4 per cent of Scottish families suffer severe hardship

AROUND 24,000 Scottish families are now severely disadvantaged, new research has claimed.

A report by the think-tank Demos, called “A Wider Lens”, said that 4 per cent of the total population of families with children (around 600,000) face severe hardship.

Researchers analysed 28,000 households across seven areas – low income, overcrowding, worklessness, ill health, no educational qualifications, mental health problems and poor neighbourhoods.

Those facing four or more are considered “severely disadvantaged”, according to the report.

Glasgow is the worst affected area, with 11 per cent of families facing severe disadvantage, almost three times the national average.

More than half of the country’s households with children face none of the specified disadvantages, the report found.

The report was commissioned by Quarriers, which aims to provide services and support for disabled or disadvantaged children and families.

Paul Moore, chief executive of the charity, said: “This research paints a truly bleak picture of what life is like for thousands of families across Scotland who experience multi-disadvantage every day.

“This is why Quarriers is launching Scotland’s Family Appeal.

“The charity has been supporting these families in Scotland for the past 140 years – and it is clear from the findings in this report they need our support more than ever.

“Multiple disadvantage has a compounding effect, creating a perfect storm of complex, interrelated hardships that feed off each other and are incredibly difficult to overcome.

“Quarriers’ mission is to step in to ensure the needs of these disadvantaged families are met – and we aim to do so through Scotland’s Family Appeal to enable the charity to develop innovative services to help people cope.”