AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES INCLUDEM SUPPORTS
AN INCLUDEM REPORT MARCH 2025
INTRODUCTION
We work with children, young people and families across Scotland, providing whole family support to transform their lives and reach positive destinations. Many of the families we work with live in poverty and experience stigma and discrimination. With both the Scottish and UK Government committing to tackling child poverty, it is essential to us that their experiences and voices are heard by those who make the decisions that affect their lives.
Inordertoamplifytheirvoices, weaskedyoungpeopleandtheirfamiliestocompleteasurvey abouttheirexperiencesofmanagingtheirfamilyfinancesagainstabackdropofrisingcosts.It wouldalsogiveusananunderstandingonwhatimpactmanagingtheirhouseholdfinanceshason theirmentalhealth,thehealthoftheirfamily,andhowitaffectstheireducationandhousing.
Aspartofoursupport,welooktoinfluenceandengagewithpartnersandelectedrepresentatives atalllevels.Thatmeanswetrytogetdecision-makers-suchasyourself-tohearabouttheir experiencesandbringaboutchange.
Familiessharedwithuswhattheybelieveisworkingwellforthemandwhatneedstobeimproved. Wearenotsurprisedbythefindingsinthisreport-andneithershouldyou.
Thisreportsetsoutwhatfamiliestoldusabout:
Their Housing.
How they struggle to pay for food, energy, bills, internet and other essentials. Their views on the state of their finances.
The impact of debt on their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Our Recommendations.
Annexes (including a further look at the responses, demographics and the work we do to support families).
Throughoutourreport,wehavealsoincludedpowerfulcommentsthatfamiliessharedwithus.If nothingelse,weaskthatyoureadthesecommentsandthinkaboutwhatyoucandotosupportour workintransformingtheirlives.Thefamilieswesupportneedtoseeurgentactionifweareto trulyendtheirdeprivationofhope.
Ourdoorisalwaysopentotalktoyouandyourteamsaboutourwork,theviewsoftheyoung l df ili port,andtheireverydayexperiences.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Tackling child poverty has been at the forefront of both the Scottish and UK Government’s agenda and yet we continue to hear from families how much they are struggling to manage household finances as the cost of living keep rising. In an effort to amplify the voices of those we support with key decision-makers we wanted to understand the experiences of the families we support.
Wecontinuetoseeandheartheimpactoffinancialstraindirectlyfromthefamiliesthatwesupport andhavereportedonthispreviously:PovertyandtheImpactofCoronavirusonYoungPeopleand FamiliesinScotland(2020)andItIsNotaChoice!(2023).
FromSeptembertoDecember2024,researchwascarriedoutwithfamiliesincludemsupports.A surveywascreatedwhichmirroredthequestionsaskedinourpreviouspovertyreportswithatotalof 82responsesreceivedfromacrossScotland.Afurtherdiscussionontheimpactofrisingcost-of-living washeldwithincludemʼsYouthInspireGroup.Tosupplementthis,keywordanalysiswasconducted usingallvisitreportsloggedduringthistimeframe.
Thefindingsofthisresearchindicatethatexperiencesoffamilieshavenotimproved,andtherising cost-of-livingcontinuestohaveadevastatingeffectontheirqualityoflife.Familiestoldustheywere facedwithmakingdifficultchoicesbetweenbuyingfoodorheatingtheirhomes.
Theresearchalsoemphasisedthenegativeimpactthatmanaginghouseholdfinanceshasonthe mentalandphysicalhealthofmostofthefamiliesweworkwith.Familiesspokeabouthowtheir housingandaccessingeducationalactivitiesareaffectedtoo.
Areviewofvisitnotesmadebyincludemcolleaguesemphasisedthevitalrolethirdsector organisationsplayinprovidingwholefamilysupport.Examplesofworktotackletheimpactofthe risingcostoflivingincludedincomemaximisation,helpingwithbudgeting,supportingjob applications,andprovisionofemergencyfundsforessentialitems.
