By Aileen MacLennan
Child poverty in Argyll and Bute is slowly falling according to new Scottish Government figures.
At a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Services Committee, members were presented with the second annual review of Argyll and Bute’s Child Poverty Action Plan for 2020/21, which showed that 3,000 children and young people in Argyll and Bute were experiencing child poverty in 2019/20 compared with 3,056 in 2018/19.
The review also applauds the determination of the people of Argyll and Bute, which includes Cardross, Helensburgh, Rhu and the Lochside communities, to protect its families and communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly The Caring for People Group.
Within the first few weeks of lockdown the group had registered 963 volunteers and the Third Sector Partnership, working on behalf of group, answered a staggering 4,080 different requests from the public over a four month period. Council, health, social care and education staff were also praised for stepping up, assuming new roles, longer hours and different ways of working.
The Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, pictured above right, said: “Covid has presented a huge number of challenges, particularly for our most vulnerable families, but poverty is not the fault of those experiencing it and we are fully committed to ensuring that no child is left behind.
“Although figures for 2019/20 show a drop in child poverty, we must not become complacent. Covid has resulted in a rise in the number of people claiming benefits and, together with our partners in the Child Poverty Action Group, we must continue to address this.
“The Child Poverty Action Plan sets out what action is being taken by the group across all areas to put an end to child poverty in Argyll and Bute. This includes things like supporting people back into work, offering home energy grants to help reduce heating bills, providing counselling in our schools to support health and wellbeing, and increased digital inclusion.
“We have a duty as corporate parents to help our children and young people to succeed and live a life without poverty, and we are fully committed to achieving this.”
Following approval of the second review of The Argyll and Bute Child Poverty Action Plan 2020/21, it will be sent to the Scottish Government.
Meanwhile, teachers and social work staff in Argyll and Bute have been undergoing training to become more trauma aware in order to help support children and young people affected by adversity and traumatic experiences.
Argyll and Bute Council is one of just three local authorities selected by the Scottish Government to take part in the pilot trauma training programme.
Delivered in line with the Scottish Psychological Trauma Training Plan, developed by NHS Education for Scotland, the training helps to create a workforce that recognises when children or young people are affected by trauma so they can get the support they need.
The Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor McNeilly, said: “People can be affected by all kinds of trauma: there is no rule book. That is why it is so important that those working closely with our children and young people are able to recognise the signs of someone who is suffering.
“The training is not just about identifying a child or young person affected by a traumatic experience, it is about staff having an understanding of what they are going through, what they are feeling, why they are acting a certain way. It is about showing compassion and helping guide them to the care they need to recover.
“This training is a positive step that will lead to changes to practice and improve outcomes for our children and young people.”
Picture: Child poverty is slowly decreasing in places such as Argyll and Bute.