By stewartb – a long read

This considers the news and views of a major children’s charity in Scotland gleaned from its website. It offers insights into the charity’s relations with the Scottish Government. But why is this worth writing about it?

On September 8, an interview with the charity’s CEO was published in The Herald under the headline: ‘Scottish charity boss unleashes fury over poverty under SNP rule’. Here we learn that the CEO of the “acclaimed” Aberlour Children’s Charity is ‘angry, She’s very angry’. (my emphasis) So something is seriously amiss with this charity’s relations with Scotland’s government – apparently!

We learn the above from the part of the newspaper article accessible to those like me who won’t pay The Herald to get through its paywall. Perhaps in the full text the charity boss reins back on expressions of ‘unleashed fury’ and being ‘angry, very angry’: perhaps elsewhere in the article for balance there is unleashed fury and anger towards another government or other political parties too. But then again perhaps not: many will only read the headline and opening lines, and will never know. Of course Herald journalism may have played its part in all this but regardless, desired negative message conveyed?

What follows is an attempt to discern the justification and motivation for such a contribution to the press. In short, revealed are some stark contrasts between the overall tone of the charity’s written output and the reported choice of language by the charity’s CEO.

Insight 1: ‘Opening of our Second Mother and Child Recovery House’ (News item from Aberlour’s website, 2 September 2024)

‘We are delighted to open our second residential rehabilitation service to support women and their children through recovery from addiction / substance use in Falkirk.’

‘The Scottish Government has invested £5.5 million to support the development of this facility, as well as our house in Dundee which opened in January 2023.’ (my emphasis) ‘The houses offer 24/7 support and keep families together by letting children of women with problematic substance use stay with their mothers during their recovery.’

Aberlour’s CEO is quoted: “We are grateful to the Scottish Government for funding this much-needed new service.” Recall this was on 2 September, just days before the same individual was ‘unleashing fury’ on the self same government!

Insight 2: ’Aberlour’s response to the Scottish drugs deaths statistics’ (News item from Aberlour’s  website, 20 August 2024)

‘There is no escaping the fact that poverty is a key driver of drugs deaths …’ And: ‘We welcome the significant investment in residential rehabilitation and recovery services by the Scottish Government to date, including dedicated services for women such as Aberlour’s Mother and Child Recovery Houses. We know that these services are vital to provide recovery treatment and support for women and their babies, to keep families together and to help Keep The Promise.’

Just two weeks later, the CEO is ‘unleashing fury’ towards the same government!

The charity’s statement adds: ’We continue to call for further investment by the Scottish Government ..’. One would expect nothing less from a campaigning charity – i.e., wanting more – but why so soon afterwards is the CEO ‘unleashing fury’ and being ‘angry, very angry’?

Insight 3: ’Leading children’s charity urges PM to scrap child benefit cap’ (July 12, 2024)

‘Keir Starmer must scrap the two-child benefit cap and rescue thousands of young Scots trapped in poverty, according to the country’s biggest children’s charity.’

The CEO of Aberlour is quoted “We know beyond any doubt how much damage poverty is inflicting on the lives and life chances of children across Scotland. This is the true cost of not investing in these children and their families.”

“We also know beyond doubt that scrapping the two-child cap is the single most immediate way of reducing that damage.”

“The system of Universal Credit must be reviewed as a matter of urgency and the cap removed or neutralised.”

Also in the Aberlour press statement: ‘On Wednesday 10th July, the Daily Record revealed Anas Sarwar is also urging the new Prime Minister to review the two-child benefit cap which affects 27,000 Scottish households.’ Has no other political leader in Scotland or indeed elsewhere been urging the ending of the two-child benefit cap?

Insight 4: ‘Letter to PM urging an end to the two-child limit’ (July 17, 2024)

From the text of the letter written by Aberlour’s CEO to the Labour Prime Minister: ‘I am writing to you to offer warmest congratulations from everyone at Aberlour on becoming Prime Minister. I believe we share the same values of equality and social justice and the ambition to see an end to child poverty. I am sure you and your government will work hard to realise and embed these values for the benefit of children, young people and families across the UK.

‘To that end I urge that you commit to end the cruel and unnecessary two-child limit’

Later: ‘An entire generation of children has been affected by the damage done by austerity.’

