From the above report by Ipsos Scotland:
Scottish Child Payment (SCP) was introduced by the Scottish Government to
support families on low incomes and contribute to its goal of eradicating child
poverty in Scotland. The first payments were made in February 2021, initially to
families on qualifying benefits with children under six, although the Scottish
Government has stated its intention to extend the scheme to cover children under
16 years of age. At the time this research was conducted, parents and carers in
receipt of SCP were paid £40 direct to their bank account every four weeks,
although the value was set to double to, £80 every four weeks, from April 2022, and
increase to £100 by the end of 2022.This research was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Scottish Government, in
order to inform the interim evaluation of SCP. It aimed to gather evidence on
whether and how SCP improves outcomes for children and families and any
improvements that may be needed.
The researchers concluded:
Parents and carers had found out about SCP through a range of different routes,
including word of mouth (from both family and friends and professionals who
were supporting them), media advertising, and advertising through existing
support services.
In general, parents were clear about why SCP had been introduced and what it
was intended to achieve, although there was a little confusion over precise
eligibility criteria.
Overall, parents reported that the process of applying for SCP had been simple
and straightforward, particularly in comparison to other benefits they had applied
for. Third sector participants echoed this view – for the most part, the application
process seemed to be working well.
Identified benefits were:
Parents felt receiving SCP had supported positive impacts for their children’s
physical and emotional wellbeing.
Physical health benefits included: access to more or healthier food, access to
paid physical activities (like swimming); and improved access to medical care or
support.
Benefits to children’s emotional wellbeing stemmed not only from having their
basic needs met (and reducing any stress associated with this), but also from
the enjoyment of having the occasional treat or trip out. Trips and activities paid
for by SCP were also believed to support improved social skills and confidence
and the benefits of quality time together as a family.
SCP had enabled some parents to buy their children additional items directly
aimed at improving their emotional and mental wellbeing, such as sensory toys
or resources to support home learning.
Some parents acknowledged that, through reducing their own stress levels, SCP
indirectly benefitted their children by fostering a more relaxed atmosphere at
home.
BBC Scotland have ignored this while the Express have stuck in their thumb to focus on:
SNP ministers told to make radical changes on key flagship benefit by own review.
!
Talking-up Scotland 
Anent the Express’s sour comment: the research did what evaluative research is intended to do – as well as indicating successes it also indicates things which can be done to make the system more effective. (This is usually called ‘continuous improvement’). The Express has done what the media usually do is select one datum and present it out of context.
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To be fair to The Express ( LoL ) they probably thought that the English Equivalent scheme was more …. oops ! Sorry – no such scheme !
Maybe Sunak or Truss will implement one when they are PM ?
Stop laughing at the back !
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Although it does not say it, the Scottish Child Payment is per child and it will make a huge difference for families from the end of the year when the amount increases to £25 per week for every child under 16. I recall reading a comment, I think it was on twitter, it was a complaint about how, because of the cost of living crisis, they could not wait until the end of the year and wanted the £25 a week Scottish Child Payment to be paid now. There was no demand for the UK government to do something now about their crisis!
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To have a government that even acknowledges the work required to care for children or family members in another capacity, is absolutely crucial to the wellbeing of those who would otherwise be undervalued (at best) and expected to struggle on against huge odds financially.
SNP are working in the interests of families and carers against the odds in terms of finances.
Caring for parents and carers has a knock on effect, and means better outcomes and longer term more positive results, benefitting communities as well.
I was sent a link to this site today. ‘A Scotland that cares’.
https://ascotlandthatcares.org/
They claim that, ‘Right now, the Scottish Government has 11 National Outcomes, which it says describe the kind of Scotland it aims to create. Yet, right now, care is almost invisible. That can’t be right – and it needs to change’. I have tweeted to them that this claim is not quite true, as an unpaid carer I do not agree that ‘care is almost invisible’ in Scotland.
However the English goverments’ attitude to unpaid carers is ‘almost invisible’ and it is an insult, with carers allowance only paid when a person is caring for at least 35 hours per week, for which CA is awarded at, £69 a week and is removed £ for £ from any other ‘benefits’ should the carer not be in employment on top of the 35 hours caring.
I can’t see who is funding ‘A Scotland that cares’ or whether it is a charity, and they don’t link to the Scottish government website consultations re carers etc.
It’s good to have an organisation keeping people up to date about ScotGovs’ care strategy, and there are a few of them such as the excellent Vocal carers in Edinburgh, but this new one for example makes claims that are somewhat dubious, I do question who funds them, and who is on their staff and board etc. It’s not very transparent quite who they are.
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The site states;
“A unique collaboration of organisations has come together to create this campaign, supported by research carried out by staff at the University of the West of Scotland through the UWS-Oxfam partnership”.
Perhaps our host,with his connections to that establishment, has some insight?
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They certainly seem to have a lot of ‘organisations’ on board, collaborating.
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Truss has stated that she wants exactly the same policies applied across the board in the UK—From London to “where you live”.
Exactly the same, though with lower pay, and smaller benefits to those on the periphery.
This is her policy, and though she has sat on it for a while, it will hatch out eventually.
The economic policies of both “Punch and Judy” candidates don’t make economic sense, especially Truss, so expect an election very soon.
Truss was the worst Foreign Secretary since Boris, with zero gravitas or political nous.
She has no better grasp of the internal workings of the UK, and seems to be taking advice from Henry Hill, the loopiest Brit Nat in the Square Mile, though there is lots of competition.
Will we see oor Paisley Buddy posing in a tank in George Square soon? In a Russian hat? You betcha!
No wonder Lavrov laughed at her!!!!
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I’m just perplexed as the two candidates for CEO of great Britain and England, seem to be arguing and talking about how fckd the UK is as if they and their party had never been at the helm for over a decade. They talk as if it was someone else that wrecked the economy, and removed the UK from trade with 27 other countries which in fact worked very well, and then let thousands of people die unecessarily of Covid while they handed billions of £s to their dodgy pals etc.
It’s bizarre, like some dystopian freaking nightmare in fact. Gaslighting the sheeple.
They really are scum and I don’t mind calling these lying troughers that now.
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Oh and Truss and her ‘cheese’ Brexit benefit, almost no cheese to choose from in our local shop yesterday, aside some Wensleydale so I bought the Orkney BritNat one. Sigh.
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MAYBE LIZ TRUSS SHOULD MAKE ANOTHER DISGUSTING COMMENT TO SHOW HOW OUT OF TOUCH SHE REALLY IS.
AND WE ALL THOUGHT JOHNSON WAS A BAFOON
Sent from my iPad
>
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what is a BAFOON?
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