Save the Children Scotland

After our recent event in Glasgow, the children's local MP @maureenburke.bsky.social raised their concerns in the house of commons. It's so important that children's views are taken into account in political decision-making.

Well done to Toryglen Primary and LCR on supporting six families from their LCR to take part in an adapted @savechildrensco.bsky.social Families Connect! Read about how new friendships were made, and about other inspirational practise on our blog: blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/gc/glasgowfa... 😍

We know children’s perspectives are often missing from political conversations. Thanks @maureenburke.bsky.social @paulsweeney.bsky.social @ruairikelly.bsky.social, Ivan McGee (SNP), Cllr Sharon Greer (Lab) & Cllr Donna McGill (SNP) for attending & making pledges on how you'll act on what you heard 🤝

Brilliant to have the great work of Oakwood Primary in Easterhouse acknowledged in the chamber @maureenburke.bsky.social 👏

Our child-led event @childrenparliament.bsky.social was designed to make sure children’s voices on poverty are heard ahead of the 2026 election 🎤

tinyurl.com/y8cubzd6 📖

Alongside @childrenparliament.bsky.social, we brought together Primary 5 pupils at Oakwood Primary School to meet with MSPs, the local MP, councillors & other power holders to ensure children’s voices on poverty are heard ahead of the 2026 election.

Here is what children told us they enjoyed most❤️

We are delighted to have worked with @centreformh.bsky.social on this new report.
The research highlights the crucial support parent-infant teams offer babies & families and also finds that government could save billions by investing in expanding these specialised services.

Families across Scotland are struggling. More than 1 in 5 young lives is being held back by poverty & over half live in a household where someone is disabled.

Alexander, who is part of our Parent Panel @jrf-uk.bsky.social, talks about the change he wants to see.

tinyurl.com/5bwwu6tn%F0%...

Around 9,000 babies in Scotland are living in fear & distress. Too often babies are overlooked. We want babies’ voices to be heard! With an election looming, our #ManifestoForBabiesInScotland calls on politicians from all parties in Scotland to #SpeakUpForBabiesInScotland tinyurl.com/babiespledge

The new story of child poverty in Scotland This project aims to change how child poverty is discussed in Scotland by crafting a new, emotionally resonant narrative that better engages the public and decision-makers. Its goal is to inspire conf...

To find out more about our work with @jrf-uk.bsky.social & how we can change the story and build a better future for children and for Scotland, visit:

www.savethechildren.org.uk/new-story-ch...

Changing the story on child poverty - Alexander’s story Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation are working together to understand public attitudes to child poverty in Scotland. Our project, Changing the Story, is using survey-based and qualit...

The first blog in the series is from Alexander, a dad from Dundee, who talks about the change he wants to see, especially for families with children with disabilities, & older children in full-time education. (2/3)

You can read the full piece here👇

www.savethechildren.org.uk/blogs/2026/c...

The new story of child poverty in Scotland This project aims to change how child poverty is discussed in Scotland by crafting a new, emotionally resonant narrative that better engages the public and decision-makers. Its goal is to inspire conf...

To find out more about our work with @jrf-uk.bsky.social & how we can change the story and build a better future for children and for Scotland, visit:

www.savethechildren.org.uk/new-story-ch...

“The systems in place make it near impossible for low-income families. It’s time to invest in the young people, they are the future after all.”  

Members of our Changing the Story parent panel have written blogs about what needs to change to give every child an equal chance to thrive (🧵1/3)

🤝 We're proud to be a member of the coalition of charities launching its #ManifestoForBabiesInScotland today.

👶 We urge all candidates standing in the
upcoming Holyrood election to consider how their policies support babies.

📖 tinyurl.com/speakupforbabiesScotland

Investing in giving every child a fair start in life is investing in the kind of Scotland we all want to live in - a Scotland where no child is held back from achieving their potential simply because they have more siblings.

Child poverty is not inevitable; it is about thoughtful political choices. The next Scottish Government simply must invest to meet the 2030 legally binding targets and help every child thrive (3/4)

We also know that large families are disproportionately impacted by poverty. Imposing a two-child limit on this payment would be cruel and unjust and trap even more families in poverty (2/4)

Parents tell us the Scottish Child Payment makes a real difference to their lives - it helps them afford basic essentials like food, energy bills, nappies, and children’s clothes. And we see this impact reflected in the latest figures on child poverty in Scotland too (🧵1/4)

Crucial extra support in Scottish Budget can't come soon enough for families Claire Telfer, Head of Scotland for Save the Children, has welcomed the Scottish Child Payment top up in the recent Budget.

🗣️ "There should be no limits to childhood, or to what the babies of today can go on to achieve tomorrow."

✍️ Great to see a piece in @dailyrecord.co.uk @telfc.bsky.social on the #ScottishChildPayment boost.

👇
shorturl.at/dK8oz

Investing in the tiniest members of our society – alongside the other commitments made to tackle child poverty - is how we sow the seeds of a brighter tomorrow.

This is the bold action we have been calling for to meaningfully tackle child poverty and make sure every baby in Scotland has an equal chance to thrive. This is a moment of hope for families, and for all of us.

We have been campaigning hard for targeted income increases for families with a baby under one when the impacts of tackling and preventing poverty can have the greatest impact.

We are delighted that the Scottish Government has committed to doing better for babies in today’s budget by announcing a boost to the Scottish Child Payment for families with a baby from 2027.

Evidence shows that investing in a baby's first year has a lasting impact on childhoods and life chances. That's why we’re urging the Scottish Government to invest any ‘freed-up’ cash in families with a baby to make sure our next generation can fulfill its full potential.

This is less than the estimated amount that has been freed up by the UK Government scrapping the two-child limit which the Scottish Government had committed to mitigating and has since pledged to invest to drive more progress on child poverty.

These changes would benefit around 30,000 children, reducing poverty rates for families with a baby by 6 percentage points, at a cost of £100m a year.

We're calling on the Scottish Government to do better for babies by increasing the Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Payment and the Best Start Foods Grant.

How we can do Better for Babies in the new year The Cabinet Secretary for Finance will set out the Scottish Government’s proposed budget for 2026/27 on 13th January. All eyes are on whether this will be a budget that provides hope that this year wi...

📆 There's less than a week to go until the the Cabinet Secretary for Finance will set out the Scottish Government’s proposed budget for 2026/27. We hope this will be a budget that lays the foundations for a better year for families.

www.savethechildren.org.uk/blogs/2025/h...

We're calling for Scotland to do Better for Babies at the budget by

📈 Increasing the Best Start Pregnancy Grant to £4,885 for a first child (paid quarterly)

📈 Raising the Best Start Foods Grant to £160 per month.

Evidence shows that investing in a baby’s first year has a lasting impact on childhoods and life chances - but over one in three families with a baby is living in poverty.

How we can do Better for Babies in the new year The Cabinet Secretary for Finance will set out the Scottish Government’s proposed budget for 2026/27 on 13th January. All eyes are on whether this will be a budget that provides hope that this year wi...

As 2025 draws to a close, we are thinking about what the new year will bring for families across Scotland. We’re calling on the Scottish Government to invest in a Baby Guarantee in its upcoming budget for 2026/27.

www.savethechildren.org.uk/blogs/2025/h...