IT IS NOT A CHOICE!

This report was authored by Meg Thomas, Head of Research, Policy & Participation, includem & Tuisku “Snow “Curtis-Kolu, Policy Officer, includem includem, Unit 6000 Academy Office Park, Gower Street, Glasgow, G51 1PR www.includem.org | publicaffairs@includem.co.uk

We are a Scottish charity that works with children, young people and families to help them transform their lives.

Our priority is helping children, young people and families make positive, sustainable changes to build a better life.

This is how we transform lives for the long term.

Our mission is to provide the support children and young people need to make positive changes in their lives, and inspire a more hopeful future for children, young people, their families and communities.

Our vision is a world where every child and young person is respected, valued, and has the opportunity to actively participate in all aspects of life and society.

Introduction

Includem are committed defenders of children’s rights, recognising that the children, young people, and families we support are at greater risk of not having them realised. The biggest breach of children’s rights that the includem team see every day is poverty.

Poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life – their learning and play, their physical and mental health and their future opportunities. For the children, young people, and families we support, their right to an adequate standard of living, a safe and warm place to live, good nutritious food, to benefit from social security, and to be supported as a family to develop in the best way possible, are not being met. For them the aspiration to make Scotland the “best place in the world to grow up” feels a long way off.

Poverty is not and should not be inevitable. In this report we highlight the voices and experiences of the families includem supports. We hear what it is like for them to not be able to meet their children’s needs, to feel judged and what they would like to be different and better.

We must all be prepared to listen and act on the recommendations they make both to improve their lives now, and to prevent more families falling into poverty. Includem calls on decision makers in Local, Scottish and the UK government to make brave economic decisions that protect and promote the wellbeing of those most disproportionately affected by poverty and the current cost-of-living crisis.

Dorchester Chief Executive includem

Martin

It Is Not a Choice! Executive Summary

With the United Kingdom experiencing a cost-of-living crisis and a recession forecasted to be the longest since records began, we spoke to 83 children, young people, and families who we support across Scotland to hear how this was impacting their lives. This follows our previous reports Poverty and the Impact of Coronavirus on Young People and Families in Scotland and Voices: Families experience of poverty and services. The stark reality is, our findings highlight that things have significantly worsened for families, demonstrating that for them this is not a crisis – it is a calamity.

The findings provide a stark view of what the children, young people, and families includem supports experience. This is not just about the rising cost of living or the continued impact of Covid-19. It is also about families struggling to survive after more than a decade of austerity, resulting in cuts to vital services. It shows there is a lack of access to basic human rights due to inadequate incomes, underfunded social security, and weak wellbeing infrastructure. This not only locks families into poverty but increases their likelihood of significant intervention by statutory services.

As a children’s right defender, includem, along with the families we support, raises the alarm of a wellbeing crisis which may have a scarring effect on children’s lives, and Scotland, for decades to come. We call for a radically different approach by decision makers that delivers for the wellbeing of all people in Scotland.

The Harsh Reality of Being Unable to Meet Costs

We asked families how regularly they were struggling with costs for essentials necessary for survival, the basics for quality of life, or having enough for a safety net.

Essentials

Respondents strugling with costs ‘half the time’, ‘usually’, or ‘always’ over the past year...

Our survey found that:

71% of families said they were struggling to meet the costs of two or more essentials ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’. 60% it was three or all four essentials. Across every category this is worse for those families where social security is their primary source of income. Results suggest that most families are prioritising housing costs above other essentials, while all those struggling with their rent or mortgage payments are struggling across all essential costs.

73% of families said they were struggling to meet the costs of two or more basics ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’. 51% said it was four or all basics. There was a concerning trend on costs directly linked to childhood – with 66% of families reported struggling with child costs and/ or school costs. For those whose main source of income is social security, this rose to a shocking 88%.

Impact on Families

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on families over the last six months is striking. This has resulted in circumstances worsening for the majority of families across all impact indicators –including finances, debt and mental and physical health.

Respondents whose circumstances got worse over the last six months...

* Debt impact here has been calculated from the 64 respondents that identified it as applicable.

Our research found that:

94% of respondents have experienced worsening finances, with many having to take on new, or further debt to keep their head above water. Three out of four families reported worsening mental health – rising to 88% for families whose main source of income is social security.

The proportion of families with worsened finances, debt, and mental and physical health in the last six months has increased since this survey was last conducted in 2020, at the height of Covid-19.

The findings show that single parents are more acutely impacted.

“Gone from stressed to anxiety... This has had a big impact on my mental health. I’m a sole provider so this increases anxiety because it is on my head...”

Family relationships have been impacted. Restricting children to bare essentials has left parents feeling like failures through no fault of their own. A majority of respondents reported feeling judged because of their financial situation, and many felt that decision makers ignore, or simply do not understand, their lived reality. As a result, public health and wellbeing interventions do not effectively respond to poverty-related root causes.

“I am now on anti-depressants and sleeping tablets due to my worries for caring for my kids. I have lost a lot of weight as I chose to feed my kids over myself all too often.”

Decisions-makers don’t understand.

Poverty is not a choice.

It is a constant struggle.

Children are missing out.

Hopes and Aspirations

“…

Listen to me.

I am worried.

I need more support.

I want a better future.

family”

We are committed to working with children, young people, and families to create solutions and improve services. In our survey, we asked families what they needed to make their lives better for themselves and for others. They told us that for any hope of a better life, families need:

To see an increase in living wages and better jobs.

Support and an easier system to navigate.

Housing that allows families to build a home.

A social security system that promotes stability rather than greater adversity.

Emergency funds they can rely on.

Cost-of-living to come down.

Their children to have opportunities to achieve a better life.

Better support for mental health and wellbeing.

Decision makers who understand the pressure of living on low incomes.

To be heard.

