Parties challenged on how they will meet child poverty targets
A Scottish counselling charity has called on parties ahead of the Scottish elections to recognise a fundamental truth – that child poverty cannot be reduced without directly addressing the pressures facing parents, carers and guardians.
While political debate continues across issues such as healthcare, social security and the economy, there remains a critical gap in how poverty is understood and addressed.
Children do not experience poverty in isolation. Their wellbeing is shaped by the financial stability, mental health, relationships and resilience of the adults who care for them.
James Stuart Duffin, CEO of Counselling Services Glasgow, said: “If we are serious about reducing child poverty, we must be equally serious about supporting the adults who are raising those children. Poverty sits within families, and without strong, accessible adult services, we are asking parents and carers to carry unsustainable pressures alone.
“We see every day how financial strain, insecure work, poor mental health and relationship stress intersect. When adults are not adequately supported, the impact on children is immediate and long-lasting.”
The recent assessment by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that current manifestos fall short of meeting child poverty targets highlights the urgency of a more comprehensive approach.
Counselling Services Glasgow is urging the next Scottish Government to place adult services at the heart of its anti-poverty strategy, including investment in mental health support, relationship counselling, family support services, employability programmes, and income and debt advice.
They said: “Too often, policy responses focus on children without sufficiently strengthening the support systems around them. This risks treating the symptoms rather than the cause.
“Supporting adults to build stable relationships, maintain good mental health, access fair work and navigate financial pressures is not separate from tackling child poverty—it is central to it.
We emphasise that preventative, community-based adult services are essential to reducing long-term demand on crisis interventions and public services.
“Children thrive when the adults around them are supported to cope, to care and to provide stability. If we want to meet Scotland’s child poverty targets, investment in adult services must be seen as essential infrastructure, not an optional addition.”
TFN
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