Low income families grants call

The government missed the first target

in its bid to end child poverty

More than one third of all children and young people in Scotland live in poverty. Nearly half are aged under five. Many are denied proper healthcare, housing or education, let alone a secure and happy childhood. Teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and asthma are increasing among children in Scotland, and child mortality levels are the highest in the UK. Some groups of children are particularly discriminated against, especially young Gypsy/Travellers and refugees and asylum-seekers. Children and young people themselves think that their rights are not being respected − at home, in schools, or by the Government, and want to know more about their rights and the law.

Poverty, education, citizenship and discrimination are Save the Children’s top priorities in Scotland. In order to improve children’s situations, we are supporting a wealth of different projects focusing on these issues across the country. Save the Children has worked in Scotland for more than 40 years. Since 1997, we have focused on challenging the ways in which children’s rights are denied and on working with others to raise awareness and support for children’s rights. This way we feel we can positively affect the lives of more children beyond those we work with directly.

We work with Scottish non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local authorities, central Government, community organisations, children and young people’s groups and funding bodies. Through our work we aim to build a movement for children’s rights across Scotland and to help young people become active players in their own communities. We also work to make government policies better for children and show how political decisions affect their lives.

Research into ways of improving children’s lives, and consulting them to find out what their experience can tell us, is a vital aspect of our work. Our research has formed the basis for the government’s Charter for Child Protection. We regularly gather the views of young people so that their voices can be heard on a wide range of government policy, such as sexual health and anti-social behaviour.

There are many ways you can help - join a campaign, speak to school groups, run a fundraising event - or simply make a donation. Your company can be involved, too, in helping Scotland's most vulnerable children.
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download the Scotland country brief download the latest Scotland newsletter (Summer 2006)

Source: Save the Children Scotland