Basedonourfindings,thereportmakesrecommendationstobothScottishandtheUKGovernments. ThiswillformpartofourinfluenceandengagementworkintherunuptotheScottishParliament Electionsin2026andourTransformingLivescampaign.
Sometimes I cry every week because of council tax, rent arrears and school meal [debt]. Kyle
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SummaryofFindings
Ofthe82responses:
57%mainsourceofincomewassocialsecurity.
57%livedinsocialhousing
69%reportedstrugglingtopayforfood.
76%struggledtopaytheirenergybill.
63%struggledtopaytheirbills.
52%struggledtopaywithcostsrelatedtoschool
64%toldusinthepastyear,householdfinanceshaveworsenedfortheirfamily.
78%toldusinthepastyear,theirfamiliesmentalhealthhadgotworse.
68%toldusinthepastyear,theyfeltjudged,ignoredortreatedunfairlyduetotheirfinancialsituation.
AlthoughchildpovertylevelsintheUKarearound24%,ourfindingssuggestthatforthefamilieswe supportacrossScotland,childpovertyisatleastdoublethisfigure.
Recommendations
ThebelowsetsoutsomeoftherecommendationswemaketoboththeScottishandUKGovernment.
WecallontheScottishGovernmenttourgentlyfundchildrenandyoungpeople’smentalhealthservices alongsidebetterfinancialsupportforfamiliesrecognisingthisisthekeycontributorofpoormentalhealthfor manyofthefamiliesweworkwith
WecallontheScottishGovernmenttoincreasetheScottishChildPaymentto£50aweekandcallonboth governmentstoendthetwo-childbenefitscap.
Wecallonbothgovernmentstotakeradicalactiontotransformthelivesofchildrenandyoungpeopleliving inpovertybywritingoffpublicsectordebt
IncludemcallsontheScottishGovernmenttofullyimplementuniversalfreeschoolmealsforallchildrenand youngpeopleinScotland.
MoresupportisneededfromboththeUKandScottishGovernmentstomakeenergyaffordableforlowincomefamilies.
WerecommendthatthecurrentSchoolClothingGrantshouldbeurgentlyreviewed.Atminimum,thegrant h ldb d bl d d idthroughouttheschoolyear,recognisingthatchildrendon’tgrowtoorder.
It can be a challenge on us as sometimes we struggle to buy food or electricity!
Mandy
This report has been published to amplify the voices of those we support with key decision makers at a time when a new UK Government Strategy on child poverty is set to be published in Spring 2025 and the Scottish Parliament considers a budget for 2025/26 focussed on tackling child poverty.
Weknowthatbetween2020and2023,24%ofallchildreninScotlandwerelivinginpoverty. This figurehasbeenrecognisedbyboththenewPrimeMinisterandthenewFirstMinisterwhohavemade significantcommitmentsfortheirrespectivegovernmentstoeradicatechildpoverty.
Toaccuratelyrepresenttheviewsandexperiencesoffamilieswesupportwesharedadigitalsurvey withyoungpeopleandfamilies,invitingthemtobehonestabouthowtheyaremanagingtheir householdfinancesinthecurrentclimate,andthewiderimplicationsofthis.Thesurveywasopento responsesbetweenSeptemberandDecember2024.
Thesurveywasmodelledonpreviousresearchwehaveundertakentoachievecomparison,andwas senttoyoungpeopleandfamiliesdirectlybytextmessage.
Tocomplementthesurvey,visitnotesmadebyincludemworkersduringthesametimeperiodwere reviewedtogatherfurtherinformationaboutthechallengesfamiliesarefacing,andhowweasan organisation,respondtothem.
WealsospoketomembersofincludemʼsYouthInspireGroupwhoprovidedspecificinsightintothe experiencesofyoungpeoplemanagingtheirmoney.
Thefindingsofthisreportmatchwhatwehavereportedonpreviously:PovertyandtheImpactof CoronavirusonYoungPeopleandFamiliesinScotland(2020)andItIsNotaChoice!(2023).
