Collating case studies and evidence to demonstrate the impact of changes in the social security system on the wellbeing of children, their families and the communities and services that support them.
Margaret Johnstone, the Support Services Coordinator at Balwearie High School in Fife, feels that making sure that everyone has eaten is a key part of the school's responsibility for its young people.
Rigside Primary School, South Lanarkshire has produced a simple, clear and informative Cost of the School Day leaflet for families to explain what's being done to reduce costs.
Parents say they feel frustrated and unseen when their schools aren’t mindful of financial pressures. A proactive approach tells parents that their school understands financial challenges and that conversations about costs and money are possible and welcomed.
It doesn’t matter how affluent a school community appears, families can be struggling financially and could benefit from entitlements and help at school. To make sure families don't miss out, good communication is key.
Understanding the challenges facing families on low incomes supports greater empathy and engagement. Promoting awareness and understanding of the challenges facing families on low incomes to everyone in your school community will help boost that knowledge.
As a way of helping to boost family incomes and reduce the impact of child poverty, school communities are increasingly offering referral pathways to welfare and money advice for families. This briefing offers examples of existing pathways and makes recommendations about how we can make sure more families are able to access help in this way.