Remember that Aberlour is dedicated to children and families in Scotland: ’Every day we work with families impacted by the two-child limit.’

‘Ending child poverty will not be achieved overnight. But abolishing the two-child limit would immediately lift three hundred thousand children across the UK out of poverty. This would be a good start. This would also clearly signal your intention to do the best for our poorest children and families.’ Just a start? Surely more than just a ‘start’ in Scotland? (See example below.)

The CEO’s letter to the PM goes on: ’After a decade and a half of austerity, now is the time to make the bold and necessary political choices that will improve the lives of struggling families and help the 4.3 million children across the UK who are currently living in poverty. I believe this must begin by bringing an end to the cruel two-child limit.’

There is a remarkable – one might claim inexplicable – contrast revealed here! Firstly, the the expression of ‘shared values of equality and social justice’ is towards the government that has yet to commit to abolishing the ‘cruel’ two-child limit and seems intent on more ‘austerity’ – despite having all the necessary powers to avoid having to make this political choice.

Recall this from July 23, 2024: ‘How your MP voted on proposal to scrap two-child benefit cap – The Labour Government comfortably won the vote against the proposal, by 363 votes to 103 – a majority of 260’. Just seven Labour MPs voted in favour of scrapping the two-child limit: as far as I can see none came from Scottish constituencies. The vote was on an amendment to the King’s Speech tabled by the party to which the charity’s CEO has ‘unleashed fury’ c. 6 weeks later, namely the SNP!

(https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/how-mp-voted-proposal-scrap-two-child-benefit-cap-3186364 )

Notwithstanding this, the targeting of ‘fury’ and ‘anger’ is towards the political party and the government – a much less powerful/much more constrained government – which wishes the two-child limit abolished, has sought to mitigate it as well as the bedroom tax, and provides the Scottish Child Payment, recognised by many as an exemplar intervention in poverty reduction.

One can only speculate how Labour will respond to the Aberlour CEO’s ask for the upcoming Westminster budget. What language will the CEO choose if her demands are not met and if ‘austerity’ continues under Labour, the party whose values she shares?

Insight 5: ‘A new dawn breaks for young Scots as Scotland becomes the first nation to implement the UNCRC’ (July 16, 2024)

The CEO of Aberlour is quoted “At one minute past midnight, as they sleep, their lives will become safer and their futures more secure as Scotland becomes the first UK nation to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

“Across our public life and legal system, this declaration of fundamental rights has potential to be transformative with every young Scot now entitled to a safe, secure childhood.

“It means every child, from every postcode, will have the same guaranteed right to education, health care and a life free of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

“The international charter will mean greater legal protections for all children, including our most vulnerable young Scots.

“Every public body and organisation working on their behalf across Scotland will soon realise the game has irrevocably changed. It is a chance for Scotland to step up.

And later: ‘Five years ago, the United Nation’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, spent time in Scotland before accusing the UK government of the “systematic immiseration of a significant part of the British population.”

Insight 6: ’Aberlour’s election demands to tackle child poverty’ (June 24, 2024)

Aberlour’s CEO is quoted: “Poverty is a political choice, but children do not choose to grow up in poverty. We are calling on the next UK Government to make the political choice to end child poverty and invest in our children and young people. 

“It is very disappointing that child poverty has been relegated to a side issue in this election when it should be the priority of every political party.“

On June 17, the Aberlour website carried this headline: ‘Child Poverty barely registered as General Election issue’

It notes: ’1 in 4 children in Scotland are growing up in poverty. Across the rest of the UK that figure is nearly 1 in 3. Yet, watching this general election campaign unfold you wouldn’t know we had a child poverty crisis. It has barely registered as an issue worth discussing by the main political parties.’ Does this mean the Tories and Labour? Surely this could not be true of the latter with whom just weeks later we learned this about Aberlour’s CEO: ‘we share the same values of equality and social justice and the ambition to see an end to child poverty’?

