Pam Campbell, Manager, Community Planning Partnership
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Member. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
The purpose of this technical note is to provide Elected Members with a high-level overview of the impact and direction of the East Dunbartonshire Local Child Poverty Action Report (LCPAR) for 2024-25.
Local authorities are required to publish an annual report advising of progress of the Local Child Poverty Action Plan in partnership with their local NHS Board, in this case NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This is the sixth annual report produced, setting out progress and planned actions to reduce child poverty locally.
The plan reflects collaborative working across the Community Planning Partnership and aligns with the Scottish Government’s Best Start, Bright Futures: Tackling Chid Poverty Delivery Plan. It also supports a rights-based approach consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
A Child Poverty Strategic Partnership has been established locally to deliver a coordinated and cohesive response. The Partnership brings together expertise from across Community Planning Partners promoting shared ownership and a collective commitment to addressing the long-term impacts of poverty in East Dunbartonshire.
Partners have aligned with the Scottish Governments three high-level priority themes for child poverty:
Increasing income from employment.
Maximising income from social security.
Reducing household costs and wider cost-of-living pressures.
Key actions delivered in increasing income from employment:
Promotion of the Real Living Wage, with current data indicating that 32.6% of adults earn below the Real Living Wage.
Living Wage and Fair work principles are embedded within contracts and procurement through agreed policies and procedures.
Delivery of the Parental Employment Programme supporting parents into paid employment,
Income maximisation support provided to all participating in local employability programmes.
The 2024-25 commitment increasing income from employment
Continued promotion of Real Living Wage accreditation.
Strengthened links between employability services and money advice provision.
Key Actions delivered maximising income from social security
Financial inclusion support embedded within employability programmes.
CAB outreach delivered across schools and most deprived communities.
Continued delivery of the Family Nurse Partnership.
Breastfeeding rate at 6-8 weeks recorded at 40.2%.
The 2024-25 commitment maximising income from social security
Maintain a universal offer of financial inclusion support.
Enhance CAB outreach provision and early referral pathways in collaboration with communities.
Ongoing monitoring of changes to benefit and uptake.
Increase breastfeeding referrals and target support.
Strengthen transition planning for families exiting the Family Nurse Partnership.
Key Actions delivered reducing household costs and wider cost-of-living pressures.
Promotion of energy efficiency advice and fuel poverty support.
Delivery of snack and play provision during school holidays, excluding Christmas period.
Targeted action to reduce poverty-related attainment gap through school-level supports.
Whole Family Wellbeing services targeted to areas of higher poverty.
The 2024-25 commitment reducing household costs and wider cost-of-living pressures.
Continued support to reduce household and living costs.
Delivery of holiday provisions informed by lived experience.
Ongoing action to reduce costs associated with school attendance.
Expansion of free-at-point-of-access Whole Family Wellbeing services.
Continued administration of the Scottish Welfare Fund.
Continued development of Pockets, Places and Prosperity.
Development of wellness kitchens.
A “One Council” approach will be adopted, focusing on whole-family and whole-community working to connect children and families with the support needed to alleviate and overcome poverty.
Data-led approaches will be further developed to identify families affected by poverty and improved targeted engagement and support.
A “no wrong door” approach will be strengthened through embedding LCPAR into the CLD Plan 2025-27, to ensure families can access timely, coordinated support, and are connected quickly to the most appropriate services.