I just want the best for my

Background

This report has been published prior to the release of the Scottish Government’s 2023/24 Budget. This is at a time when families across the United Kingdom are facing the worst financial pressures they may have experienced in their lifetime. Energy bills have doubled in less than 18 months and are potentially set to rise again in April 2023. Inflation stands at over 10%1 and the longest recession in 100 years is forecast 2 3. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) notes the cost-of-living crisis is not just caused by rising costs, but also by the intentional social security cuts which have reduced the income of low-income households.4

To understand how the crisis is impacting children, young people and families, we need to recognise its relationship with the wider issues and systems impacting on them. After more than a decade of austerity, poverty and inadequate incomes have become entrenched, and services to support families have been significantly reduced in size and capacity. These service backlogs and cuts are most evident in deprived communities.

The JRF Poverty in Scotland 2022 report5 found that nearly one in five families on low incomes have gone both hungry and cold and that the mental health of most households has worsened. They described Scotland as “a nation in crisis mode.” For the families includem supports this is higher still, with two in three struggling to meet the cost of food and four in five struggling to heat their house.

At includem, we continue to see the impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns on the children and young people we support – particularly with social anxiety and isolation. There is evidence that the cost-ofliving crisis is compounding this as opportunities to socialise are unaffordable for families. Isolation caused by destitution, without a sense of how things can get better, is leading to a concerning poverty of hope.

Through a survey we asked families to identify how often they had struggled to pay for things, over the last year, with the options of, ‘always’, ‘usually’, ‘about half the time’, ‘rarely’ and ‘never’. Families were determined to be struggling when they could not meet the costs ‘about half the time’ or more frequently.

Families were also asked about the impact this has had on their finances, debt, physical and mental health, in the last six months, and also their worries about the future. They responded with the options of, it was ‘a lot worse’, ‘a bit worse’, ‘no different’, ‘a bit better’ and ‘a lot better’. Families’ situations were determined as worse if they answered, ‘a bit’ or ‘a lot worse’.

In total, 83 completed survey responses were received from children, young people, and families. This represents 20% of those includem supports. Of these:

• 70% had social security as their main source of income,

• 30% had employment as their main source of income.

• 46% were one parent families,

• 18% were kinship or foster carers,

• 17% were two parent families

• 13% identified as other, including care experienced young people living independently and an asylum seeker.

• 59% live in social housing,

• 18% own their own home,

• 14% were in private rentals

• the remainder were in a mixture of supported accommodation and temporary housing.

1 UK food prices soar by fastest rate on record as cost of living crisis bites | Inflation | The Guardian

2 Bank of England warns of longest recession in 100 years as it raises rates to 3% | Interest rates | The Guardian

3 Briefing: Tackling child poverty (audit-scotland.gov.uk)

4 Poverty in Scotland 2022 | JRF

5 Poverty in Scotland 2022 | JRF

The impact this has on family relationships needs to be considered. Having to restrict children to bare essentials has a major impact on parents and carers wellbeing, with many of the parents we support reporting that they felt like a failure. Findings by the Nuffield Foundation showed that reductions in income, and other economic shocks have a major impact on the number of children being harmed or neglected. This research shows that children are 10% more likely to come into care or be on the child protection register if they are in the 10% most deprived communities, compared to the most affluent.6

At includem, most of the families we support are also working with Social Work. These are the families on the edges of care and are also the families most acutely affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

In this report, we heard from families about their current circumstances during the rising cost-ofliving crisis and have compared these to the findings of our 2020 report7 . In both studies, families responded to questions on day-to-day costs and the effect on their wellbeing.

Throughout this report, we have considered the impact of these findings on children’s rights.

Key Findings: It Is Not a Choice

The families includem support are feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis severely.

“Cost of Living – I am on my knees trying to provide for my family!”

“...worrying about having enough money to survive.”

“...Families are being put in dire need and should not have to depend on food banks.”

Families described living in cold and overcrowded housing, skipping meals, being unable to prepare for emergencies and lacking access to activities or social outings. Combined, this effectively places them in a permanent state of lockdown.

“[We are] secluded with no money for bills, outings, travel.” 6 New evidence on the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect - Nuffield Foundation 7 https://includem.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Poverty-and-the-Impact-of-Coronavirus-on-Young-People-and-Families.pdf

How we have defined essentials, basics, and a safety net

The essentials are things needed to survive day-to-day - including food, heating, clothing, and other goods such as toiletries.

The basics provide families with a very basic standard of living - including transport, child related costs, socialising, and internet.

A safety net allows families to meet the cost of repairs and unexpected emergencies. It can also include the ability to save for a rainy-day fund or holidays.

The responses show that the families supported by includem are now struggling to cover the cost of the essential items of food, heating, and goods, having already cut back on the basics such as transport, socialising, and children’s activities. 94% of all families reported that their finances have become worse over the last year – rising to 98% for those whose main source of income is social security.

Families want decision makers to know that poverty is not a choice. It is not about budgeting correctly or spending frivolously. Current incomes simply cannot meet the needs of families. This leaves them with the impossible daily decision to cut essentials because there is nothing else left to cut.

“We are choosing between food and gas. We have no money for holidays or fun activities and [are] scraping by daily.”

“The money we get only covers the food in their belly and a roof. It pays for no extras.”

“[They] need to live a day in our lives. Every penny is accounted for. I’m thinking do I need bread or milk or what can I do without. Second guessing every decision.”

“We are already struggling day to day without more increases.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) places an obligation on us all as adults to do what is best for children and to think about how decisions will affect them8. Our findings make it clear that the economic and political decisions we are making now, and in the last 10 years, have not been in the best interests of children.

Meeting the Costs of the Essentials

71% of the families who responded to our survey said they were struggling to meet the costs of two or more essentials ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’ – rising from 52% in 2020. For 60% it was three or more essentials – rising from 44% in 2020.

28% were struggling across all essentials.

The families we support report being cold and unable to bathe due to energy costs, skipping meals and accessing food banks, and are unable to replace essential clothing such as children’s shoes. They cannot meet essential costs with the money they receive or earn. Across every category this is worse for those families receiving social security as their primary source of income.

