforts, we will make further strides towards a North Ayrshire that is truly fair for all.
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6 3. Progress So Far: Key Drivers of Child Poverty As stated in Scottish Governments Child Poverty Action Plan 2022-26 'Best Start, Bright Futures', the three main drivers of child poverty are affected by a range of complex and combined factors. This report examines how each of these areas is being addressed in North Ayrshire. Figure 1: Drivers of child poverty Our Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-26 Key Actions (see Appendix 6.1) were specifically tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities within North Ayrshire. Due to the complexity of the issues faced, it is common for the areas to overlap. As a result, a holistic and truly interconnected approach is required to make a true sustainable impact for the benefit of our children and families in North Ayrshire. This includes a targeted focus on the six priority families identified within ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’, with ongoing work to develop locally sourced, co-created indicators to help us better understand and support their specific needs. These priority families include lone parent families, families with three or more children, families where the youngest child is under 1 year old, families where the mother is under 25 years old, families where someone has a disability, and ethnic minoritised families. Furthermore, we recognise that there are distinct geographical considerations required for our area, such as, challenges experienced by our rural and island communities. We believe that our progress in shaping meaningful and holistic activity over 2024-25 is deeply rooted in the needs of our community as evidenced in the following report. Working towards Collective Impact There are a range of multi-agency initiatives that are having both direct and indirect impacts for our local families experiencing poverty. Reflecting this, governance for our work on child poverty and the cost-of-living crisis has been mainstreamed into the
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7 Community Planning Partnership (CPP) - with a key role for the CPP Senior Officers Group - to increase visibility and profile across all those who have a role to play. The Wellbeing Alliance, established in 2022, is led by KA Leisure coordinating a strong partnership of local organisations working collaboratively to reduce inequalities, promote prevention, and enhance outcomes for communities. Over 2024-25 the Alliance enhanced and expanded what was already working across North Ayrshire by building on proven practices, lived experiences, and community strengths. The focus has been on creating conditions for shared action by fostering trust, aligning priorities, and strengthening the infrastructure needed for lasting impact. Initiatives like the Garnock Valley Taskforce and the Kilwinning Wellbeing and Employability Pilot are already demonstrating how integrated, place-based approaches can drive meaningful change. These projects unite partners from health, education, community, employability, and third sector to co-design solutions tailored to the specific needs of individuals and families. By cultivating strong networks and exploring collaborative methods, this phase is shaping a practical, scalable framework for future delivery. Our Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund (CPEIF) continues to be utilised in targeting services and activity to reduce poverty in families. This year's expenditure from the fund includes: • An allocation of £50,000 to furthering our No Wrong Door initiative. Due to additional funding from elsewhere, the full amount has not needed to be drawn down yet. Of CPEIF funding, NWD spent £2,305 in the 2024/25 financial year, with a further £35,000 anticipated for 2025-26. • A budget of £61,322 was initially set aside to reduce School Meal Debt. However, as we successfully secured a separate £315,000 from a Scottish Government fund for school meal debt, this original allocation was not required for 2024-25. • £50,000 was allocated to explore initiatives supporting travel for training and employment and has been fully spent. This included the pilot to support parents who cannot afford driving lessons to help them into employment. • The full £50,000 committed to enhancing Digital Inclusion by providing computer equipment for our communities has been spent. • Of the £20,000 allocated to explore sustainable childcare provision, £7,000 was spent this year on meaningful scoping and mapping work with communities, which resulted in the development of our evidence-informed action plan. The remaining funds will now be utilised to roll out the resulting intervention work. • The full £20,000 for our targeted Active Schools programme has been spent this financial year to remove barriers to access to enriching extracurricular activities for our children and young people. • A further £20,000 was allocated for the Swim and Skate programme, of which £18,767 has been spent. A key development in jointly identifying gaps in support required for families included a shared design process alongside leaders of third sector organisations which started in
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8 December 2024. We are committed to continuing meaningful use of this funding for our communities and this planning should come into fruition over 2025-26. The Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland (CHES) in North Ayrshire was launched in February 2005 when Professor Sir Michael Marmot introduced the joint work with Public Health Scotland and the Institute of Health Equity. This multi-agency partnership, led by NAC’s Education Directorate and the Health and Social Care Partnership aims to use learning, data and research in taking a place-based approach to reduce health inequity. The ultimate goal is to enable people to live longer, healthier lives by addressing the root causes of health inequalities and preventing illness before it starts. By creating conditions where communities can thrive, the initiative aims to create lasting positive change. The strategic and complementary nature of these programmes is supporting North Ayrshire’s transition to a wellbeing economy, including the key focus on reducing child poverty and working towards its eradication.
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10 3.1 Income from Employment - Key Activities and Impact Work can provide a sustainable path out of poverty for families. Giving parents access to job training and skill-building opportunities helps them thrive, which benefits the whole family and can play a key role in a balanced approach to poverty reduction. The following national indicators provide important context for our work, showing the wider trends, we are seeking to influence through our employment-focused activities and partnerships highlighted below. Description 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Percentage of working age population in employment 67.7% 64.7% 73.6% 70.3% 64.2% Gross weekly earnings - Workforce based £587.10 £592.20 £654.70 £713.20 £742.80 Employment rate Percentage (women) 63.4% 64.4% 71.9% 68.7% 63.1% Employment rate work limiting disabled 44.3% 44.7% 51.7% 39.2% 34.3% Youth employment rate 55.3% 42.2% 66.1% 57.8% 46.1% Percentage of employees (18+) earning less than the Living Wage 15.9% 11.4% Data not available 10.4% 12.2% (provisional figure) Progress during 2024-25: • Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire - This service includes a variety of partners delivering a wide range of opportunities for unemployed individuals to secure sustainable employment (examples of such services are noted below). We registered 790 new parents, with 85 securing paid work experience and 120 progressing into employment, benefiting 205 families with increased household income. - There is a sharp focus on engaging and support key priority groups which include young people, long term unemployed individuals, people with disabilities and parents from the key priority family groups; lone parents, young parents, minority ethnic parents, disabled parents, parents of disabled children, parents with 3 or more children and with children under 1 years of age.
