Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling child poverty delivery plan 2026-2031

Conclusion

Eradicating child poverty and delivering on the 2030 targets is the central mission of the Scottish Government. The actions taken since 2018 have already made a real and measurable difference for children and families across the country, and this plan builds on that progress with further bold, ambitious measures.

In Every Child, Every Chance, we set out two scenarios for 2030. One showed the impact of taking no action, where as many as one in three children would have their lives limited by poverty. The other showed what could be achieved through concerted effort: meeting the 2030 targets, reducing both the number of children in poverty and the depth of that poverty, and lessening its impact on families’ lives.

Meeting the 2030 targets would be nothing short of transformational – reshaping outcomes for children and parents across Scotland and enabling every family to thrive and contribute to our society. This is the future we have been working towards since our first Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, and we must continue to drive that work forward with urgency and determination.

Poverty lies at the heart of the challenges we face as a country. It shapes children’s educational outcomes and their lifetime earning potential, affects their health and wellbeing, and ultimately influences how long they will live. Its impact extends far beyond individual households – placing sustained pressure on our public services, including the NHS, and holding back the potential of communities across the country.

Only by eradicating child poverty can we unlock Scotland’s full potential – creating a fairer, healthier and more prosperous nation, and making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up, work and live.

Eradicating child poverty is a national mission and it cannot be achieved by the Scottish Government alone. By working in partnership with the UK Government, local government, and our wider partners in the public sector, third sector, and business, we can deliver the radical, lasting change needed to transform the lives of children and families across Scotland.

This plan outlines the 15 interconnected areas where focused action is needed over the life of the next Scottish Parliament, and what we intend to do in 2026-27 to accelerate progress at the pace and scale needed. At its heart is a commitment to ensuring that public services truly wrap around families – providing support that is proactive, connected, and shaped around the realities of their lives.

We cannot accept a future where children grow up in poverty, where parents and young people are locked out of the labour market, or where those at greatest risk face barriers that limit their potential.

By working together, across Scotland, and delivering on the actions and ambitions in this plan, we can create the conditions for lasting, transformative change. This is our collective mission, and together, we can make it a reality.