The Aberdeenshire Child Poverty Action Report 2023-2024, led by Aberdeenshire Council and NHS Grampian, highlights past and planned efforts to support children and families experiencing poverty.

Between 2015 and 2022, child poverty in Aberdeenshire increased from 7.6% to 12.1%, with around 5,900 children living in relative poverty. While this remains below the Scottish average, it mirrors similar increases across the UK.

Taking a community planning approach, efforts to reduce poverty locally are led by the Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Strategic Partnership, featuring representation from a range of local organisations.

The report highlights the most recent data on child poverty in Aberdeenshire, the activities undertaken and their impacts over 2023/2024, and plans for the months ahead and beyond.

While there remains much work to do, a range of positive outcomes achieved over 2023/24 are highlighted in the report.

These include supporting more than 12,700 households to reduce housing costs, with the support provided valued at almost £6.7 million.

Work has also been undertaken to support hundreds of parents to secure and sustain employment, with thousands of children and young people being supported through the financial support available to families across Aberdeenshire.

As part of efforts to involve those who have experienced poverty to help shape developments, just over 400 local people have been involved in 15 projects focusing on transport, reducing the need for foodbanks, reducing stigma, and developing tools, training and policies for a range of partners.

Amanda Roe, chair of the Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Strategic Partnership, said: “Poverty is much more than just low income. High living costs, the lack of accessible and affordable childcare, affordable transport, and the challenges that can come with living in rural or remote areas are all factors.

“In Aberdeenshire, our approach to tackling child poverty focuses on early intervention and prevention to help prevent people falling into poverty. As well as direct support for those facing challenges, we continue to work closely with our communities to tackle the root causes of poverty.”

Councillor Anne Stirling, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee, added: “As the report outlines, a partnership approach is vital in ensuring opportunities and services are accessible and relevant, so we can achieve positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

“There is a lot of excellent work happening across Aberdeenshire by a wide range of dedicated partners, and this report highlights both the challenges and the successes that we are seeing across the area.”

Tracy Davis, NHS Grampian Child Health Commissioner, commented: “There are too many children living in poverty. Poverty has wide-reaching impacts and children have the right to grow up without experiencing these impacts.

“Our greatest asset in tackling poverty in Aberdeenshire is the strength of relationships between partner agencies and the expertise that families and those with lived experience bring in helping us to design the support and services that work for them.”

The focus of activity over the coming year includes involving individuals who have firsthand experience of poverty to contribute to the development of policies to tackle challenges.

Improving access to services in rural and remote areas has also been highlighted as a priority, while ensuring services are responsive and targeting those most in need.

Work will continue to address and tackle stigma and to help people feel comfortable seeking advice and support when they need it.