Investment in social security alone will not be enough to end child poverty in Scotland, but the last 25 years shows us the clear link between social security and poverty rates across the UK. What opportunities do Scotland’s powers to invest in social security offer? And how can the Scottish government use them to reduce child poverty?
Reducing poverty-related stigma to improve the uptake of free school meals is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how millions of families rely on school food to help make ends meet. How are free school meals delivered in different schools and what impact does that have on children? What can be done to reduce shame and stigma for children eligible for free school meals?
With Marcus Rashford’s successful campaign to extend their provision into the summer holidays this year, free school meals are back on the agenda. But what about universal provision? The universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) programme was introduced in 2014 in England. What impact has UIFSM had on disadvantaged school children?