WehavecalledthisreportBeyondtheBudgetasfamiliestellustheyneedboththeScottishandUK Governmentstostartthinkinglongterm.Familiescannotcontinuetosurviveyearonyearatthe whimsofgovernmentsannualpolicies.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
We call on the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £50 per week and for an end to the two-child benefit cap.
We call on both Governments to take radical action to transform the lives of children and young people living in poverty by writing off public sector debt.
MEDIUM TERM ACTIONS
We recommend that youth workers are provided with free access to public buildings for the purpose of activities run by and for young people.
We call on both the Scottish Government and Local Authorities to ensure that more affordable homes are built, ensuring essential support is provided to young people and families from lower incomes.
LONG TERM ACTIONS
We call on both governments to provide broadband at no cost to low-income families or for those living in a deprived area.
We recommend that a national review into Scotland’s transport infrastructure ensuring that journeys are seamless and linked between providers of rail, bus, cycle and ferry.
It used to be people on benefits that you would "assume" were struggling, now it's everyone and there is very little available for those that fall out with the normalised ranges
Claire
CONCLUSION
The findings of this report are stark but the words of the families we support even more powerful. For their sake, we hope our findings are taken seriously and the recommendations we make are acted on.
Thereportshowsthattheexperiencesoffamilieshavenotimprovedsinceour2023report,andthat therisingcost-of-livingcontinuestohaveadevastatingeffectontheirqualityoflife.
Ourengagementsetouttounderstandfamilies'livedexperienceswithmoney,debtandfinancial insecuritywithoutreinforcingstigma.Thefindingshighlightthatfinancialhardshipiscausedby systemicfactors,notindividualchoices.
Toomanyfamiliesarenʼtearningenoughmoneytokeeptheirheadsabovewater,eitherthrough employmentorsocialsecurityandweneedtoseeurgentgovernmentsupportifweareseriousabout tacklingchildpoverty.
Thedriversofchildpovertyhavebeenwidelydocumentedandacknowledgedandthefindingsofthe reportsupportthis.
Too many families aren’t earning enough money to keep their heads above water, either through employment or social security.
Children and young people are unable to attend extra-curricular activities or study subjects of their choice, limiting their prospects and hope for the future.
Relationships in households are strained on account of managing the pressures of raising a family in the current economic and policy environment.
Mental health of adults, as well as their children, is significantly impacted by worry and stress.
Health of families is threatened by the living conditions imposed on families in receipt of social security.
Thesupportthirdsectororganisationssuchasincludemprovidesisinvaluableinhelpingfamilies navigatecomplexsystemsandtoaccesscommunityresources.Thisshouldberecognisedbyboth hesectorscallsforfairerfunding.
Scared and worried about how we are going to get by day by day. Colin
ANNEX 1: DATA RESPONSES
HOUSING HOUSING
57% of respondents live in Social Housing.
27% own their home.
5% privately rented.
4% did not say.
Type of Housing
2% live in Temporary Accommodation.
2% live in ‘other’.
1% live in Support Accommodation.
1% did not know.
Who Lives in Your
37% of respondents live in a household of 3 people.
21% live in a household of 2 people.
20% live in a household of 4 people.
17% live in a household of 5,6,7 or 8 people.
5% live on their own.
39% of respondents reported having issues paying rent or their mortgage.
60% of respondents said never.
16% said a few weeks a year.
12% said every other week.
6% said most weeks.
4% said every week.
2% did not say.
ANNEX 1: DATA RESPONSES
STRUGGLING TO PAY STRUGGLING TO PAY
Food
of respondents reported struggling to pay for food.
30% of respondents encounter this issue every week.
23% never had any issues.
20% every other week.
15% most weeks.
8% did not say.
4% every week.
Toiletries
of respondents reported struggling to pay for toiletries.
34% of respondents experienced this a few weeks a year.
23% every other week.
22% never had any issues.
12% most weeks.
8% every week.