“Lower the cost of everything.” “[there has been a] good 30-40p increase on everything and it adds up.”

“People shouldn’t have to struggle to pay for basic needs.”

The experiences of the families we support are some of the worst in the country when compared with the recent report on poverty in Scotland by JRF which found “going without essentials is endemic – nearly two in three (65%) have cut back on an essential, while one in four (26%) have cut back on three or more essentials. Even the basics are hard to come by, with three in four households having already cut back on the basics.”9

The chart below shows how the proportion of families struggling to afford the essentials has risen in the past two years, except for a small decline in housing costs. Analysis of the results suggest most respondents are prioritising housing costs above other essentials. Families who are finding it challenging to meet their rent or mortgage payments are struggling with all essentials.

Energy

Over the last year, 78% of respondents told us that they struggled to pay their energy bills ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’. This is a 23% rise from the 55% of families who faced the same issue in 2020. This is even more acute for those whose main source of income is social security, where it rises to 88%.

One family told us: “Half my benefits go in the electric meter leaving me with little money for anything else.”

When asked the question ‘if you could choose one thing you would like to see change to make your lives better, what would it be?’ almost a third called for fuel costs to reduce or for more support to meet the costs of fuel.

9 Poverty in Scotland 2022 | JRF

Of the families who reported struggling with their energy bills, 72% have also experienced worsening physical health in the last six months. Families previously reported that their homes are often poorly insulated and maintained and for many they have ongoing problems with damp and mould.10 Research shows that the inability to heat a home to a comfortable level has a negative impact on health, including early onset of asthma in children, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular diseases. Even a small reduction in indoor temperatures below 18°C can have a negative impact on health.11

The Scottish Government estimates that, as a direct result of rapidly rising energy prices, almost 900,000 households now live in fuel poverty.12 This is a long way from the targets outlined in The Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 of no more than 5% of households.13

Food

Our findings show that two out of three families struggle to put food on the table on a regular basis, up from just under half two years ago. This is particularly pronounced for families with social security as their main source of income, 76% reporting struggling to pay for food ‘about half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’.

Our findings show that of those who found it difficult to pay for food ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’, 80% reported that their physical health was worse with 93% saying their mental health was worse. Parents and carers skipping meals to ensure their children are fed has arisen consistently in our recent research.

“I sometimes struggle but I just get on with it... My kids would never go without, I would, but not them. Sometimes I only eat one meal a day. I did contact the food bank. I felt in there they were judging me. I wouldn‘t go back.”

14

Food insecurity in Scotland has been increasing. The Trussell Trust reported that the need for food banks had increased by 128% in the last five years.15 Food banks are warning of reducing the size of food parcels, having to turn people away and a drop in food and financial donations. Demand for emergency food provision is outstripping supply, and referrals to them have become standard practice.

10 Foodbank-Consultation.pdf (includem.org)

11 Health Housing and Fuel poverty.pdf (theclaymoreproject.com)

12 EAS Publications

13 Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 (legislation.gov.uk)

14 https://issuu.com/includem2000_/docs/voices-families-experiences-of-poverty-services-di

15 State-of-Hunger_Exec-Summary.pdf (trusselltrust.org)

“I have had to use food banks regularly and I am now in receipt of regular food vouchers”

Parent, Voices Report (2021)

Many families tell us that food banks cannot, and do not, resolve the food insecurity they face.

As one parent we support told us:

“Realise families are being put in dire need and should not have to rely on food banks.”

This is due to fears of judgment from services, a lack of choice that undermines their dietary needs and dignity, limited opening hours, and unaffordable or long transport routes.17 Some families have experienced negative consequences from statutory agencies when they have accessed food banks, for example, one family was referred to a food bank but were unable to access it as it was 10 miles away and they did not have a car or the money for public transport to get there.

This has included being questioned on how they are prioritising available money and their ability to care for their child. These experiences can develop a level of distrust in public support systems and lead to a culture of shame that ignores or silences those who are struggling. This can result in delays in accessing support before crisis point. For one family, they feared revealing the scale of their struggles to their Social Worker. This led to them resorting to theft. Although they are now receiving support, including with their finances, the impact on the parent and young person’s mental health has been significant.

Families told us that if food banks do need to exist, even if it is only as a last resort, then they need to be set up in such a way that allows choice, provides nutritious food, including perishables, like milk and cheese, and be run as community endeavours such as pantries.

Beyond basic sustenance, small treats have become unreachable for many of the families includem supports. During our Simply Scran food campaign in 2022 to highlight the impact of food insecurity, a parent shared that:

“The takeaway has got a lot more expensive so we can’t really have it anymore as a treat, there are six of us so it costs too much.”

“Food banks have become the first port of call, rather than last resort… At the beginning of this year I had to half the size of food parcels… People are being told by benefits to go to food banks – essentially told you aren’t going to be able to live…”

Emergency food provider interviewed by includem16

Goods (Such as Toiletries)

70% of the families reported that they struggle to pay for other goods such as toiletries at least ‘half the time’. This is an increase from 48% in 2020. It is particularly difficult for those whose main source of income is social security which sees this figure rise to 83%.

“Being able to afford to buy new clothes and shoes for the kids.”

“I really need glasses and can’t afford the lenses.”

76% of families struggling to access goods reported worsening physical health. Research from the Hygiene Bank in 2018 showed an increase in children attending school unwashed and in dirty uniforms and underwear. The Hygiene Bank also noted an increase in poor physical and dental hygiene, with parents being unable to afford washing detergent and basic toiletries (such as shampoo, toothbrushes and deodorant). Teachers were reporting that it was impacting on children’s physical health and their social interactions with their peers and teachers.18

Housing

29% of families reported finding it difficult to meet their housing costs at least ‘half the time’. While this is stark, it is the only essential where the proportion of respondents struggling has seen a decrease from 34% in our 2020 report. However, the percentage of those ‘always’ struggling with housing costs has almost doubled from 9% in 2020 to 16% in 2022. Struggling with rent or mortgage payments is largely concentrated on the 28% of respondents who are struggling across all essentials. All but one of the 57% who are struggling with 2 or 3 essentials, either ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ have struggled with their rent or mortgage payments. This suggests that families who are having to cut essentials are prioritising housing costs above others.

