Press release: This Scottish Budget is a crucial opportunity to rebuild trust and deliver for single parent families

With the Scottish Budget approaching, national charity One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) is calling for the Scottish Government to act on the issues that matter most to people in Scotland.

Charis Chittick, Head of Policy, Strategy and Communications at OPFS said:

“It is devastating that children growing up in single parent families in Scotland are more likely to be living in poverty. We know that more than one in three children growing up in single parent families (36%) are living in poverty. It’s no wonder that many people are feeling overlooked and ignored by politicians, let down by an economy that simply isn’t working. The Scottish Budget is a critical opportunity for politicians to rebuild trust by acting on the issues that matter most to people in Scotland, like child poverty.”

OPFS is urging the Scottish Government to use this Budget to accelerate progress on tackling child poverty through targeted investment to increase incomes for single parent families and strengthen support for those navigating the Child Maintenance Service.

To achieve this, OPFS is calling on the Scottish Government to:

• Increase the Scottish Child Payment to a minimum of £40, with targeted further increases for single parent families, families with a disabled child, and families with a baby under the age of one.
• Fund face-to-face support for parents using the Child Maintenance Service, where separation is complex, as part of holistic family support.
• Increase funding for income-maximisation services, with targeted investment in services best able to reach priority families, including single parents.
• Extend free school meals to all primary school pupils and commit to introducing universal free school meals for all secondary school pupils, reducing costs and stigma for families.
• Increase the value of the School Clothing Grant so that it covers the real cost of school clothing and ensure this includes auto-enrolment for families in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, along with annual inflationary uplifts in line with other Scottish social security payments.

One single parent supported by OPFS said:
“I don’t know how we would survive without the Scottish Child Payment; it pays for the extra things that the children need — without it I don’t think I would even be able to cover the weekly shop.”

Charlotte, a single parent from Fife, shared her experience of navigating the Child Maintenance Service (CMS):

“I think one of the hardest things for me in this experience is trying to protect your kids from the stress of it all. One minute you’re on a call to the CMS having to update the call handler on your situation and trying to get the answers you need, and the next you have to be ‘mum’ again, putting a brave face on.

“So many parents are already distressed before they get in touch with CMS. Some have experienced abuse in their relationships and need someone who can listen patiently and with kindness.”

Chittick continued, “We know poverty hits hardest when families are already under pressure. At OPFS we have seen the positive impact of the Scottish Child Payment for the families we support. It has shown that putting money directly into people’s pockets can make a real difference for our children, enabling families to pay for life’s essentials. The Scottish Budget must build on what is already working by increasing the Scottish Child Payment and further strengthening family incomes.

“But income support alone is not enough. Too many of us are still struggling to navigate systems that are not fit for purpose, including the Child Maintenance Service. Modelling by IPPR Scotland shows that 20,000 Scottish children could be lifted out of poverty if families were properly supported to navigate this complex system and access the money they are owed. When child maintenance is not paid, our children lose out — but with the right support, that money could reach thousands of children across Scotland and help cover essentials like food, heating and clothing.

“The decisions made today by the Scottish Government matter. This Budget is an opportunity for politicians to get today’s decisions right so we can build a better future. It is an opportunity for the Scottish Government to demonstrate that they are serious about tackling child poverty. Investing in single parent families is not just the right thing to do, it is essential if every child in Scotland is to get the best possible start in life.”

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