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11 • Skills for Life – Parental Employment, NAC - The Skills for Life (SfL) programme helps parents develop the necessary skills for employment. Participants are matched to various roles including facilities management, care at home, business administration, and classroom assistant positions. These roles offer flexible working hours, term-time opportunities and the support to transition to employment including managing and increasing household incomes. - To prepare parents to progress to SfL, they are matched with a Keyworker who works with every parent to develop a personalised action plan to address barriers including childcare, travel, confidence, skills and qualifications. This work develops a relationship based on trust and respect and this continues for every parent before, during and after SfL. - In partnership with CHAP, every parent has access to financial advice including debt management, family finance sessions as well as better off in work calculations. Pre-employment training is delivered in partnership with Ayrshire College where parents achieve qualifications, recognition of their skills and abilities and a great platform to progress to the paid work experience opportunities created through SfL, this also starts a journey towards learning and most progress to completing a vocational qualification as part of their SfL. - In 2024-25, 80 North Ayrshire parents received mentored vocational placements (20 hours/week for 26 weeks) earning the Real Living Wage. Placements included 50 in council services, 21 in Third Sector organisations, and 9 with local employers. All participants received comprehensive in-work support, including weekly contact, CV updates, interview guidance, and job searching assistance. A high employment sustainability rate of 74% was achieved after placements, directly increasing household income for 130 families. Additionally, 15 participants achieved an SVQ Level 2 in Business Administration. Qualitative feedback indicates participants gained financial stability, enabling them to learn to drive, take children on holidays, and feel generally 'financially better off’. • We Work for Families – NAC and The Lennox Partnership - We Work for Families aims to support North Ayrshire parents to remove barriers to employment, leading to positive destinations through skills and resilience development, and improvements in mental health, finances, and employment opportunities. This partnership work is with the social enterprise organisation The Lennox Partnership. - The initiative's goal was to support 450 families and place 110 parents into employment, which was achieved in the 2024-2025 year. We supported upskilling to improve parents' confidence and provided action plans to build resilience.
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12 - We were able to offer SfL opportunities, which provided supported work placements for parents who were further removed from the labour market. These placements allowed parents to earn money and increase their household financial stability. - We measure impact through 'Better Off' calculations for most parents, which show that the overwhelming majority experience significantly positive outcomes. We also collect good news stories and case studies from parents to qualitatively track their experiences. An unexpected challenge has been barriers relating to childcare barriers, which meant some parents have been unable to take up employment due to a lack of suitable childcare. • Parental In-Work Support – CEIS Ayrshire - This initiative was launched to support parents from key priority family groups by offering accredited training to help them progress in their employment and increase their earnings. The programme aims to help parents identify and access funding and support for this training. - In 2024-25, 46 parents registered for the programme. Participants were able to undertake a range of vocational qualifications, including HGV Class 1 & Class 2 Licences, 360 Excavator, and training in social media, telesales, and safety. - Of the parents who registered, 34 successfully completed their training and gained vocational qualifications. The outcome is that parents can progress in their employment and increase their earning potential, thereby improving household income. • Community Wealth Building (Fair Employment Pillar) - NAC - Community wealth building (CWB) contributes to a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable local economy by leveraging the economic power of large "Anchor Institutions," aiming to reduce poverty and inequality at its source. The Fair Employment pillar specifically encourages the creation of fair, meaningful jobs with progression opportunities. - The CWB Strategy is a comprehensive, cross-service approach delivered through five pillars. The Fair Employment pillar includes 76 Skills for Life placements for parents (2024-25), 35 new Modern Apprentices (August 2024), and events like the Employability Week Business Breakfast (May 2024) attended by 53 businesses to discuss fair work. New roles, such as Procurement Sustainability Team Manager and Skills and Supply Chain Programme Manager, were appointed in 2024 to support CWB activities, along with a part-time Skills Coordinator for Arran.
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13 - Over 600 unemployed people progressed into employment in 2024-25 (exceeding a target of 450). 76 Skills for Life placements were available for parents, and 35 new Modern Apprentices commenced employment. Summary of progress since 2023-24 Progress Report: 2023-24 Stated Actions 2024-25 Actions Completed A pilot initiative provides driving lessons to 10 parents with provisional licenses to help them into employment. Despite unexpected challenges related to national driving test availability, participants continue to work towards gaining their full licences. Next year will see the first full year of implementation for many of the funded Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF) projects. We will work with the Third Sector and community partners to scope our current provision for whole family support and identify where our gaps are, to create a fund for partner activity through the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. During 2024-25, 14 new and existing projects and services have benefitted from WFWF funding. WFWF recipients have come together 3 times during 2024-25 to network, share learning, discuss challenges and project sustainability. During 2024/25, a total of 831 children and young people across North Ayrshire accessed WFWF funded programmes or services. In 2023-24, the Employability service registered 660 new parents, with 80 securing paid work experience and 50 progressing into employment, benefiting 130 families with increased household income. In 2024-25, the Employability service registered 790 new parents, with 85 securing paid work experience and 120 progressing into employment, benefiting 205 families with increased household income. The Council's Modern Apprenticeship Programme exceeded its target, with 10 out of 36 recruited Modern Apprentices (27%) having a disability or being care experienced. In 2024-25 The Council's Modern Apprenticeship Programme exceeded its target, with 10 out of 36 recruited Modern Apprentices (27%) having a disability or being care experienced.