1% did not say
of respondents struggle to pay their energy bills.
33% of respondents had this issue a few weeks a year.
23% never had any issues.
21% most weeks.
11% every week.
11% every other week.
1% did not say.
ANNEX 1: DATA RESPONSES
STRUGGLING TO PAY STRUGGLING TO PAY
of respondents struggle to pay their bills.
31% of respondents struggle a few weeks a year.
31% never struggle to pay their bills.
13% every week.
13% most weeks.
7% struggle every other week.
Bills
Internet
5% did not say.
of respondents reported struggling to pay for internet access.
34% of respondents faced this issue a few weeks a year.
29% never had any issues.
15% every other week.
14% most weeks.
7% every week.
1% did not say.
of respondents struggled to with costs associated with children.
38% of respondents never had any issues.
18% a few weeks a year.
16% most weeks.
15% every other week.
11% every week.
2% did not say.
ANNEX 1: DATA RESPONSES
STRUGGLING TO PAY STRUGGLING TO PAY
of respondents struggle to pay for costs related to school for example school meals, school uniforms etc.
44% of respondents never had any issues.
27% a few weeks a year.
9% every week.
School Costs
Transport
8% every other week.
7% experienced this most weeks.
5% did not say.
of respondents have struggled to pay for transport costs.
33% of respondents never had any issues. 24% a few weeks a year.
16% every other week.
13% most weeks.
10% of respondents struggled every week.
4% did not say.
40%
of respondents cannot set money aside to pay for unexpected costs like repairs/breakages.
57% of respondents never had any issues.
18% a few weeks a year.
11% most weeks.
6% every other week.
5% every week.
3% did not say.
ANNEX 1: DATA RESPONSES
THINKING ABOUT
of respondents told us that in the past year, household finances have worsened for their family.
32% of respondents said they had been a lot worse than before.
32% said they were a little worse.
Household Finances
Debt
13% said they had been a bit better.
12% said there had been no difference.
10% said their household finances had improved a lot.
1% did not say.
of respondents said their debt has increased in the past year.
28% of respondents said it had been a bit worse.
20% said it had got a lot worse.
18% said there had been no difference.
13% said this did not apply to them.
11% said it had got a bit better.
7% said it had become a lot better.
3% did not say.
of respondents said their family’s physical health had worsened in the past year.
40% of respondents said it had got a bit worse in the past year.
29% said it was the same.
18% said it had got a lot worse.
9% said it had got a bit better.
3% said it had become a lot better.
1% did not say.
ANNEX 1: DATA RESPONSES
THINKING ABOUT
of respondents told us that in the past year, their family’s mental health had gotten worse.
44% of respondents said it had gotten a lot worse.
34% said it had gotten a bit worse.
10% said it had remained the same.
10% said it had gotten a bit better.
Mental Health
Day-to-Day Costs
Stigma
1%said their household finances had improved a lot. 1% did not say.
of respondents worried about affording day-to-day costs.
43% of respondents said they were a bit worried.
32% said they were very worried.
15% said there was no difference.
9% said they were not worried.
1% did not say.
ofrespondentstoldusthatinthepastyear,theyfelt judged,ignoredortreatedunfairlyduetotheirfinancialsituation.
33%ofrespondentssaidtheyfeltitsometimes.
32%saidtheyneverfeltjudged,ignoredortreatedunfairly.
13%saidtheyfeltitregularly.
12%saidtheyfeltitallthetime.
10%saidtheyfeltitonceortwice.
ANNEX 1: DATA RESPONSES
THINKING ABOUT
Thinking about the past year, how often have you set money aside to save for a holiday or a rainy day?
62%
of respondents told us that they cannot save money for a holiday or a rainy day.
17% of respondents said they could save a few week a year.
8% said every week.
Holidays
6% said every other week.
5% of respondents said they could save most weeks. 2% did not say.
ANNEX 2: FAMILIES VIEWS
Some courses that I’ve wanted to have a cost associated with them and I have been unable to do them.
