MSP Sarah Boyack, joined Aberlour Child Care Trust in the Scottish Parliament this week, giving her support to the charity’s ‘No Bad Ends’ campaign, which comes as Scottish Labour launches its own 10-point plan to tackle child poverty.
The campaign was launched following research that shows young people from the most deprived communities in Edinburgh are up to three time more likely to die before they reach their 25th birthday.
Ms Boyack said: “Aberlour are doing great work drawing attention to the long-term impact of crushing welfare cuts and poverty on young people’s lives. Deprivation has terrible effects on life expectancy, specifically in young people, and I support their commitment to challenging this, changing outcomes for children in both Edinburgh and further afield.
“Only today, Scottish Labour today launched a new 10-point plan to tackle child poverty, including measures to scrap the Universal Credit system, its two-child limit and the benefits cap. This will be replaced with a new social security system that treats people with dignity and helps children get off to a better start in life.
“We need a real debate on this topic and, as elected representatives, we must take action to tackle the root causes of poverty in Scotland.”
SallyAnn Kelly, CEO, Aberlour Child Care Trust said: “Aberlour knows the real and proven difference that our services make to the lives of children and young people in Scotland’s most deprived communities. It’s time for a conversation about how we end the unacceptable consequences of poverty in this country. We need a political response that meets the needs of vulnerable young people.“
Aberlour is appealing to members of the public to start a monthly donation to the charity to help to reach more children and young people.
To donate, please visit: www.aberlour.org.uk/donate
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