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14 Income from Employment - Community Member Feedback
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16 3.2 Reducing the Cost of Living - Key Activities and Impact We know that the rising costs of essentials like food, housing, and energy disproportionately impact low-income families, pushing them further into financial hardship. Equally, we understand that a sustainable exit from poverty is more complex than simply securing and retaining a job. That is why we are also focused on practical measures that support families with immediate and direct effect. Our progress in reducing household costs can be understood in the context of the following indicators, which show both the challenges faced by our communities and the impact of our interventions. Description *Locally sourced data 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Percentage of households managing well financially Data not available Data not available 47% 47% 50% *Number of new build housing units reaching completion (all tenures) (Actual not cumulative). -- -- 562 384 371 *Number of children receiving school clothing grants. -- -- 6,135 5,987 6,219 *Number of families receiving school clothing grants. 3,864 3,943 3,869 Progress during 2024-25: • Free School Meals – NAC - There is strong evidence of the positive impact that a nutritious meal can have on a pupil’s learning and achievement in school as well as on their health outcomes. - Free school meals also save North Ayrshire families who take up the offer almost £400 per eligible child per year. - The latest phase of the expansion of FSM launched on 24th February 2025 and encouraged families of P6 and P7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment to register.
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17 • Strategic Housing Investment Plan – NAC - Our Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2025-30 was approved in December 2024 and submitted to the Scottish Government. - The focus of our plan is to deliver the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme to ensure affordable housing in North Ayrshire. The provision of new build housing has many benefits, including providing sustainable housing solutions which help address poverty and support educational achievement. - During 2024-25 we delivered 71 new homes in a range of localities across North Ayrshire. - Our Local Housing Strategy 2023-28 annual update was approved at Cabinet in January 2025 and includes a new action that supports the work undertaken by the Arran Housing Taskforce. This involves a wide range of partners to assess the demand for affordable housing on Arran. • Early Learning and Childcare - NAC - High-quality ELC can help mitigate the effects of poverty on a child's development. Children from low-income backgrounds are at a higher risk of lagging behind their peers in areas like cognitive, social, and emotional skills from a very young age. ELC provides a stimulating and nurturing environment that can help close this "attainment gap" and promote school readiness. - Funded ELC can significantly reduce a family's living expenses. In addition, access to affordable, flexible childcare is a key factor in enabling parents, particularly mothers, to enter or re-enter the workforce, pursue education, or undertake training. This can lead to increased household income and a pathway out of poverty. - The funded 1140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare is now being delivered with flexibility and choice for parents across localities. Our models offer a blend of full year and term time places with various patterns in establishments delivering 8am-6pm and 9am-3pm. The early years team is working in partnership with services to increase the number of funded childminders with particular focus on the islands and the North Coast. - Following some dedicated work with the Improvement Service, we have been able to increase the uptake rate of eligible 2-year-olds to 57% (as of September 2024) up from 45% in the previous year. - We have also appointed 21 Excellence and Equity Leads (EELs) to our Early Years establishments (allocated to those with higher levels of deprivation), who continue to focus on raising attainment and closing the poverty-related attainment gap. More focused training with these Leads has provided ongoing
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18 consistency of delivery and data collection. Work with the EELs and Education Scotland is providing support and frameworks to ensure Early Years establishments can measure the attainment in relation to the poverty related attainment gap. • North Ayrshire Fairer Food Network - Community Larders - Our Fairer Food Network strives to provide accessible and affordable food to households. 16 community food larders operate across North Ayrshire. Over 2024-25, there were 28,095 visits, comprising 10,672 single people, 6,344 couples, and 12,206 families. The larders partner with organisations such as Money Matters and Home Energy Scotland for holistic support. - Families reported that without the larder network, they would have faced crisis and needed emergency support. Users indicated that simultaneous access to energy and food support eliminated the difficult choice between heating and eating during winter. - The larders have also provided longitudinal trends, showing surges in family usage during school holiday periods in areas such as Pennyburn in Kilwinning. • Infant Food Insecurity Pathway – NA HSCP - To address critical financial crises preventing families from affording essential infant formula by providing person-centred, dignified access to emergency infant formula via vouchers. - Running as a test of change within three Health Visitor teams, empowering Health Visitors to issue vouchers for formula during financial crises. A pan- Ayrshire Infant Feeding Insecurity document has been developed and shared. - While only 3 families accessed emergency provision, those supported expressed gratitude, and Health Visitors reported it felt like 'the right thing to do'. • Island Emergency Cost of Living Fund - NAC - Our Island Emergency Cost of Living Fund aims to provide immediate financial relief for emergency, unexpected expenses for Arran and Cumbrae residents, preventing serious damage to health and safety and upholding financial consistency. - Arran Community and Voluntary Services (Arran CVS) holds funds for discreet crisis support (cash/voucher based). Eight applications resulted in expenditure on household/energy expenses, warm clothing, home essentials, and IT access. - The fund has provided families with various opportunities to improve their outcomes. Monitoring of onward referrals is be conducted.
