One in five Moray youngsters living in poor conditions

Earlier this month it was revealed that one in five children in Moray are living in poverty.

Jo Kirby, of the Northern Alliance, addressed members of Moray Council’s Children and Young People’s Services

Committee to explain their work to combat child poverty in the region.

The Northern Alliance incorporates eight regional authorities throughout the north, including Moray, working with councils and education workers to address the poverty-related attainment gap in schools.

Moray, along with

Highland and Argyll and Bute, has the highest number of children living in poverty across the Northern Alliance area – one in five.

Ms Kirby told councillors: “We’ve seen a huge increase in pressure in the last decade on household budgets due to the rising cost of essentials and transport. Food budgets have increased and energy bills. Of course, food poverty is a significant issue, and energy and fuel poverty are also an issue in rural areas.”

“There is often a misconception about poverty that it’s an urban problem. It’s easier to see poverty in urban areas because it tends to be concentrated – and rural poverty looks very different.”

The alliance works alongside Education Scotland and the Scottish Government towards the vision outlined in the National Improvement Framework for Scottish education.