88% of those who struggled with housing costs reported worsening physical health and 92% experiencing worse mental health over the past six months.

When commenting about what would make their situation better several families reported on the quality of their housing.

“Better social housing.”

“Better housing support.”

“Better housing repairs and a permanent home.” 18 The experiences and impact of hygiene poverty in schools – The Hygiene Bank

Families who face overcrowding simply wanted space for their entire family.

“More appropriate housing, enough space for all of us and have a garden, we share all our space and even our beds.”

“More space in my house so we can all have a room. My rent is so high, 2 bedrooms for me and 2 kids.”

Their experiences echo the findings of The Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) who reported on the socioeconomic determinants of health inequalities in Scotland. Their report highlighted that the physical environment in which people live (such as overcrowding, poor quality housing and characteristics of the neighbourhood) has a significant impact on their ability to secure a decent standard of living.19

Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights20

Article 6 of the UNCRC calls on governments to make sure children and young people survive and develop in the best possible way. The families includem supports tell us that they are barely surviving, and research shows that their development will be significantly negatively affected as a result.

Article 26 of the UNCRC places obligations on governments to provide money or other support to help children from poor families. Currently the money and support provided is not sufficient to allow parents to meet their children’s needs.

Children have a right to a clean and safe environment to live in and the best health care under Article 24 the UNCRC. They should not be living in cold houses which have a detrimental effect on their health and wellbeing.

The UK, Scottish and Local Government are failing to meet their obligations under Article 27 of the UNCRC to ensure that children have food where their families cannot afford it and a safe place to live.

Meeting the Costs of the Basics

73% of the families who responded to our survey said they were struggling to meet the costs of two or more basics ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’. For 51%, it was four or all basics. About one in three (31%) struggled across all five basics (transport, school, child costs, internet, other bills).

A concerning trend emerged in the data on costs that can be directly linked to childhood. 66% of families reported struggling with child costs and/or school costs – of which four out of five struggled in both. For those whose main source of income is social security, this rose to a shocking 88%. All families that struggled with both school and child-related costs reported that their mental health was worsening.

Families also struggled with other basics, including transportation (65%) and internet (58%), both of which facilitate access to education, employment, services, and to their community. 58% of families struggled with other bills (e.g., council tax) at least ‘half the time’. When asked what decision makers needed to understand, one parent said:

The families includem support have found it difficult to

basic costs

several years now. They have already cut where they could and have told us that there is nothing left for them to cut.

“I have five pounds to my name and looking after my granddaughter on a pension is hard, and I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“How expensive basic items are costing, and the fact that government money per month doesn’t cover costs.”

meet the

for

The impact on their quality of life is significant as illustrated in the JRF Poverty in Scotland report 2022 which showed how cuts to families’ basics “…reduces people’s access to support systems that can help them get through difficult times, creating a cycle of isolation.” 21

The chart below shows how the proportion of families struggling to cover the basics has increased in the last two years. The exception to this is other bills (including council tax) which has seen a slight decrease of 2% since 2020. These increases have resulted in the majority of families struggling across all basic indicators.

(NB: Child costs cannot be compared to 2020 figures due to alterations to the survey question in 2022.)

School Related Costs

64% of respondents told us that they found it difficult to meet school related costs ‘about half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’. This is an increase of 18% from 2020, even though children accessing education from home due to national lockdowns. For those whose main income is social security this rose to 78%. Over half of families stated that they found it difficult to meet both the cost of school and food at least half the time.

Many of the families we support have earnings that just exceed the threshold for free school meals and for the uniform allowance. They told us that they cannot meet these costs.

“Cos I’m on kinship I don’t get support to buy uniforms.”

Another kinship carer said,

“More financial support for school. I can’t afford school dinner money, or school uniform for the high school uniform, holiday support for clubs etc. It’s unfair that as a looked after children they don’t have the same opportunity as their pals around the corner for live with their mum and dad.”

Our findings reflect those previously reported in includem’s Voices Report, (2021), where the impact of just missing out on the threshold for Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants had a significant impact on families finances.22

The Child Poverty Action Group’s (CPAG) Cost of the School Day Project showed that as a result of insufficient household income, some children and young people do not have the resources needed for school and cannot easily afford to take part in school activities. This can put them at risk of missing out on opportunities at school (such as school trips and some subject choices) and feeling different, excluded, and unhappy.23 In 2021, The Glasgow Times reported that some children are missing school due to the lack of money for a play piece.24 Teachers also reported that children are losing an hour of learning every time they come to school hungry.25

Other Child Related Costs (Such as Out of School Activities and Childcare)

Two in three families told us that they could not afford child related costs, including after school activities and childcare ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’. This rises to three out of four families whose main income is from social security.

A major concern for families was how children and young people are missing out from the small joys, such as the occasional treat, activities, or hobbies.

by

“I’m tired of struggling and worrying about heating and having enough food. I am sad that I can’t give my child some of the things she asks for.”

Families explained how poverty could lead to social exclusion – as children and young people cannot afford the spaces and outings which some of their friends access regularly. By making these more unaffordable, this could amplify the continued impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns on children and young people’s social anxiety and isolation.

“…its unfair that as looked after children they don’t have the same opportunity as their pals round the corner who live with their mum and dad.” / “...I want a good future for my kids. They are often excluded from their friends because I can’t give him money to spend time with their friends.”

Research shows that hobbies can play a major role in socialising and learning, and help develop children and young people’s wellbeing, confidence, and independence.26 Yet, children from lowincome families continue to miss out on opportunities during critical development years.