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19 • Saltcoats Link Up (Inspiring Scotland Funding) - The Link Up project, hosted by The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT), intends to build stronger communities by unlocking the potential that is already there. Link Up began as informal gatherings that brought people together through conversation, shared meals, and creative activities. The team listened to local voices, identified community strengths, and supported residents to lead their own projects. While the heart of the project remains the same, the focus has recently shifted to intervention support due to the high pockets of deprivation in Saltcoats. - As part of the work with families in 2024-25, the team supported by local volunteers provided activities and events during school holidays, with a total of 644 families participating in 26 events. This resulted in 887 adults and 1,319 children attending, bringing the overall number of participants across all events to 2,206. All events and light refreshment were free of cost. - The Link Up project is a multi-partner initiative that provides a range of supports for local people in Saltcoats. The initiatives have delivered tangible benefits across multiple areas, including financial, health, educational, and emotional wellbeing for families in North Ayrshire. Key metrics include: o Larder members were supported to apply for benefits and received approximately £124,968. o Approximately £160,000 in total debt was cleared for 24 shop members. o 13 members accessed £1,000 in emergency funds, which was crucial in preventing crises. o The 'Gift Giving Tree' provided gifts to 29 larder families (54 children) with an approximate value of £2,700. An additional 546 children received gifts through 18 other organisations to the value of £32,300 across The Three Towns, Kilwinning and Irvine. o The project provided uniforms for 75 children from 38 families, saving them an average of £35 per child. o Local hairdressers provided free haircuts for 34 children, with an estimated value of £340. o Approximate savings of £19,227.60 were calculated for 15 clients who stopped smoking over a 12-week period. • Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (Children and Young People) - NAC - NAC Education Service leads on the disbursement of funding aligned to the children and young people mental health and wellbeing supports and services framework. This funding is utilised to address the community factors which can lead to poor mental health and wellbeing. Child poverty is a key driver of poor mental wellbeing in children, young people and their families. Multiple projects have been funded to provide positive impact on this area. Funding is utilised by
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20 the Children and Families Social Work Team to co-design small interventions which can have impact on family wellbeing. - This bespoke funding of £26,000 has enabled 127 children and an associated 337 family members to benefit this financial year. This model empowers children and families to develop their own solutions and with funding provided to support. One family who had siblings separated by distance were able to coordinate family time which supported everyone’s wellbeing. A further example was for a young person aged 10, who wanted to attend boxing classes and get gloves which cost £43.95 but was beyond the family’s means. The ongoing benefits for the young person’s sense of belonging and confidence has been commented upon by the social worker since accessing the support. - We continue to collaborate with the Adult Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing process to support small third sector organisations to secure funding for projects which align with the supports and service framework. This year projects have included: Judo for marginalised groups, Teenage Wellness Retreats, and projects which support during the school holidays in times of stress. - We ensure our work aligns with projects funded by the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund and continue to address key drivers of poor mental wellbeing, including child poverty work. • Family Centred Wellbeing Service (FCWS) – NA HSCP - Funded by the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, the FCWS supports families across North Ayrshire, where one of our priorities includes Financial Inclusion and Poverty. Although it is not a financial service, its model actively removes barriers to participation and supports income-related stability. Key actions over 2024-25 include: o Partnership with Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP), Money Matters (Smart), and We Work for Families for benefits access, disability entitlements, and income maximisation. o Holiday programme delivered free of charge with transport and lunch provided. o 256 bags of Christmas gifts secured for our parents and children from the “Night before Xmas appeal” to help families struggling financially. o Cooked and delivered 7 full Christmas dinners and all the trimmings which supported our most vulnerable families on Christmas day. o Assistance with school-related costs (e.g. trip funding). o Support with basic needs, including food, clothing, and utilities, via community larder and charity referrals. - Families consistently noted that cost-free access to activities was a major factor in their engagement. This is essential to tackling the social consequences of poverty, not just its financial dimensions.
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21 • Partner Memberships – KA Leisure - The Partner Memberships initiative is designed to reduce financial barriers to participation in health, fitness, and wellbeing activities, support healthier lifestyles, and strengthen community partnerships. - KA Leisure provides memberships to service users referred by partners (Care Sector, ADP, Active Schools, Education, Corporate Parenting), directly reducing household costs for leisure activities. - Partners noted increased wellbeing among service users. As of 2024-25, 379 memberships have been distributed. There has been a notable increase in partnerships, more accessible sign-up processes, and a wider range of activities. • Kit Recycling Scheme – KA Leisure - The Kit Recycling Scheme intends to ensure sport is more accessible and promote sustainability by collecting and redistributing new or gently used sports clothing and equipment to individuals facing financial barriers. - Kit is distributed through pop-up shops or partner referrals. Increased donations have been observed across KA Leisure venues. - We have seen significant usage of the stores by members of our migrant communities for general clothing, indicating a broader unmet need. • Progressive Finance – 1st Alliance Community Bank - Progressive Finance aims to provide accessible and affordable credit to individuals with poor credit histories, preventing reliance on high-cost lenders and building financial resilience through savings habits and reduced interest payments. - The initiative provides local, affordable loans, initially funded by North Ayrshire Council and now sustainably operating from a legacy fund. From an initial £150,000, 338 first loans have been issued up to March 2025, with an 83% successful repayment rate. - The loans have resulted in a collective saving of over £150,000 in interest for families, established £84,615 in savings, and observed a reduction in reliance on high-cost borrowing. Families report 'less chaos' and reduced stress. • Active Schools and Communities Partnership Officers - NAC
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22 - Our Active Schools and Communities Partnership Officers work tirelessly to remove barriers preventing children, young people, and families (especially those with care experience, ASN, inactive, or experiencing poverty) from participating in sport and physical activity, fostering healthier lifestyles and long- term integration. - A multi-agency approach involving HSCP, KA Leisure, Education, Third Sector, and Community Clubs, focusing on holiday programmes, experiential opportunities (co-designed with young people), residential opportunities, providing qualifications (e.g., for New Scots families), and removing financial barriers (transport, kit, family vouchers). - 119 young people attended across six opportunities, with 82% from SIMD 1&2. 59% transitioned into frequent Active Schools activities. Staff and parents reported significant improvements in behaviour and school attendance. Many participants reported gaining self-confidence, and 90% of those in our case studies enjoyed making new friends. Family Vouchers enabled the creation of joyful memories and strengthened bonds. Kit and transport provision boosted self-esteem and reduced stigma. - Our Active Schools team also run extracurricular clubs, free at point of access, across all school settings, which were accessed by 9,781 young people in 24-25. This is a 6% increase in participation from 23-24, and the highest attendance was from the two most deprived SIMD groups (1&2) with 4,978 young people participating from this demographic. • Pupil Equity Funding – NAC - Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) is additional funding allocated directly to schools and targeted at closing the poverty-related attainment gap. North Ayrshire schools are directly allocated a share of almost £4.2 million in PEF funding annually until 2026. - For session 2024-25, school PEF plans and impact reports have been reviewed resulting in key strengths and improvement areas being identified. The review of plans indicates that almost all schools have a clear and robust rationale for school improvement priorities. Almost all schools are able to provide examples of effective PEF interventions supporting improvement for all targeted learners. - All schools work with their school community to decide how to invest PEF and are encouraged to use participatory budgeting approaches to inform decision making. There is a strong focus on learner participation, recognising the importance of actively involving children and young people in decision making processes, including those pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. As examples of how PEF is used: o Stanley Primary School has used PEF to support the employment of additional staffing to run the breakfast provision. Each day, on average 80
