New grant is‘lifeline’

A‘crucial’lifeline has been handed to tens of thousands of parents, carers and children in the form of a new grant.

Consisting of three payments, the best start grant includes the pregnancy and baby payment and the early learning and school age payments all of which are available to South Lanarkshire residents.

From December 2018 to September 2019 Social Security Scotland paid out over £17.7million in 61,000 grant payments to low income families with young children.

When the Children and Young People Bill was making its way through Holyrood in 2013 the Scottish Government said it wanted Scotland“to be the best place to grow up”.

However, in 2019 the Resolution Foundation warned child poverty in Scotland could continue to rise over the next five years and affect three in ten children by 2023.

This is the equivalent of an extra 60,000 youngsters living in relative poverty. One Parent Families Scotland provides support for the country’s 190,000 single parents. Director Satwat Rehman says getting the early years right helps to improve later life and explained:“the earliest years of life are vital to a child’s development and affect inequalities in health, education and employment opportunities later in life.

“We know that single parent families are disproportionately affected by child poverty and the best start grant payments are often a crucial lifeline.

“One Parent Families Scotland has supported parents to take part in development of the best start grant all the way through to the launch last year and we are pleased to have helped hundreds of parents access the grant and reduce money related stress.”

While parents and carers aged over 18 might need to be in receipt of other benefits to qualify for part or all of the best start grant payments, those aged under 18 are automatically entitled.

To apply for the Best Start Grant, visit: www. mygov.scot/ best-start-grant-beststart-foods/

We are making very little impact on the number of properties that are not in use