Transport

65% of families reported being unable to meet the costs of transport ‘half the time’ or more, an increase of 15% from 2020. This is despite the introduction of free bus travel in early 2022 for those that are under the age of 22.

In the development of includem’s Needs Now manifesto for the Local Government 2022 Elections,27 children and young people identified their key needs for transport. This included more regular and affordable public transport, the importance of being able to depend on buses “without the slightest doubt” for school attendance, and the need for more localised transport. This was a particular challenge for accessing rural areas out with towns and city centres.

Transport provides a lifeline for families, allowing them to access supermarkets, education, employment and activities, as well as social support. As noted by the Poverty and Inequality Commission in 2019, high transport costs can contribute to entrenched poverty: “Good, affordable transport can enable people to access jobs, education and training. This can contribute to raising household income and preventing people from experiencing poverty or enabling people to move out of poverty. On the other hand, poor access to transport can lock people into poverty by limiting access to these opportunities to increase income.” 28

Transport is an essential component of the right to food, health, education, work, and social security. Families difficulty in meeting transport costs will have a direct impact on children accessing their other rights.

Creating a Safety Net

After meeting their housing costs and making difficult decisions about what they can afford in relation to heat, food and other essentials, and what debts they can repay there is often nothing left. Over three quarters of the families who responded are left with nothing to meet the costs of emergencies, repairs, a rainy-day or holidays. They have no safety net to fall back on.

“I don’t have spare money to save up for expenses.”

Families are unable to replace broken appliances, clothes and shoes they have grown out of or make their houses a home.

One parent told us that:

“[M]y money is solely used for the day to day getting by... holidays or extra bits and bobs aren’t things I can realistically consider for myself and my family anymore. To be honest it’s just getting to be more of a struggle.”

Another said:

“[W]e don’t have money for extras or think about holidays or rainy days. I have worked since I was a child and I want a good future for my kids.”

For those families who previously had savings, they have seen these disappear in being able to pay for day-to-day costs. One parent who became redundant five years ago said:

“[T]he government should understand that a lot of people don’t have rainy-day savings in their bank to get them through crises like this. I have barely any savings left and am having to be very careful with my money at the moment to get by. The cost of living right now if not something that we can afford to ‘just get on with’.”

The Impact on Families

The impact of the last six months on families is striking, resulting in worsening living conditions for the majority of respondents across all impact indicators (this includes finances, debt and mental and physical health).

As families face a rising cost-of-living with nothing left to cut, 94% of those who responded had experienced worsening finances, with many having to take on new or further debt to keep their head above water.

“Living in my overdraft just now which is a big change.”

“Before I was on benefits I could pay all my bills on time and save for activities. It’s been a year since I was changed to monthly payments and I’m still struggling.”

Three out of four families reported worsening mental health. Almost nine out of ten were worried about meeting day-to-day costs going forward. Those whose main source of income was social security, and single parents were particularly fearful of the rising cost-of-living as we head into winter. Family relationships have already been strained, with parents and carers finding themselves unable to provide their children with what they need and ask for.

“We struggle daily and things are getting tougher.”

The majority of respondents reported feeling judged due to their financial situation and their comments make clear that public services are not equipped to respond to this poverty-driven mental health and wellbeing crisis. 59% respondents reported feeling judged because of their financial situation, and many felt that decision makers ignore, or simply do not understand their lived reality. The 2022 report on health inequalities in Scotland from the Fraser Allender Institute argued that income and financial security was one of the most critical determinants of health, due to their impact on people’s ability to engage in healthy behaviours and its effect on mental health.31

The table below shows that the proportion of families experiencing worsening finances, debt, mental and physical health has risen in the past two years. This paints a concerning picture, as families report worsened mental and physical health in the cost-of-living crisis than at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

The Impact Beyond the Day to Day

The families that includem supports, do not have a financial safety net and reported that the financial situation is worsening the longer the cost-of-living crisis continues. 94% of families described their finances as ‘worse’ and 60% said that their debt had become ‘worse’ over the past six months, rising to 69% for those whose main source of income is social security.

As highlighted in Aberlour’s 2022 report on Universal Credit (UC), more than half of low-income families with children in Scotland in receipt of UC have at least one deduction by the Department of Work and Pensions from their monthly income. This has been to cover debts to public bodies, with more than a quarter with multiple monthly deductions. On average, low-income families in receipt

“This is not a choice for people and is detrimental for all families.”

Finances

Debt Mental Health Physical Health

of UC with debt to public bodies are seeing a 10% reduction to their monthly income.32 This means the social security they receive, which already does not support an adequate standard of living, is even lower and unreliable.

Greater financial instability is not an effective solution for families to recover from financial difficulty.

“… I keep getting sanctioned and it’s heavy hard to contact them then it stresses me out and I have bad mental health.”

Impact on Mental Health

The results show that the children, young people and families we support are already facing major impacts on their mental health. 78% of respondents reported that their family’s mental health had worsened in the last 6 months, with all but one reporting worsening finances over the same period.

“We are struggling”

“The stress and worry of trying to live a happy healthy life.”

“… Always living in fear of having no money”

“... the impact is severe, not only on costs but our mental health… every part of our lives are impacted.”

For families whose main income source was social security, worsening mental health rose to 88%. One single parent highlighted the need for those working in the social security system to understand how difficult life on benefits can be:

“It would be advisable for anyone who deals with benefits to understand the stress of living on benefits as it is very difficult.”

88% of all respondents were worried about meeting day to day costs in the future. This rose to 94% for those on social security. When asked if there was anything else they wanted to add or felt decision makers needed to understand, the mentions of worry and stress were high, with many parents and carers already struggling to provide for their family, fearing the oncoming winter.

“The worries for winter are real and will impact most not just some”

“It’s a constant worry.”