And yet days after the Scottish Government re-commits to tackling child poverty in its Programme of Government, the charity boss who has been bemoaning the low priority being given to this very same matter by political parties vying to govern the UK, opts to ‘unleash fury’ and is ‘very angry’ – towards whom? Why it’s towards the party of government in Scotland – a severely financially constrained government unlike the Labour government in Westminster – that is giving profile and its continuing commitment to tackling child poverty. That Aberlour is referring to comparative rates of child poverty in Scotland and the rest of the UK – substantially lower in Scotland – is noted. As an aside, by happenstance the graph below is available from a report of the Social Mobility Commission, an independent statutory body created by the Westminster parliament, published on 11 September, 2024:

Insight 7: ’Blog: Free school meals must be given to all families receiving Scottish Child Payment’ (May 16, 2024)

‘Expanding free school meals eligibility is a tangible action that can make a real difference to the lives of tens of thousands of children and their families. This change can happen immediately. It will offer a lifeline to families who are barely keeping their heads above water and who find themselves in school meal debt.

‘We applauded the previous First Minister’s decision to abolish school meal debt for a year. It was a crucial step in the right direction. However, a one-time fix isn’t enough. We must ensure this commitment becomes permanent.’

Of course it takes little thought to realise that ‘abolishing school meal debt’ permanently – as distinct from writing it off from time to time without prior commitment – could only be realised by making all school meals free for all school pupils, in primary and secondary schools. Universal free school meals is – at least for now – a cost that the Scottish Government judges its fixed budget cannot bear. Still, might Labour be persuaded by Aberlour’s CEO to abolish the two-child benefit cap and introduce universal free school meals in England given its political choices are made with ALL the powers of an independent nation-state with a fiat currency?

Insight 8: ‘Aberlour’s response to the Scottish Government’s Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill consultation’

Extracts from the charity’s formal submission dated April 2024:

• ‘Aberlour therefore welcomes the Scottish Government’s consultation to explore how we best support and further enhance the rights of people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergent people, the national conversation it has prompted, and the opportunity to respond.’

• ‘we welcome the Scottish Government’s expressed and visible commitment to co- design throughout this process with people with lived experience.’

• ‘We commend the Scottish Government for being ambitious in the proposed scope of the Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill and as a rights respecting organisation fully support the intentions to develop bespoke legislation to help transform the lives of communities of people whose rights are most at risk.’

• ‘We are pleased to see the Scottish Government’s recognition of the benefits of taking a whole person approach to policy development. However, we believe this should go a step further and take both a whole person and whole-family approach.’

• ‘Aberlour agrees with the Scottish Government’s finding that there needs to be greater awareness and understanding of neurodivergent people and people with learning disabilities across public bodies. … We are therefore supportive of Proposal 13, for a programme of mandatory training for public service providers in Scotland.’

Have you been counting up all the ‘welcomes’ in addition to the ‘supports’, the ‘agrees’ and even a ‘commend’?

Insight 9: ‘Scorecard for the Scottish Budget 2024-25′ (February 20, 2024)

Aberlour’s statement includes:

• ‘it is important to recognise that we have strongly welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment and actions to date to drive down child poverty across Scotland. Investment in the Scottish Child Payment is alone estimated to lift around 50,000 children out of poverty.’

• ‘Low-income families with children have seen their incomes boosted by around “a sizeable £2,000 a year” compared to those in England and Wales, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. As a result, there are families no longer relying on foodbanks, children able to join their friends in activities previously denied them, and struggling parents whose financial worries have lessened, and mental health improved. We know from our work, that the extra money has been spent on essentials, like nappies, while also helping parents travel to interviews, a new job, or college – opening up long-term routes out of poverty.’

And yes adding this negative: ‘However, we are bitterly disappointed that the draft Scottish Budget for 2024-25 fails to sufficiently build on these efforts.’ I am not suggesting the charity is wholly supportive of the Scottish Government’s positions! But what motivated the inflammatory language of ‘fury’ and ‘anger’?

The Aberlour website references a December 2023 document prepared by End Child Poverty (ECP), a coalition of 80 organisations in Scotland, including Aberlour. It sets out what more it wished to see in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2024-25 to reduce child poverty. Amongst statements of demands and discontent, there were also positives, albeit by implication in some instances:

• ‘Despite maintaining the value of existing social security commitments, investment to support the expansion in childcare, and other welcome but small-scale interventions, such as writing off school meal debt, the Budget falls short of the First Minister’s ambition to ‘shift the dial’ on child poverty’.

• ‘The Scottish Child Payment will only be increased in line with inflation (a legal requirement) from April 2024, taking it to £26.70 per eligible child per week. It will support over 320,000 under-16s who receive it.’

