Carers should be financially supported for the work we do

PA

We are just a few weeks away from the Scottish elections. A new government is incoming, and they have the chance to get things right, to end child poverty for good and to support all of us surviving on a low income across Scotland.

I am a parent and full-time carer for my son, living in Glasgow. I’m also part of a social research project called Changing Realities. We are a group of over 200 parents and carers across the UK, sharing our lived experience of existing on a low income and campaigning for genuine change. I am always amazed by how much we have achieved in such a small amount of time.

I feel underprivileged in a lot of social settings, and would never have expected people in power to listen to me. Changing Realities has made me and others feel that our problems, our suggestions, and our solutions, really matter.

Eradicating poverty in Scotland won’t happen overnight

Over the past decade, the Scottish Government have focused on reducing child poverty. Although poverty is still too high and there is a long way to go before it is well and truly eradicated, progress has been made. During this time, I’ve been raising my son in Glasgow and have witnessed some improvements in our quality of life.

One means of reducing child and family poverty has been through making improvements to the social security system. Since 2018 and the introduction of Social Security Scotland, those in receipt of social security have seen the tide shift on benefits, and the results of the government’s work to reduce the stigma around benefits. We have felt a real difference in the way that we are treated and spoken to: with dignity and with respect.

Having interacted with both Social Security Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions, I can confidently say that this has been a much better experience north of the border. Here, people and families are at the centre of the decisions made by the government, which has made a real difference to my family.

Scottish Child Payment (SCP) plays a very important role in my life, especially as the cost-of-living crisis has worsened. The payment is used by families in different ways depending on their situations. For some, SCP is used to meet basic necessities.

Others, like me, use it as a ‘top up’. It has allowed me to invest in my child’s skillset; paying for swimming lessons and other social clubs. In turn, we have built networks in our community, and my son is growing up in a healthier environment.

My son and I live in a tiny apartment, and he is a very active person if not medicated.

He struggles to be ‘out and about’ in the way that other children might be. With no garden, it’s vital that we have access to a safe and protected space where he can be himself. Social youth clubs used to be free. Over the years, they have closed or parents are asked to fund them. It is only through accessing SCP that we have been able to afford these clubs.

However, there is still a long way to go on social security. As a full-time carer for my son, I am in receipt of Carer’s Support Payments. This does not even align with a minimum wage. Yet to receive support, you need to be providing care for 35+ hours a week. It’s a full-time job. I care for my son 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I had to leave my job and my career to facilitate this. If I was to try and return to my career – which I worked so hard to achieve – who will do this job for me? Who will provide the wraparound care my son needs? What’s more, this care-work goes unrecognised; including the emotional and psychological labour that is such a huge part of it. We end up existing in our own isolated bubble. Carers should be financially supported for the work we do and there should be more support to help with the mental health impacts that come with caring, including isolation and loneliness.

What are we asking the new government to do?

To start with, there needs to be more investment in our children’s formative years. The government – whoever they might be - should work with grassroots community organisations and schools to ensure that all children in Scotland genuinely get the best start in life. As it stands, teachers have threatened to go on strike because of working conditions. Schools are not receiving enough investment. But education is a human right and must be prioritised. The government need to adopt a holistic approach to policymaking, investing in all aspects of a child’s life. Whether it’s sports, music or poetry they want to try out, every child should have the best start in life no matter what their background. It is not just our jobs as parents, but as a country and as a society.

Moreover, there has to be continued investment in Scotland’s social security system. The current government have done a good job, but with the heightened cost of living, people are still falling into poverty and challenges remain. Nobody in Scotland should be going hungry - we need the security of knowing that our basic necessities will be covered.

Listen to us, learn from us

If all this is to be achieved, the government must recognise the importance of lived experience in policymaking. Our insight is valuable and our power as a community needs to be championed. We are the missing piece of the poverty puzzle.

Arabella C* is a Changing Realities participant, lone parent and carer