It’s been hard, we got evicted out our family home I now live in supported accommodation, my mum suffers from depression I have adhd.
It affects my mental health enormously. Always having to make sure I have everything I need for the kids and the house .
Working single mum earning above average salary and still struggling with cost of keeping a family and a home. The current economic situation is somewhat pointless. I work 60hours per week and still can’t afford a decent standard of living.
It’s a constant worry and an emotional turmoil on how to afford things and keep things running and mental health is deteriorating rapidly.
I can't see anything getting better, I do worry about her growing up in this world as she has her own problems.
It is crippling; worrying about money and trying to keep heads above water makes you snappy, emotional, tired and drained. It then affects the other people in your home and others in your life. This then makes you feel even more alone.
ANNEX 2: FAMILIES VIEWS
I worry that my children won't be fed at school. That we will be evicted from our home!
Can't sleep at night.
Energy costs are a struggle sometimes.
Families with disabled children with special needs need more help and more financial help to be able to live with the cost of things.
I would like to say that without includems help don’t know what we would have done.The help they have gave me and my kids has been truly amazing and can’t thank you enough no one else has been able to help just let kids down and you have built up trust l would like to give a very big thank you!
Struggling with council tax caused us financial strain and stress.
My rent was £650; it is now £950! It's almost impossible to find another place to live and impossible to work any more hours than I already do.
Sometimes I cry every week because of council tax rent arrears and school meal [debt].
When we get money, we go to pay [council tax] but we can’t because there is a lot of bills [coming] in at the same time and we can’t pay them all, so we get a lot in debt and we struggle every week, it is really so hard to live and pay bills.
ANNEX 3: DEMOGRAPHICS
ABOUT THOSE WE SUPPORT
Thefamiliesandindividualswhotookpartinthisresearchwereamixtureofpeople whohadbeenreceivingsupportfromincludemforsometime,andthosewhohad newlybeenreferredtoanincludemserviceorproject.
LOCATION
32 of the responses are from Glasgow.
25 from Fife.
12 from Stirling.
5 from Aberdeen.
3 from West Dunbartonshire.
2 from Dundee.
2 from South Lanarkshire.
1 not disclosed.
79% of the respondents are aged 35+.
12% are aged 25-35. 9% are aged 17-25.
INCOME
57% of respondents main source of income is Income Support (Social Security).
39% of respondents main source of income is employment.
4% did not say.
BEYOND THE BUDGET
ANNEX4:OURRECOMMENDATIONS
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
We call on the Scottish Government to urgently fund children and young people’s mental health services alongside better financial support for families recognising this is the key contributor of poor mental health for many of the families we work with.
We call on the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £50 a week and call on both governments to end the two-child benefits cap.
We call on both governments to take radical action to transform the lives of children and young people living in poverty by writing off public sector debt.
Includem calls on the Scottish Government to fully implement universal free school meals for all children and young people in Scotland.
More support is needed from both the UK and Scottish Governments to make energy affordable for low-income families.
We recommend that the current School Clothing Grant should be urgently reviewed. At minimum, the grant should be doubled and paid throughout the school year, recognising that children don’t grow to order.
MEDIUM TERM ACTIONS
Youth workers should be provided with free access to public buildings - such as school facilities - for the purpose of activities run by and for young people which are free for children and young people to access and built around the school day
We call on both the Scottish Government and Local Authorities to ensure that more affordable homes (private, social or mixed) are built and ensure that essential support is provided for young people and families from low incomes.
Mandatory training on providing stigma free support, developed in partnership with those with lived experience, should be provided to those working in the public and third sector.
LONG TERM ACTIONS
We recommend in order to increase awareness of both accessing and gaining financial advice, both the Scottish and UK Governments should consider the recruitment of Social Security Development Officers
Includem calls on both the Scottish Government and UK Government to provide broadband at no extra costs to lowincome families and for those living in deprived areas
w is carried out into Scotland’s transport infrastructure ensuring journeys are seamless and bus, cycle and ferry
