Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling child poverty delivery plan 2026-2031 – annex 2: Analysis of consultation and engagement

8. Voices with lived experience

The Scottish Government and partners held engagement events around Scotland, including eight events with people with lived experience. While it is essential to collect the views of a range of stakeholders, understanding the experiences and views of children and young people, and their parents and carers, is critical to developing the third Child Poverty Delivery Plan.

Five engagement events focused on gathering the views of children and young people and hearing about their lived experiences of poverty. In total, over 180 children and young people were included in the events, which were facilitated by Young Scot, Child Poverty Action Group, Sistema Scotland, MCR Pathways and Aberlour. Further, Young Scot reviewed existing data and conducted an online survey for children and young people, receiving 184 responses between 25 June and 20 July 2025. Three events included the lived experience of 92 parents and carers and were facilitated by Poverty Alliance, Migration Policy Scotland, and Changing Realities. The experiences of these participants have provided valuable insight and evidence to help shape the Plan.

This chapter provides an overview of the discussions that took place at these events. The themes evident from the event discussion build upon previous chapters as they align with many of those from the written call for evidence responses and other engagement events. However, unique perspectives and views were sometimes evident, as was the importance of different support and services. For example, themes of stigma, confidence and mental health featured more heavily in the discussions held with participants with lived experience as compared to the written call for evidence.

Support needs

Mental health support

Across all engagement events with children and young people, respondents highlighted the importance of improving mental health support. They felt that poor mental wellbeing in children and young people can affect outcomes during and after their education. Participants suggested reasons for poor mental wellbeing, particularly the impact of poverty, describing the resulting feelings of sadness, hopelessness and loneliness. Others described hunger due to poor nutrition and unstable access to food, while one described feeling pressure to support their families, which impacted their mental wellbeing.

A recurring theme in discussions about children and young people’s mental wellbeing was a lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem, particularly due to the stigma around poverty. This was reflected by children, young people, parents and carers who participated in engagement events. Participants mentioned feeling aware that they did not have access to the same clothes, healthcare, hygiene products, and social activities as their peers. Almost one third (31%) of respondents to the Young Scot survey felt there was a time when they had not felt included or respected based on their family or household finances. Parents and carers also highlighted feeling shunned and stigmatised due to their experience of poverty, which they then felt negatively impacted the experiences of their children.

Participants at another event spoke specifically about experiences with drugs and alcohol, particularly with vaping, which they felt were driving young people further into poverty. They expressed the view that the Scottish Government should do more to stop the illegal selling of tobacco through stricter enforcement.

While participants at engagement events emphasised the importance of increased mental health support for children and young people, they also noted that parental wellbeing was important for both parents and young people. For this reason, discussions supported taking a whole family approach to mental and physical wellbeing.

At engagement events held with parents and carers, they raised concerns about long waitlists to access mental health support services. They also felt that long wait lists in general for medical issues were hurting the financial security and mental wellbeing of their families, as they were unable to work while waiting for essential surgeries and medical support. Participants repeatedly highlighted mental wellbeing as an exacerbator of poverty as well as an outcome of poverty.

Person-centred approaches

Ensuring that support provision can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each child or young person was mentioned by a few respondents. However, others also stressed that they did not want to feel singled out because of their circumstances or the communities in which they live. A small number also thought it was essential to ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard in government and among policymakers. One suggestion was to establish youth leadership groups across government.

Engagement events with parents and carers often highlighted the importance of a community, or place-based, approach to supporting families. They felt that experiences of poverty could differ greatly across Scotland and meeting the unique needs of each community would provide more effective support services.

Peer support

Mentoring programmes were highlighted at a few engagement events as a type of support that was particularly helpful for school-age learners, as respondents felt these can help children and young people realise their potential. Peers and friends showing kindness and care was also mentioned by a small number of respondents as a valuable type of support for children experiencing poverty.

Information sharing

The need for clear information sharing between services and local authorities was mentioned in one engagement session with children and young people and one engagement session with parents and carers. Participants believed this would facilitate effective service delivery and provide better access to support, particularly in cases where a child or young person is moving to a new home or area.

Education and training

Survey responses highlighted the impact of poverty on how children and young people think about their future. Three fifths (60%) of young people who took part in the survey indicated their family finances affected their thinking about their next steps in their work or education pathway. Further comments showed that they had concerns about affording accommodation, food and repaying any student loan debt.

Career development and Fair Work

Almost all discussions at events with children and young people addressed the importance of employers and organisations creating opportunities for young people leaving school. This included internships, apprenticeships or job opportunities as well as programmes to help young people develop their social and professional skills. Attendees believed that this type of support could help break the cycle of poverty and provide them with long-term career opportunities. Others highlighted the lack of employment opportunities in some rural areas. A discussion at one event explored a concern that society encouraged attending university over leaving school for work, and suggested that the Scottish Government should do more to normalise apprenticeship pathways.

