A daily newspaper has joined forces with 23 leading charities to urge the Scottish Government to take “decisive action” on child poverty.

The Herald yesterday published an open letter to First Minister John Swinney calling for the Scottish Child Payment to be increased to £40 per week – from £27.15.

The call comes after the newspaper revealed that at least 80,000 children in “very deep poverty” in a series of articles entitled Scotland’s Forgotten Children: Poverty in Focus.

The Scottish Child Payment has been labelled a potential “game changer”, however charities have warned it does not go far enough.
Families in receipt of means tested benefits, including Universal Credit, currently receive £27.15 a week per child.

But independent research from the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggested increasing the rate to £40 per week would lift an additional 20,000 children out of poverty.

Catherine Salmond, editor of The Herald, said: “There is no greater power in a newsbrand than its voice. Today, The Herald is using it to speak up for those children living in poverty in Scotland.

“There are far too many and solutions are needed quickly.

“Equally as important, we have listened. This week, we have heard the human stories behind the statistics and from those charities fighting for a better quality of life for Scottish children.

“Together, we are now calling on the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 to help them have a better life. This marks the start of our campaigning for change.”

The open letter to Mr Swinney states: “This increase to £40 to £27.15 would be life-changing for families.

“The Scottish Child Payment has already been a game-changer. Parents have told us this support is a lifeline, allowing them to buy essentials and even share small moments of joy with their children that would otherwise be out of reach.

“This policy is working – but it now needs to work harder and reach further if we are to protect all our children from poverty.

“First Minister, you have the power to make a profound and lasting difference to the lives of Scotland’s children.”

In an exclusive interview with The Herald this week, Mr Swinney described the level of child poverty in the country as a “matter of shame”.

The full list of charities and groups backing The Herald’s call is:

Aberlour
Action for Children
Amnesty International
Barnardo’s Scotland
CELCIS (Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection)
Citizens Advice Scotland
Child Poverty Action Group
Children First
Nicola Killean, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland
Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
Families Outside
Fife Gingerbread
Includem
Independent Food Aid Network
One Parent Families Scotland
Oxfam Scotland
Parenting Across Scotland
Save the Children
Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
Scottish Women’s Budget Group
Shelter Scotland
The Poverty Alliance
Trussell Trust