Improving our understanding of child poverty in rural and island Scotland

This report has two aims: 1. To explore existing datasets and identify gaps in our understanding of trends and experiences of child poverty in rural and island communities. 2. To examine interventions employed in rural and island communities to tackle the causes of child poverty and support those experiencing child poverty. We conducted a desk-based review of existing datasets and relevant reports. We interviewed a range of experts working on child poverty at national, regional and local levels. We also reviewed documents received via the project advisory group. It is generally agreed that tackling generic or structural challenges associated with living in a rural or island community will help to alleviate child poverty in these areas. However, there are some key data and knowledge gaps that limit the extent to which local authority leads and partners can take effective action to support low-income families in rural and island communities.These data gaps mostly relate to information at a sub-local authority level, including: eligibility and uptake of welfare benefits; cost of living; fuel poverty; uptake and provision of early learning and childcare; and the combined impact of employability and skills development initiatives. Importantly, more attention needs to be paid to lived experience data that can inform the design and delivery of effective support for rural and island children experiencing poverty. A range of interventions exist to tackle the causes of child poverty and ensure families have the support they need. Interventions can be grouped around themes and tend to relate to: employment and skills development support; early years; cost of living; health and wellbeing; partnership working; digital technologies; school-based approaches; and strengthening the voices of children and families. To address these data gaps and raise the profile of lived experience data, we make four recommendations to the Scottish Government.Open Government Licence v3.0, nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 </p

Children and young people and rural poverty and social exclusion:A review of evidence

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