This was particularly prevalent among the 46% of respondents who were single parents, who felt the weight of responsibility for their children particularly intensely:

“Gone from stressed to anxiety and stressed from the cost of living in the past 6 months. This has had a big impact on my mental health. I’m a sole provider so this increases anxiety because it is on my head...”

Notably, while finding the increasing costs shocking, one carer highlighted the devastating impact this could have on their family members and wider community:

“[P]eople will end up starving or freezing this winter. I worry more so for my elderly parents.”

Impact on Family Relationships

Having to restrict children to bare essentials has had a major impact on parents and carers wellbeing, and on family relationships with reports of parents and carers feeling like a failure.

“…Sometimes feel like a failure just want the best for my family.”

One single parent called for decision makers to look beyond the essentials and to see the impact this is having on families:

“They need to look at not just giving the basic food and fuel. They need to understand the impact it’s having on relationships with their children when you have to keep saying you can’t have that or you can’t do an activity.”

Financial stress can have a very direct and deep impact on family relationships and separation. Academic modelling from Liverpool University showed that the cut to the £20 uplift of Universal Credit could drive a 5% increase in children in care and thousands more placed on child protection plans.33

33 Universal credit cut will lead to more UK children in care – study | Universal credit | The Guardian

“I don’t often sleep due to money worries and how winter will impact us.”

Impact of Stigmatisation

Families told us that their experiences with stigma, resulting in greater distrust and shame, has formed a major barrier to accessing public services and support. 11% of families reported feeling judged ‘all the time’ with 59% reporting feeling judged ‘sometimes’, ‘regularly’, or ‘all the time’ due to their financial situation.

“Understand that the impact is real, it is real life and not their fault. The impact of having little money is real and families are facing judgment as a result of this.”

Many underlined how they did not fit with the widespread and unfair stereotypes of poverty.

white goods.”

Reports from particular groups showed them to be at a considerable disadvantage (such as single parents, care-experienced families (including kinship carers), families with three or more children, disabled family members and those without recourse to public funds).

Some respondents wanted to highlight the importance of understanding differences in circumstances and not making assumptions.

Some respondents described how difficult living on a low income can be when you cannot rely on any other source of income or wider family support.

Over a third of families directly mentioned decision makers not understanding the scale of the struggles they are facing or the need for decision-makers to experience their lived reality

“I don’t abuse the system, I don’t ask for

“Everyone has different circumstances.”

“Everyone’s salaries and family dynamics are different”

“…as a single parent it’s hard.”

“we don’t always have family to help us, we have to rely on outside support.”

“People need to support single dads more that don’t get child support.”

“...it is not what you read on paper and actually living it is a completely different thing.”

“…The people making decisions don’t understand and the feeling of being judged. Not understanding people’s reasoning behind being in the position they are in.”

For the 30% of respondents whose main source of income was employment, they reported on its inability to provide a route out of destitution:

“Most people in this country don’t actually earn a lot of money from their employment.”

“...pays do not cover all our bills.”

“The people need more help, we are working hard, people are praying to God for more work, we can’t take time off, we don’t have money to give our kids, if we don’t work our benefits stop too.”

69% of families whose main source of money was income support consistently reported feeling stigma and judgement sometimes, regularly or all the time. This compares with 36% of those in employment. This demonstrates in real terms how the social security system fails to support human dignity and choice.

This has led to public sector referrals to charities, (such as food banks) to become commonplace. Thus, effectively subsidising weak public safety nets.

At some point it has to stop – it’s not sustainable… in 21st century Britain there shouldn’t be food banks. We are doing the government’s job.”

Emergency food provider interviewed by includem34

Due to inaccessible and siloed decision making, public services often do not respond effectively to poverty-related root causes with things such as early financial support. One parent explained how they are now receiving medication for their mental health rather than support for their finances, which was the cause of their anxiety.

34 https://includem.org/news/simply-scran-dinner-food-in-our-communities/

“I am now on anti-depressants and sleeping tablets due to my worries for caring for my kids. I have lost a lot of weight as I chose to feed my kids over myself all too often.”

The accounts of families interviewed reflect the findings from One Parent Families 2022 Living Without a Lifeline report, which highlighted the significant impact on both the physical, and mental health of single parents from the cost-of-living crisis with reports of single parents struggling to access nutritious food, sleep loss, exhaustion and stress.35

Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights36

Living in poverty is recognised as a traumatic experience. We need to ensure children’s right under Article 39 of the UNCRC to recovery from harm and trauma so they can regain their health and dignity is protected and promoted.

Parents need to be supported to fulfil their responsibilities for bringing up their child as outlined in Article 18 of the UNCRC. The government must meet this obligation through services designed by and for families, which provide both practical and emotional support to mitigate poverty and restore relationships.

Fundamentally children need to grow up safe and protected from all forms of discrimination. These findings show that too many children are experiencing the stigma of poverty which is a breach of their rights under Article 2 of the UNCRC.

Families’ Hopes and Aspirations for Change

Despite families facing this financial adversity that affects every aspect of their life, families continue to have hope and aspiration for a better life - if not for themselves, then for their children.

“Make living a little easier so us as a family can enjoy life just a little more.”

“Enough money to live on and give them a better lifestyle.”

Parents and carers want to be able to meet their children’s needs, to be able to pay for activities and to have enough money have fun as a family. They want to show their children new places and to be able to share in experiences that cultivate their dreams and aspirations.

Families clearly identify what would help make their lives worth living. To have any hope for a better life, families need:

They need to see an increase in living wages and better jobs.

“An increased in living wages and improved conditions.”

“…make more jobs that pay better, that people can live on without worrying.”

They need better support and easier systems to navigate.

“More help and support for working families”

“More support from the government”

“To be aware of what you are entitled to and help towards applying for it”

They need housing that allows families to build a home.

“[N]eed a warm home for kids.”

“Getting out of this flat to a better home.”

“More space in my house so we can all can all have room.”

“I’d like my house decorated.”

They need a social security system that promotes stability rather than greater adversity.