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23 pupils attend the breakfast club, while the average increase in attendance of the target group of pupils in SIMD 1 & 2 was 6 percentage points. o Irvine Royal Academy introduced a free Royal Resources Shop and established a Cost of the School Day group; both aimed at reducing the stigma of poverty by providing essential items and support to all pupils. They also use PEF to support the employment of a Principal Teacher for Developing Young Workforce to facilitate engagement of employers and provide opportunities that support pupils for when they leave school. The ultimate aim is to support positive destinations for all leavers. Summary of progress since 2023-24 Progress Report: 2023-24 Stated Actions 2024-25 Actions Completed The Council's first Lend and Mend Hub in Kilbirnie Library saved 27 items from landfill and held 28 workshops. We will continue to explore the Lend and Mend method. The Lend and Mend project continues in Kilbirnie with weekly classes and regular attendees. The team have also hosted over 20 workshops across Largs, Kilwinning and Stevenston Libraries, introducing parents/carers to basic sewing, upcycling and mending skills. These are skills that they can use to upcycle/mend their own and their children’s clothing. The workshops captured over 50 attendances*. 90% of 11-25 year olds in North Ayrshire (20,037 young people) have a valid Young Scot National Entitlement Card for free transport. We have seen a slight increase in registrations for the Young Scot National Entitlement Card for free transport, with 20,719 young people benefiting in the region in 24/25. 11,740 holiday meals were delivered across 23 sites over four weeks. We provided 4,280 packed lunches over the 4-week period for Summer 2025. This was across 12 allocated sites and activity groups. The Cost of Pregnancy Group has created an action plan. A suite of four resources—posters and flyers for both employers and employees—was created. These materials outline the importance of antenatal care, the rights of expectant parents and partners, and best practice for employees. At the end of 2024, a communications plan was implemented. The resources were distributed internally within NHS Ayrshire and Arran and externally to 771 workplace contacts via the NHS Workplace Health Team newsletter. All
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24 four resources were also provided to maternity staff for use with both staff and patients. To ensure free period products are further developed across schools and communities, including on the mobile youth bus and in NHS sites. We continue to offer a good range of free period products in schools and local communities for everyone to access. We promote reusable products and support local schools and outreach workers with bespoke requirements for all those who menstruate. Easy access to free products ensures everyone in need has access to the products they need without the financial worry. A Young Parents' Group pilot for under 25s is underway in the Three Towns, covering wellbeing and life skills. The group experienced early success, fostering a safe and supportive space for young mums. By August 2024, there was a shift in the demographic, with attendance now comprising parents in their late 20s to mid-30s. Despite this change, the group has remained active, with regular members who have developed meaningful friendships and an informal support network. We have worked in partnership with NHS Child Smile, Money Matters, We Work for Families team and Lifelong learning Officers who have attended sessions to help support and offer advice on life skills. To ensure continuity, discussions have taken place with Ardeer Community Association about the potential for the group to evolve into a parent and toddlers' group. With ongoing support from both the Association and CLD, the goal is to build the volunteer’s capacity to eventually manage the group independently. We will continue our Cost of the School Day work. A Cost of the School Day policy was collaboratively created and individual schools given autonomy on its implementation. Its impact can be seen in meaningful and deeply embedded practices like prom wear hire shops, non-branded uniform
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25 policies, and encouraging no gifts for teachers. We will review out of school care provision, and address issues surrounding school aged and rural childcare to support education and employment. Mapping exercise of school aged childcare has been carried out and the gaps have been identified. Specific projects have been carried out in partnership with We Work for Families to provide childcare to allow parents to accept opportunities for training and learning. We are engaging with providers in order to support the sustainability of the school aged childcare sector and identify opportunities for expansion. We have joined the ‘Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future’ in order to recruit childminders, especially in our rural and island communities who will be able to provide childcare for all ages. We will continue to explore the potential for a community transport (CT) pathfinder. Work progressed with a local community transport provider to develop a potential business case for CT delivery in North Ayrshire. Officers are actively working with the provider to finalise a draft proposal for further engagement and implementation. The Energy Smart programme supported over 7,000 households with energy advice and disbursed approximately £600k in emergency support payments. In 2025-26, the Council's Energy Smart programme will continue to provide energy efficiency measures to low- income households, including loft insulation and LED bulbs, with an eligibility threshold of £43,662 to support more people with the cost of living. The Council’s ECO4 Flex scheme, in partnership with a local installer, has brought over one million pounds of energy company obligation funding to North Ayrshire. This scheme assists privately owned or rented households on low incomes, or those vulnerable to living in a cold home. Eligible households have benefited from energy efficiency measures such as zero carbon heating, insulation, and
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26 solar technology, resulting in combined energy bill savings of over one hundred thousand pounds. ECO4 continues until March 2026, with future phases expected in support of the reduction of fuel poverty and carbon emissions in the UK. We will roll out the next phase of the programme to include installation of physical measures, while continuing our ECO Flex partnership. The ECO4 Flex scheme, in partnership with a local installer, has secured over £1 million in funding for North Ayrshire, benefiting eligible households with measures like zero-carbon heating and insulation, which has led to energy bill savings of over £100,000. * “I have made new friends, and I am now a confident sewer...Whilst making and mending on our own we also work as part of a team on sewing projects. The tutor was excellent and inspired us to keep sewing and mending. It has also encouraged me to use other library services like borrowing books and using the PCs.” Community Member
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27 Reducing the Cost of Living - Case Study In March 2025, the newly established Child Poverty Strategy Team attended the P7 Youth Council, coordinated by the Youth Participation and Democracy Team at Ardeer Youth & Community Centre. This was the first in a series of community conversations aimed at amplifying community voice in exploring what children and families need to thrive in North Ayrshire. The P7 Youth Council meetings provide an opportunity for young people to have their voices heard on issues that affect them in their communities.140 young people were in attendance, and the team delivered three workshops to gather their thoughts on the cost of living and to attempt to challenge insecurity and the stigma surrounding poverty. Workshop 1: A body mapping exercise to explore the perceptions versus the realities of financial hardship, such as a child not being able to afford a school trip. Pupils commented – ◦ “I would give them some of my lunch.” ◦ “Make sure they don’t get left out.” Workshop 2: A comic-drawing activity to gauge understanding of available support. ◦ In this activity, 62% of participants drew stories about a lack of access to food ◦ More than a third mentioned feelings of embarrassment Workshop 3: An ideas-submission workshop where pupils suggested what the council, communities, and individuals could do to support families living in poverty. ◦ Common responses centred on food These workshops are the start of an extensive process of community engagement specifically aimed at learning about the impact of child poverty and hearing from people with lived experience. The P7 Youth Council gave young people the first opportunity to contribute to these discussions and present some ideas for solutions.
