Support to prevent child poverty in Scotland

£5.8 million to charities and partners to bolster whole family support across 2026-27

Seven projects delivering in communities will share £5.8 million of funding to drive transformation in whole family support.

First Minister John Swinney announced the funding during a speech on eradicating child poverty at Centrestage in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. He highlighted the need for charities and government to streamline collaborative efforts to eradicate child poverty, making it easier for people to access support.  

The seven recipients of the grant will provide support for families, scale up efforts to tackle child poverty, and improve early child development.

This support is part of the £50 million Whole Family Wellbeing Funding allocation for 2026-27, building on the Scottish Government's significant investment of £148 million in that Fund since 2022.

The Scottish Government's Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, which will set out further actions to reduce child poverty, will be published on Thursday.

First Minister John Swinney said: 

“Eradicating child poverty is my top priority and as a result of our bold action, child poverty rates are lower in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.

“No child should have to worry about essentials such as food or a warm home because of circumstances beyond their control. While child poverty has reduced, even one young person growing up in poverty is one too many.

“My government is focused on building a support system that is seamless and tailored, that responds flexibly and quickly to people's needs – and offers the right support at the right time.

“A total of £5.8 million in Whole Family Wellbeing funding will be directed to seven projects that exemplify the type of transformational support required for families across Scotland.

“I am proud that the experiences of children and families are at the heart of our forthcoming Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, which will be set out in Parliament this Thursday. We are charting a path to work in harmony with charities and the third sector so that systems come together as one, providing a brighter future for children across the country.”

Dundee City Councillor and Convener of the Fair Work, Economic Growth & Infrastructure committee Steven Rome spoke about the Dundee Pathfinder Fairer Futures Partnership, which is among the recipients of this latest funding.

He said: “The Dundee Pathfinder is a collaborative effort to support families experiencing poverty. By drawing on local expertise, the Pathfinder has brought more than £2.4 million into households since October 2022. This is helping many people move into employment and training, improving the lives of entire families.”

Background

In 2023-24, rates of relative child poverty in Scotland fell to their lowest level in almost a decade and were 9 percentage points lower than in the UK: Child poverty summary

UK child poverty rate comparisons are available in table 2.2 of the following report: Section 2 - Assessing progress against the targets - Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan: progress…

Whole Family Wellbeing Funding - gov.scot

The following funding will be awarded to these projects and organisations:

Aberlour Mother and Child Recovery Homes - £1.98m – Supports mothers in recovery from substance addiction while keeping children safely in their care. Their approach reduces trauma and improves child development. They offer support including financial advice, pathways into education, and employment.

Grow Your Own Routes - £1.26m - A youth work programme that supports young people aged 12–26 affected by a family member's substance use. It helps young people build hope, resilience, and ambition, breaking cycles of trauma and supporting positive futures.

Whole Family Support Through General Practice - £1.88m - An innovative project delivered across 12 GP practices in Glasgow. It maximises the role of GPs in supporting families at risk of poverty and poor health. It offers early, proactive support for vulnerable families, using data to identify those most in need.

Foundations For Families - £320,410 – Provides comprehensive support to kinship families across Scotland, addressing urgent needs and improving stability and wellbeing. The programme supports carers and helps children thrive in safe, secure and loving environments.

Inverclyde Transformation Initiative - £249,750 - Identifies young people at risk of criminal exploitation and provides early intervention to shield them from harm. The project uses one‑to‑one mentoring, peer activities, family support and practical help with education, training and employment.

Open Kindergarten - £74,850 - Brings together partners such as health visitors, Family Nurse Partnership, Citizens Advice, libraries and early‑years services to improve support for families with children aged 0–3. It builds the skills and knowledge of early-years practitioners and provides open‑access support for families who are overwhelmed, lack confidence or feel excluded from formal services.

Dundee Pathfinder Fairer Futures Partnership - £50,000 - A collaboration between Scottish Government, Department for Work and Pensions-UK Government and Dundee City Council with local partners. It takes a multi-agency approach to support families out of poverty on a sustained basis. It supports families through income maximisation and employment support. The approach combines targeted outreach alongside multi-agency drop-in support sessions.