A few events also raised concerns about working conditions and recommended a greater emphasis on Fair Work. At one engagement event, there was a discussion about toxic workplaces where attendees mentioned feeling unsafe or insecure in their jobs. They recommended that young people should be made more aware of their rights at work.

Education

Discussion about education often centred on financial support programmes that help students while in school. For example, respondents felt that free school meals and the school uniform grant helped support children and young people experiencing poverty. However, they felt that there were families on the edge of poverty who were also experiencing difficulties, and advocated for extending eligibility for free school meals and other support to these struggling families to minimise hunger or the cost of the school day.

Participants at one event were asked what makes focussing on schoolwork difficult. They highlighted hunger, stress from home, and not having the basics to learn, such as a clean uniform, school equipment, calculators, and technology, as key factors that impact children and young people experiencing poverty in school. As noted above, this could then lead to poor mental wellbeing with a sense of isolation and stigma. School programmes or support held at school, such as Magic Breakfast or Breakfast Club, were mentioned as having a positive impact on the school day. Engagement events with parents and carers also highlighted a concern that schools were unable to assist children and young people who have experienced trauma, such as the loss of a parent, experience of care, or domestic violence. Participants at one event described feeling that their children were treated as statistic rather than with compassion and that their concerns were often dismissed.

Social and extra-curricular activities

Discussion at a few events highlighted the importance of ensuring children and young people are included and able to participate in social and extracurricular activities. Recommendations ranged from increasing funding for after-school clubs and activities to building more parks and youth clubs. Others suggested more financial support for school trips for families experiencing poverty or making school trips free. There was also support for the Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) by one group, who felt like it helped make social events and activities more affordable.

Cost of living

Young people attending engagement events acknowledged the impact of the increased cost of living on their families. While they generally discussed government help to curb inflation and lower the cost of living, they also thought that more funds could be allocated to families to help them purchase essentials. Survey responses highlighted the importance of providing services to children living in poverty to improve their quality of life, with 71% believing this is the most effective way to tackle child poverty.

A few events acknowledged the positive impact of programmes to address the cost of living. For example, respondents welcomed initiatives to provide free hygiene and period products, although they felt that the quality of the products being supplied could be improved. They also expressed support for free school meals but suggested that the age for recipients be extended.

Transport

Event attendees mentioned the success of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme for under 22s but recommended that the age of eligibility be extended to include people up to age 25. They also suggested the provision could include train travel. Attendees also raised concerns about travel restrictions impacting their work. For example, some young people felt that bus times in their area were inconsistent, making it difficult to arrive at work on time. Respondents believed that improved travel networks and extended subsidised travel costs would enable young people to access opportunities beyond their immediate communities.

Housing

Safe, secure housing was raised at a few engagement events with children and young people, though little detail was discussed. One group emphasised the importance of providing suitable housing that matches the size and needs of a family. Another commented on the need for more assistance with homelessness and tackling the health inequalities caused by poor living conditions. They suggested that improvements are needed to Scotland’s affordable housing stock and shelters.

One engagement event held with carers and parents emphasised the impact of precarious housing on families. They felt safe and secure housing was a prerequisite for other types of support. Participants spoke about experiences with damp, mould and poor standards of fittings and furnishings, which had adverse impacts on their children’s health. They also felt that there was a need for more social housing that meets the needs of families, including three- or four-bedroom homes for larger families.

Childcare

Attendees were aware of the impact that a lack of childcare has on their parents. Seven in ten (70%) survey respondents indicated that providing affordable, good quality childcare so parents can access and remain in work should be prioritised to help children living in poverty. Attendees across the lived experience groups believed that increased funding for free childcare would help parents return to work, allowing them to earn more for their families. One group also believed that improved childcare would enhance family dynamics, leading to a happier household.

This was reflected in engagement events with parents and carers, who spoke about the need for flexible childcare models that could help meet the needs of different children. For example, participants suggested providing provision not only through Early Learning Centres but also childminders. They also highlighted concerns with wraparound school age childcare, particularly accessing spaces in breakfast and afterschool clubs and spoke of the impacts of the school holiday costs on families.

Impact of remote and rural living

Parent and carer participants at two different engagement events mentioned the importance of considering the unique experiences of those in rural and remote communities. They felt that policy was often created without considering the unique challenges and barriers facing rural and remote communities. They recommended rurality be a core consideration to future policy planning and development in helping to tackle child poverty.