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29 3.3 Income from Social Security and Benefits in Kind - Key Activities and Impact Our commitment to reducing child poverty is directly dependent on our ability to maximise family income through social security and benefits in kind. At a national level, the Scottish Child Payment provides a vital, direct financial boost to low-income families that has been shown to reduce poverty. However, its effectiveness relies on uptake. By providing accessible, stigma-free advice services, and working in partnership with local community groups, we aim to help families navigate the complex benefits system and put money back in their pockets. To measure our success in maximising family income and mitigating poverty, we look at the following local indicators, which show our performance in delivering social security and benefit support. Description *Locally sourced data 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 *Speed of processing Housing Benefit (New Claims) (days). 8.89 9.45 14.12 21.07 19 *Speed of processing Housing Benefit (Change of Circumstances) (days). 7.59 9.24 14.12 12.41 2 *No. of Crisis Grants Paid. 3,539 2,460 3,605 3,436 3,386 *Gross rent arrears (all tenants) as at 31 March each year as a percentage of rent due for the reporting year (LGBF). 5.5% 6.6% 7.1% 5.88% 8.03% *Percentage of new tenancies to applicants who were assessed as homeless sustained for more than a year. 92.48% 86.92% 88.38% 84.02% - *Speed of Processing (Council Tax Reduction) new claims (days). 19.05 25.59 37.8 34.38 22.23 *Speed of processing (Council Tax Reduction) changes of circumstances (days). 5.13 5.95 7.62 4.76 4.44
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30 Births to mothers under 25 years old (rates per 1,000 mothers) 8.3 8 7.9 7.4 - Progress during 2024-25: • Money Smart (Formerly Money Matters and Welfare Reform Advice Team) – NA HSCP - During 2024-25 Money Matters Team received 5,842 referrals and secured at least £21.5 million in financial gains through income maximisation for local residents. - Our Welfare Reform Advice Team also received a total of 1,899 referrals for welfare rights and debt advice for council tenants, an increase of 28% compared to 2023-24. The total financial gain for North Ayrshire tenants was £5.7 million, up from £3.8 million in 2023-24. - In addition, our Financial Inclusion Officers: o undertook 507 ‘pre-tenancy visits’ to ensure tenants understand changes to their benefits due to taking on a tenancy and their responsibilities to help them sustain their tenancy, and o assisted Universal Credit claims for 2,334 tenants who were also taken through a support plan ‘matrix’ to identify and action wider needs. - Our Welfare Rights Officers in Schools Team now cover Early Years Centres and Primary schools (see more details below). • Developing a Single Shared Assessment - NAC - Our Single Shared Assessment intends to maximise customers' entitlements by streamlining access to benefits and support services, ensuring customers receive all due support, and enabling the Council to use data effectively for targeting unmet needs and improving reporting. - A test of change in requesting consent from parents to share their data internally has reduced 17 processes down to one includes activities such as Free School Meals (FSM)/School Clothing Grants (SCG), advice and support referrals for financial advice and streamlined Council Tax Discounts & Exemptions. - Initial progress indicates positive movement. The FSM/SCG consent test shows high willingness for streamlined data sharing with 97% customers providing consent. The Advice and Support Referral process has seen a significant number of referrals.
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31 - Our 'No Wrong Door' approach is being embedded through staff training and community engagement, and so far, more than 290 staff have attended training. • Health Visiting Service and Wider Family Supports – NA HSCP - We have been leveraging Health Visitors' unique position to maximise income for families with children under five by facilitating access to financial, training, education, and employment supports, thereby reducing child poverty. - Financial inclusion and income maximisation are core to the Universal Health Visiting Pathway. Health Visitors identify families and make direct "Requests for Assistance" to partners like Money Smart, Lemon Aid, We Work for Families, SALUS, and Home Energy Scotland. The approach is set out in the National Health Visitor Action Plan (March 2025). - In 2024-25, 85 families received support through financial inclusion partners (approx. 10% of all Requests for Assistance). Referrals included 53 to We Work for Families, 24 to Money Smart, 5 to Lemon Aid, and 3 to SALUS. Anecdotal evidence suggests improved financial situations for supported households. • Housing Services (Tenancy Sustainment and Homeless Prevention, NAC) - This service works to prevent homelessness and sustain tenancies for individuals and families by providing comprehensive housing and prevention advice, holistic assessments, and practical support, with a strong focus on partnership working and prioritising children's rights. - Activities include housing and prevention advice (including income maximisation), holistic assessments with other services (Children and Families, Justice Services), participation in a Children in Temporary Accommodation Working Group, a Homeless Prevention strategy (with youth homelessness focus), CHAP education, Throughcare protocol, practical support (breakfast at hostels, winter initiatives, Kids Christmas present project), decorating void properties, school transport for children in temporary accommodation, and supporting rent arrears through Money Smart referrals. - Progress has been made in addressing homelessness, managing rent arrears, and supporting tenancy sustainment in some areas. This integrated way of working has encouraged broader partnership working and contributed to overall positive outcomes. • Tea and Tots Peer Support Groups - The Breastfeeding Network - Our Breastfeeding Network aims to provide non-judgmental peer support for new parents with young children, empowering them, increasing parenting confidence, improving infant and parent mental wellbeing, reducing social
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32 isolation, and acting as a trusted point of contact for other crucial services like income maximisation. - Weekly groups in three locations (Irvine Redburn, Kilbirnie, Saltcoats) for parents with pre-school children. Support covers infant feeding, income maximisation, mental wellbeing, and early communication, with external organisations invited. Secured new National Lottery funding in 2024-25. - 100% of parents felt the group helped them meet others and was an important part of their week. 82% reported increased parenting confidence, 94% received good staff/volunteer support, and 100% received good peer support. 83% found it a good place for parenting information (including money matters), and 65% received mental health/wellbeing support. 