Huge rise in number of Glasgow kids living in poverty, figures show

There are now 27,995 children living in relative poverty in the city, which is 2,510 more than before the pandemic. That is equivalent to more than a quarter of kids.

Among efforts to reduce child poverty, Glasgow City council has put in financial inclusion advisers at secondary schools and set up a new advice service Glasgow Helps,which helps families access food and fuel top ups among other schemes.

But a council report said despite a number of positive results from projects, “the level of child poverty continues to outgrow the progress that’s being made by the council, NHS and our 3rd sector community organisations.”

A draft local child poverty action report said: “Poverty levels have deepened and on average families in relative poverty are now £115 per week below the poverty line compared to £107 per week pre pandemic.”

The Scottish Government has set a target that by 2030- fewer than 10 per cent of children are to be in relative poverty. The current figure in Glasgow stands at 26 per cent of children in relative poverty.

A household is classed as in relative poverty if its income is below 60 per cent of the middle household income in the UK (the poverty threshold) according to the council report.

That stood at £31,400 annually in 2021, which would mean a household classed as being in relative poverty would be living on less than £1570 per month, or £362 per week.

The report said: “Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and their partners recognise that although excellent work is ongoing, the scale of the challenge to ensure that all Glasgow’s children have an equal chance is significant. As we work to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, on both the circumstances of our children and families and the work that we undertake, the Cost of Living crisis adds more complexity, challenge and urgency to our agenda. “

The report also revealed details of an “innovative Child Poverty Pathfinder for the city, established to agree and deliver on the practical actions required to deliver a well functioning system that can secure radical new ways of working to tackle child poverty.”

Councillors sitting on the Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community and Citizen Engagement and General Purposes City Policy Committee are due to be presented with Glasgow’s local child poverty action report 2021 to 2022 this week.