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‘It is not a choice!’ A new report from Includem

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 21st December 2022
It Is Not A Choice!

Research highlighting how poverty remains the biggest obstacle to making children’s rights real in Scotland. 

Includem have published a report ‘It Is Not A Choice!’ on the experiences of the families they are supporting during the cost of living crisis. The report explores the how these experiences have changed since 2020.

Some key findings: for families who took part in the survey:

  • 94% have experienced worsening finances, with many having to take on new, or further debt to keep their head above water.
  • 71% reported they were struggling to meet the costs of two or more essentials (energy, goods, food or rent), ‘half the time’, ‘usually’ or ‘always’.
  • 78% reported their families’ mental health had worsened in the last 6 months, rising to 88% for families whose main source of income was social security.

The report paints a stark picture for what’s to come and highlights how poverty remains the biggest obstacle to making children’s rights real in Scotland.

Commenting on the publication of the report, Martin Dorchester, Chief Executive of includem said: “Across the country, includem supports families who are at a greater risk of not having their rights being realised. The biggest breach of these rights that we see day after day is poverty.”

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