94% would recommend the groups. Qualitative feedback from participants highlighted friendliness, connection, and a safe, non-judgmental space. • Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP) - CHAP's purpose is to ensure that no one is disadvantaged by a lack of information about their rights. The organisation aims to equip individuals and families with the knowledge, support, and advocacy needed to make informed decisions and have their voices heard. By offering free, confidential, and independent advice on housing, welfare rights, and debt, CHAP works to overcome immediate challenges and address underlying issues that contribute to long-term disadvantage. The intended outcome is to reduce inequality, prevent crises, and help people build stability and resilience. - CHAP provides holistic support, including benefit entitlement checks, help with form-filling, direct engagement with creditors and landlords, debt resolution, and homelessness prevention. The service also offers representation at court and tribunal hearings. Education officers deliver preventative sessions on homelessness and financial literacy in all North Ayrshire secondary schools. - In the reporting year, CHAP has: o Supported 1,138 individuals, addressing over 1,400 distinct issues across housing, welfare rights, and debt. o Generated £3.33 million in financial gains for clients, including unclaimed benefits, debt reductions, and backdated payments. o Delivered 210 preventative workshops to 3,699 young people in secondary schools and colleges. o Prevented homelessness for several families and helped others move into secure tenancies, reducing disruption to children's education and wellbeing. o 74% of families supported reported a reduction in stress and an improvement in their overall wellbeing.
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33 Summary of progress since 2023-24 Progress Report: 2023-24 Stated Actions 2024-25 Actions Completed The Money Matters Team secured over £20.08 million in financial gains for residents from 5,739 referrals. The newly renamed Money Smart Team has secured over £27.2 million in financial gains for residents from 7,233 referrals in 2024-25. The new Corporate Referral process is live, ensuring residents provide information once and are routed to the best services, reducing the need to re-explain circumstances. The ongoing Corporate Referral work has this year reduced possible application pathways for residents accessing support by 55%, from a possible 29 points of entry to 13. The team intend a further reduction of 72% in the coming year. Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants disbursed £1,301,497 as of February, with 3,150 Crisis Grants and 1,492 Community Care Grants awarded. Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants disbursed £1,250,601.00 as of March, with 3,386 Crisis Grants and 1,723 Community Care Grants awarded. The Housing Allocation Policy is under review and will ensure child poverty is a key consideration. The review consultation phase has ended, and the review is expected to be concluded by spring 2025. As part of the review, a remodelling exercise is being undertaken with regards to priorities and the awarding of points. The recommendations for this remodelling were presented to the NAHR Strategic Working Group in September 2024, with key focus considerations including the prioritisation of kinship carers, adopted families, care leavers and care experienced young people, and other vulnerable groups. School Welfare Rights Officers secured £560,509 in financial gains for secondary school parents. In 2024–2025, School Welfare Rights Officers* secured £818,636.32 in financial gains for residents, representing a 46% increase from the previous year. The number of referrals increased by 144%, rising from 106 in 2023–2024 to 259 in 2024–2025. The average financial gain per client in 2024–2025 was approximately £3,160. We will explore a funding model for schools to enable our young people to access Duke of Edinburgh Awards. We implemented a funding model for schools that enabled 240 of our young
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34 people to access and achieve Duke of Edinburgh Awards in 24-25. * “The (Welfare Rights in Schools) service has been fantastic, and you’ve been such a help to countless families, so it really is a good example of partnership working.” School Social Worker Income from Social Security and Benefits in Kind - Case Study Background – Welfare Rights Officer in Schools The family reside in an owner-occupied property with their children. One of the parents is a student and the other parent works full time. The student parent is in receipt of bursary. One of the children in the property is in receipt of Child Disability Payment at the standard rate of the daily living component and they were awaiting the outcome of a change of circumstances. The student parent was previously in receipt of Carers Allowance but had to give this up due to not being eligible as she was a student. The couple’s income consisted of Universal Credit, Student Income, Wages, Scottish Child Payment, Child Benefit and the Child Disability Payment (CDP). Welfare Rights officer identified 6 opportunities for support: 1. It was identified that the family were eligible for a 25% reduction in Council Tax as one parent was a student. 2. It was noted that the couple had installed an additional bathroom for the disabled child due to their needs. This meant that the couple were eligible for a disabled band reduction. 3. One of the parents had health issues, so an Adult Disability Payment (ADP) claim was completed. This claim was successful and resulted in an award of standard daily living and a standard rate mobility. 4. The rules surrounding Carers Allowance (now Carer Support Payment) had changed and they were now eligible for this. Claim successful. 5. As a result of the ADP decision, family eligible to claim the Carer Element as part of Universal Credit to increase the household income even further. 6. The review for the CDP came back with an unchanged award. Assistance provided to challenge this decision and assisted to gather additional medical evidence. The CDP redetermination was successful and resulted in an award being paid at the enhanced rate of Daily living. This also resulted in a higher
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35 allowance of Universal Credit being paid due to the amount increasing. This was also requested to be backdated to the date the decision took place from. Financial gains achieved for family: Per Week Per Year Council Tax Band Reduction £4.60 £239 Council Tax Student Discount £5.81 £302 Carer Support Payment £83.30 £4,331 Carers Supplement £10.40 £540 Child Disability Payment £36.50 £1,898 Adult Disability Payment £103.10 £5,361 Universal Credit Disabled child element £77.79 £4,045 Universal Credit Carer element x 2 £93.08 £4,840 Total Additional Income £414.58 £21,558 Additional Arrears Total £9,643