• ‘All Scottish benefits will be uprated by 6.7% in line with CPI inflation in September 2023’

• ‘We also recognise the overall social security assistance budget for the 14 devolved benefits is up by 20%, from £5.14bn in 2023-24 to £6.16bn in 2024-25’

• ‘The budget for Child Disability Payment alone will rise from £327.6m in 2023-24 to £450m in 2024-25. Whilst these disability benefits are not specifically aimed at low- income households, families with a disabled person are a priority group at higher risk of poverty.’

• ‘Regulations have been passed and come into force 26 February 2024 to remove income thresholds from Best Start Foods, so they are in line with Best Start Grants’

• ‘An inflationary increase to the school clothing grant from £13m in 2023-24 to £13.9m in 2024-25’

• ‘A one-off £1.5m that will go to Local Authorities to cancel historic school meal debt, but a longer-term commitment to end this debt for good is needed.

• ‘A 42% increase in “Early Learning and Childcare” (ELC) budget from £51.7m in 2023-24 to £73.5m in 2024-25, focused on implementation of 1,140 hours and to pay £12/hour to staff in the private, voluntary and independent sectors delivering funded hours. Investment in ELC focussed on increased pay for staff providing funded hours of childcare is welcome.

• ‘The £12 per hour real Living Wage for adult and children’s social care and ELC workers in the private, voluntary and independent sectors who deliver funded provision is welcome but still does not properly value these workers.

Insight 10: ‘Aberlour Response to Scottish Government’s Care Leaver Payment: Consultation on policy proposals’ (January 2024)

Extracts from the charity’s formal submission: ’Aberlour welcomes this payment and recognises the potential benefits care experienced young people may gain. We believe this will include reducing some of the financial barriers which young people face whilst moving on from care, such as being able to afford to access or continue in further or higher education. Also, in terms of their mental health this will help by relieving some of the strain of the financial pressures care experienced young people tell us they experience.’

And: ‘Aberlour welcomes the revised approach in so much as we recognise that this more substantial one-off payment has the capacity, in some instances, to open up new opportunities to care experienced young people that might otherwise not have been accessible. However, the significant shortfalls of this stand-alone payment must also be recognised.’

Adding: ‘Aberlour firmly agrees that an individual’s income should have no bearing on their eligibility for this payment and welcome the Scottish Governments proposals to this effect.’

Insight 11: ‘Aberlour’s response to the Scottish budget’ (December 19, 2023)

‘During his campaign to become First Minister earlier this year Humza Yousaf committed to increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £30 per week.

“It is very disappointing not to see that commitment realised in today’s Scottish Budget.’’

‘Failure to respond to the calls of more than 150 organisations and campaigners to raise the Scottish Child Payment to £30 per week is a missed opportunity to keep Scotland on track to meet our child poverty targets and to lift more children and families out of poverty.’

Perhaps the charity can help the Scottish Government locate a magic money tree! Perhaps now with Labour in power – the party that Aberlour’s CEO considers ‘shares the same values of equality and social justice and the ambition to see an end to child poverty’ – the government in Westminster might finally be persuaded to share some of the Scottish Government’s commitment and abolish the two-child benefit cap and/or introduce the equivalent of the Scottish Child Payment and/or universal free school meals!

Perspective

It’s plain to see that the charity is disappointed that the Scottish Government is not doing more – essentially is not spending more – to address child poverty. I am sure the Scottish Government is ‘disappointed’ too that it can’t afford to do more at this time! But justification for ‘unleashed fury’, being ‘angry, very angry’? Really – in the context of all the positives revealed above and the contrasts with Westminster government? The charity CEO’s language begs the question, especially given these ‘insights’: what motivates the severity of attack? One may also ponder what role Herald journalism played!

For the avoidance of doubt, my own motivation or claimed justification here is straightforward. It is NOT to accept without question what the boss of a major, influential charity – someone with ready access to the media – states, especially when it is done in such terms. I have no doubt that the charity in question, Aberlour and its staff undertake crucially important work in support of vulnerable children and families.

But words of senior people have meaning, words set tones and influence public opinion, including voters: given the language reportedly deployed by the charity’s CEO, it seems reasonable – especially given the contrasts emerging with the charity’s own written output – to wonder about motivations!