New Figures Reveal That More Than One Third of Scottish Local Authorities Now Have Wards

CHILD POVERTY MAP IN SCOTLAND REVEALS HIDDEN POCKETS OF DEPRIVATION For map and full data - http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/

New figures reveal that more than nearly half of Scottish local authorities now have wards where over 30% of children live in poverty.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty have today published the first ever map of Scotland showing the rates of child poverty across every ward, council and constituency.

It is the first time that these figures have been published in Scotland to provide a picture at such a local level.

Worryingly, the new map shows that almost every local authority contains wards where more than 1 in 5 children live in poverty.

End Child Poverty in Scotland, is calling for a dramatic ‘ramping up of political focus’ for child poverty throughout 2012.

The group want to see a major rethink of recent welfare cuts and a greater investment in universal credit. They believe that at a Scottish and local government level, spending on childcare and early years is absolutely crucial.

John Dickie, speaking on behalf of Scottish members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, said:

“There could be no clearer message to politicians that a dramatic ramping up of focus is needed to meet government promises to end child poverty. It is shameful that in almost every part of our country there are children who are missing out and seeing their future life chances seriously harmed.

With public spending budgets under severe pressure the need to invest to prevent the numbers of children living in poverty spiralling is greater than ever. At the beginning of a year that will see Holyrood Ministers report on the progress of their first ever national child poverty strategy - and with local elections set to take place across the country - there can be no better time for political leaders to demonstrate commitment to ending child poverty in Scotland.

An increasing number of children, particularly in Scotland, are living in families without paid work and we are deeply concerned about the effect that rising unemployment is having on child poverty. As a matter of extreme urgency governments must work together to ensure parents can access jobs that they can raise a family on.”

Notes to editors: 1) For further details or interviews please contact: Beverley Kirk, Media Officer, Save the Children on 0131 527 8244 or 07764 560940. Katrina Slater, Media Manager, Barnardo’s Scotland on 0131 314 6631 or 07919 565826.

2) The Child Poverty map and local child poverty data down to ward level is available from today (10th January) at http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/

3) The map classes children as living in poverty if they live in families in receipt of out of work benefits or in work tax credits where reported income is less than 60% of median income before housing costs are taken into account. The number of children living in families with less than 60% median income is the official measure UK and Scottish government use to measure progress at national level. This is the first time local Scottish figures have been published that relate so closely to the national 60% median income child poverty measure. The latest (2009/10) official figures show that in Scotland 20%, one in five, children live in poverty on this measure. (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/05/povertystats0910/Q/EditMode/on/F orceUpdate/on/Page/3#a3 )

4) Data on regional trends in worklessness have been used to update local tax credit data which is more than two years old, to give an estimate of local child poverty as of mid 2011. Figures are then presented by LA, UK parliamentary constituency and ward.

5) Scottish members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty include Action for Children Scotland, Barnardo’s Scotland, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, Children 1st, the Church of Scotland, One Parent Families Scotland, Poverty Alliance and Save the Children

6) The End Child Poverty campaign is made up of more than 150 organisations from civic society including children’s charities, child welfare organisations, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others, united in our vision of a UK free of child poverty. For a full list of members, visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk

7) Local Authority wards with highest rates of child poverty in Scotland (more than 30%) – source, End Child Poverty, January 2012

% of children living in Local Authority Ward poverty Aberdeen City Northfield 35% Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen 31%

Dundee City Lochee 31% Coldside 31% Maryfield 30% East End 36% North East 3 32%

East Ayrshire Kilmarnock South 35%

Edinburgh City Forth 30% Sighthill/Gorgie 36% Portobello/Craigmillar 30% Fife The Lochs 33% Kirkcaldy East 32% Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages 40%

Glasgow City Linn 32% Greater Pollok 30% Craigton 31% Govan 38% Southside Central 40% Calton 50% Anderston/City 37% Garscadden/Scotstounhill 36% Drumchapel/Anniesland 41% Maryhill/Kelvin 31% Canal 43% Springburn 52% East Centre 44% Shettleston 31% North East 4 38%

Inverclyde Inverclyde East Central 31%

North Ayrshire Irvine West 33% Saltcoats and Stevenston 35%

North Lanarkshire Airdrie Central 30%

Renfrewshire Paisley North West 33%

South Ayrshire Ayr North 35%

Stirling Castle 31%

West Dunbartonshire Clydebank Central 32%