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36 4. Next Steps for 2025-26 Actions Income from Employment - Our Parental Employment team will support 85 parents through placements in 2025-26, implement a new survey for robust evaluation, and explore increasing work hours to meet DWP requirements. - We will prioritise developing our Community Wealth Building priority with a focus on fair employment, and increasing the number of local jobs created through community benefit clauses in procurement. - We Work for Families will enrol 450 parents and support 110 parents into employment by the end of 2025-26, in addition to supporting the council in placing approximately 80 parents into work placements. - We are planning for our next Employability Week in May 2025. - North Ayrshire Council is working in partnership with the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) to recruit additional childminders. This initiative aims to address the challenges of sourcing suitable and affordable childcare. Our enhanced offer to new childminders, developed in partnership with SCMA, Your Next Move Working North Ayrshire, and Early Years and Information and culture services, will support more parents to progress into employment. Reducing the Cost of Living - Our Fairer Food Network will continue supporting our communities and seek to establish new 'pop-up' support partnerships with partner providers by the end of 2025-26. - Our Infant Food Insecurity Pathway team will conclude the evaluation of their programme and roll out the pathway across all Health Visitor teams. - The Island Emergency Cost of Living Fund will increase its uptake through a targeted promotion work. The team will also explore the feasibility of offering a physical presence for credit union support on the islands. - KA Leisure will design and implement a new evaluation framework for its Partner Membership programme and pilot accessibility support for individuals, for example, a 'buddy system'. - KA Leisure's Kit Recycling Scheme will seek to secure a permanent location, implement a new system for recording donations, and develop a plan for managing the operational and financial logistics of processing increasing donations. - The 1st Alliance Community Bank will increase the number of families supported in 2025-26, establish new formal collaborations with third-sector organisations, and implement a new outreach strategy to better reach and serve target groups.
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37 - Our Active Schools team will expand experiential opportunities, develop new programmes, and design and implement an exit strategy for sustained support. - We will identify and implement strategies to increase the uptake of the Young Patient Family Fund. - We will review the Arran Taskforce survey assessing the demand for affordable housing on Arran. Income from Social Security and Benefits in Kind - We will consolidate our financial inclusion services and rebrand as ‘Money Smart’. - The Transformation Team will develop the next phase of the North Ayrshire Single Shared Assessment model, with a focus on data integration, and advise on legislative changes needed to enable proactive support. - Our Health Visiting teams will continue to develop established partnerships with organisations offering financial inclusion and income maximisation support to members of our community. - Our Housing team will foster stronger partnerships with all services to address emerging child poverty themes and align its actions with the objectives of the Homeless Task Force. - The Tea and Tots Peer Support Group will seek to secure continuation funding beyond May 2026. - CHAP intends to expand its outreach and early intervention efforts to reach more families at an earlier stage. The service will strengthen its support for priority groups, specifically lone parents, kinship carers, families with a disabled child, and young parents, by tailoring its advice model to their needs. CHAP also aims to formally embed the voice of people with lived experience in service design and evaluation through co-design and feedback mechanisms. - The Learning and Organisational Team will roll out the UNCRC i-Learn module to all council staff and monitor completion rate and impact. - We will increase the number of organisations working with young people registered on the NHS Community Benefits Portal (rolled over, no update). - We will report on the number of schools using Pupil Equity Funding for targeted interventions to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap. Overall Strategic Priorities - We will co-design a place-based test of change alongside local third sector organisations and community members with lived experience to target a wraparound response to the priority family groups, ensuring are supported to access the support that is available and which they are entitled to. - We will develop an analytical framework to identify and map the needs of families in poverty and use this to inform strategic allocation of initiatives in 2025-26. - We will publish our 5-year Financial Inclusion Strategy for 2025–2030 and
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38 establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress against our objectives. - We will establish our local priorities and areas for action as part of the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland and explore opportunities for joint work across place-based tests of change. - The policy to provide free school meals to all Primary 6 and 7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment will continue to be rolled out, with the uptake rate monitored during the 2025- 26 academic year. - A test of change offering free school meals to S1-S3 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment will be rolled out from August 2025, and the uptake rate for eligible pupils will be monitored in the 2025-26 academic year. - We will establish new formal mechanisms for community engagement to ensure our policies are informed by lived experience, and report on how feedback has influenced systems design in the 2025-26 period. - The Community Learning and Development Plan for 2024–2027 will be used to strengthen our collaborative approach and will be evidenced by reporting on how the co-production model has led to new joint initiatives with partners and their impact. - We will complete and launch a new e- learning module on child poverty for all council staff by October 2025. Following its launch, we will monitor completion and impact on collective understanding of child poverty, its potential impact, key terminology, and our shared responsibly as colleagues across our local authority. - By the end of the 2025-26 reporting period, we will improve integration of reporting across Child Poverty, Children’s Rights, and Children's Services Planning to demonstrate collective impact and improve efficiency.
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39 5. Conclusion North Ayrshire continues to face significant challenges in reducing child poverty, with our current rates remaining higher than average across Scotland. However, this report demonstrates the unwavering commitment of North Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and our partners to mitigating the impact of child poverty and working towards its eradication. The establishment of the new Child Poverty Strategy Team this year has brought a sharp focus on collaborative working, data-driven interventions, and, crucially, the authentic inclusion of community voice. While there is still much work to be done, the progress outlined in this report across income from employment, reducing household costs, and maximising income from social security and benefits in kind, shows that our collective efforts are making a tangible difference to the lives of children and families in North Ayrshire. Through continued partnership, innovation, and a steadfast focus on the experiences of our communities, we are confident that we will continue to make strides towards a North Ayrshire that is truly fair for all.
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40 6. Appendices 6.1 North Ayrshire Child Poverty Action Plan 2023-26 Key Actions 6.2 Child Poverty Statistical Sources 6.2.1 Before Housing Costs Source 6.2.2 After Housing Costs Source