“Having more financial security.”

“Take benefits cap away.”

“I feel like I should get proper support to stay above water…”

“[E]nough money to live without worrying.. you can’t put anything by because you have to use it right away.”

“[N]ot to worry about having enough money to survive.”

“[I]ncrease in kinship payment.”

They need access to emergency funds they can rely on.

“To help me feel better an emergency fund or being able to borrow, when you’re on benefits you can’t borrow. A fund that low earning incomes can access due to lack of credit scores and jobs etc.”

“[M]ore help when needed ie funds and vouchers.”

They need the cost-of-living to come down.

“[L]ower fuel costs.”

“For everything not to be expensive.”

“Support for free travel for asylum seekers.”

“[E]xtra money and lower costs.”

“Make things cheaper, and not charge so much…”

“Cost of living for fuel and electric prices being much more manageable. It’s costing me approx. over £2 to have a bath in my flat…”

They need their children to have opportunities to be able to achieve a better life.

“I wish we had spare money, as I’d like to show my youngest grandchild some other things in life, holidays or days out. I want to show him more than just our local area. I want him to see the opportunities out there. Giving him wider opportunities will inspire and motivate him to get a job and not sit on benefits. I feel I struggle to show him these wider opportunities and I worry he will lack motivation and aspiration to work if he can’t see what experiences, earning money and getting a good job could bring him.”

They need better support for mental health and wellbeing.

“Less stress on mental health.”

“More support financially and emotionally for parents and children.”

“[M]ore funding for support.”

“Stop cutting budgets to much needed services.”

“Less stress on our mental health.”

They need decision makers who understand the pressure of living on low incomes.

“They need to understand what it’s like for families who are having to struggle.”

“[The politicians] need to experience what it’s like to live on the bread line.”

“Understand that families are having to make difficult decisions about whether they can eat and heat their homes.”

“[I]f they had to live like this, things would change.”

They need to be heard.

It is time for radically different approach in how entitlements and public services are designed, developed, delivered, and funded to be able to safeguard the wellbeing of the people and children of Scotland.

Recommendations

These recommendations are informed by the analysis of the data, from the asks of children, young people, and families includem support and from the Scottish policy context. As stated at the beginning, we believe that poverty is the single biggest impact on children’s rights with its direct impact on their right to survive and to develop in the best possible way.

As Scotland commits to incorporating the UNCRC into Scots Law we need to ensure that the decisions we make are the best we can for children and young people and that we are collectively doing all we can to protect and promote children’s human rights.

Children have the right to grow up free from discrimination, including protection from the stigma of living in poverty. Many of the current measures to mitigate the cost-of-living crisis and address child poverty require children, young people and families to take action on an individual level. These messages reinforce the public notion that poverty is a choice or is within people’s control.

• Child Poverty Plans and actions to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis should include preventative measures to stop people falling to poverty.

• Actions at UK, Scottish and Local levels aim to eliminate poverty not just alleviate its symptoms.

• Messaging around the crisis and poverty needs to focus on societal responses not individual actions to address the stigma and judgement felt by children, young people and families.

• There needs to be strong links and clear solutions to poverty outlined in the upcoming Scottish Government Mental Health Strategy to recognise that experience of poverty and stigma at this scale is a mental health crisis.

“Listen to people who live like this.”

“Listen to what we say, no empty promises.”

Children have a right to be brought up by their parents and governments have a duty to help them do this. They also have a right to get help to recover from hurt, neglect and trauma and research tells us that their right to play, relax and take part in cultural and creative activities, has a significant role in their recovery. The research tells us that poverty is the biggest barrier to these rights.

• Mental health and family wellbeing services must ensure that recovery from the trauma of poverty is built into their practice. This should include financial health services.

• The Scottish Government must invest more in children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. They must listen to children and young people when they say that want different support to CAMHS and school counselling, and co-design the right services with children and young people.

• We need to support the whole wellbeing of families, not just their financial circumstances, if we are to address the impact of poverty on their rights. The Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund should be prioritised and ring fenced to provide the much-needed support now. All beneficiaries should be required to demonstrate the anti-poverty practice embedded in the service provided.

• Children should have access to a Hobby Guarantee which promotes and supports their access to physical, cultural, or creative activities of their choice. Children should be involved from the start in the design and delivery of the Hobby Guarantee scheme.

Article 26 of the UNCRC states that Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families. Our findings show that the current measures are not sufficient to meet families’ needs.

• Social security and income from employment should be sufficient to allow families choice and dignity. It should not be just enough for them to meet the essentials but sufficient to meet their basic costs and provide a safety net for unexpected bills, repairs, and emergencies. While we welcome the UK Government’s commitment to raise means tested benefits by the current rate of inflation, we ask that the base rate is raised to account for historical inflation as year-on-year freezes have meant it has not been sufficient for many years.

• Changes are needed to bring the labour market and supporting infrastructure closer to families, going beyond the current focus on bringing parents to employability. Current structures supporting employment and employability such as childcare, transport and training are inaccessible for many parents in relation to costs, timings, and availability. It does not reflect the work patterns for those in the services, hospitality, and care sectors.

• Wages should be sufficient to provide a way out of poverty by addressing low pay, through the payment of the real Living Wage, and insecure work.

• The Scottish Government should commit to investment in the Scottish Child Payment which fills gaps in entitlement, provides an above inflation increase in April 2023, and is tied to the rate of inflation going forward.

• Extend the eligibility to Free School Meals and the School Clothing Grant to those in receipt of Universal Credit or equivalent benefit.

• Increase the value of the School Clothing Grant to be more reflective of costs.

• A cash first approach to Free School Meals over the school holidays needs to continue and systems need to be established to enable a cash first approach to free school meals for those that are not in school over mealtimes, such as those students who are on part-time timetables or school exclusions or who are school refusers due to emotional and social anxiety.

