Almost one in four (250,000) of Scotland’s children are officially recognised as living in poverty. (Source: Scottish Government)

69% of children in poverty live in working households. (Source: Scottish Government)

What is child poverty?

Child poverty means growing up in families without the resources to ‘obtain the type of diet, participate in the activities and have the living conditions and amenities’ which are the norm in 21st century Scotland (Townsend, 1979). Children are considered to be living in poverty if they live in households with less than 60% of median household income. This is the key measure used by UK and Scottish Government.

From latest figures (2019-22) a family is considered as in poverty if, after housing costs, they are living on:

• Less than £360 a week or £18,700 a year for a single person with children aged five and 14
• Less than £485 or £25,300 a year for a couple with children aged five and 14