• A moratorium is needed on benefit sanctions while the cost-of-living crisis continues to ensure those on benefits can meet their essential costs. This should be extended to all claimants who have childcare responsibilities and for those under 18 or 26 if they are care experienced.

• The UK Government to end benefit caps, including the two-child limit and younger parent penalty, recognising them as an infringement on children’s rights and inherently discriminatory.

Children have the right to food, clothing, and a safe place to live so they develop in the best possible way. The current cost-of-living crisis is preventing too many families from meeting this right.

• The Scottish Welfare Fund must provide consistent and adequate support when families face exceptional or unexpected financial pressures. Referral routes and application processes needs to be easily accessible and non-stigmatising. There must be significant enhanced investment in the fund to ensure it is able to meet families increasing inability to meet costs of repairs, emergencies or unexpected bills.

• Measures should be introduced to ensure those families on low incomes are able to heat their homes without undue financial pressure. For example, those on existing pre-payment energy meters should pay the same rate of energy as those on direct debit or to support them to move off pre-payment meters where this is their wish. They should not have to pay what is effectively a poverty related energy tax.

• Access to free bus travel should be extended to all those on means tested benefits and those without recourse to public funds. For those in rural communities where bus routes do not support good access to education, employment, training or caring responsibilities, travel passes for train travel should be readily and easily accessible.

Debt is also a significant barrier to parent’s ability to meet the costs of food, clothing, heat, and rent – the essentials for live and a fundamental right.

• Investing in embedded money and debt advice services within family support to overcome barriers and stigma to help people manage debt. This follows on from the success of the Deep End Project in GP surgeries.

• A moratorium on new prepayment energy meters for a minimum of six months to prevent families having to pay more for their energy and help them through the worst of the cost-of-living crisis this winter.

• Ofgem to ban compulsory installation of prepaid meters.

• A moratorium on debt recovery by DWP, Social Security Scotland and local authorities for those on means tested benefits. This must be in place for a minimum of six months to allow families to meet their essential and basic costs during the worst of the cost-of-living crisis.

• The Scottish Government to work with Local Authorities to write off all existing school meal debt.

Children have a right to a safe environment to live in and thrive. We heard that for the families we support they are living in poorly maintained and overcrowded accommodation which is in breach of this right.

• Ensure access for all families to affordable, secure, good quality housing of sufficient size and in a location that supports their social wellbeing.

• Enhance housing support and repairs services to ensure families are living in homes that are well maintained, free from mould and they are supported to meet their housing costs, including providing income maximisation and debt advice.

• Families should be supported to make their house a home and have security in their tenancy or ownership.

• The Scottish Government to invest in a Winter Support Fund to help those families with the most vulnerabilities survive the winter during the cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy prices.

All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should listen to children, and think about how their decisions will affect them. Our findings show that current economic and political decisions are not putting the best interests of children at their heart and their rights are not being protected or promoted. It is time for a radical rethink to deliver on a wellbeing economy. As one young person told us “Via la revolution!”

• Ensure all children and young people have what they need to live with dignity, by placing wellbeing and Children’s Rights budgeting at the core of our decision making and social security system.

• Increase public investment in social and wellbeing infrastructure, particularly in preventative approaches. This requires a recognition of the crucial role of communities in collective wellbeing and building local capacity to respond to needs and build on strengths sustainably.

• Build a wellbeing framework to set long-term priorities to effectively implement change for future generations, with meaningful and well-resourced ongoing participation that includes children, young people and families facing financial insecurity.

• Recognise and fairly value vital contributions to social wellbeing that sustain the economy, such as paid and unpaid carers. This must ensure that childcare and youth workers are paid and respected in a way that reflects their depth of skills and knowledge. It is vital to bring an end to the expectation of substantial self-sacrifice detrimental to workers own health & wellbeing and of public services.

Conclusion

Over the past two years we have undertaken a series of research activities to understand the impact of inadequate income on the children, young people, and families includem supports. Despite commitments to reduce child poverty, our reports consistently show its deteriorating impact on every aspect of children and young people’s lives - breaching their fundamental rights. Children, young people and families are not just facing a cost-of-living crisis but also a wellbeing crisis. Without a commitment by decision makers at all levels to prioritise wellbeing, families will continue to face worsening hardship.

Appendix: Methodology

Includem’s aim in this research was to hear from families about their experiences during the cost of living crisis and to understand how these have changed since the hight of covid-19. By using the survey from our Poverty and the Impact of Coronavirus on Young People and Families in Scotland report, we were able to compare 2022 results to those from 2020. These questions included:

• The regularity of struggling over the last year with key day-to-day costs - including food, energy, goods, housing costs, transport, internet, school-related costs and other bills.

• The impact of the last six months on their finances, debt, mental and physical health.

• Looking ahead, how worried do they feel about meeting day-to-day costs.

Notably, due to a small change in wording to better reflect families’ experiences (with examples of after school activities and childcare), we were unable to compare results in child-related costs between 2020 and 2022.

For this report’s survey, we added further questions based on the findings from our recent research with families, such as:

• How often having money set aside for unexpected costs like breakages/repairs has been a struggle over the past year?

• How often saving for a holiday/rainy day has been a struggle over the past year?

• In the last six months, how often have you felt judged – such as unheard, ignored or treated unfairly – because of your financial situation?

This surveying was open for responses from the 3rd of September to the 20th of October 2022. Through includem workers who have trusted relationships with families, we interviewed 83 willing respondents from across our services in Scotland.

This process has helped us to better understand the challenges experienced by the children, young people, and families includem support during major economic upheaval and has helped some workers identify additional areas of needs where we can support families. Notably, the families we support are not a representative sample of Scottish households, as they often face greater economic and social adversity. Additionally, poverty is often underreported, especially where there is greater experiences of stigma and distrust in public services and authority figures. As with all surveying on experiences of poverty, results could be skewed due to families’ personal decisions on whether to share their experiences – particularly in a difficult subject area during major economic upheaval.

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