Children’s charity urges action on poverty and online harm in election manifesto

A children’s charity has launched its 2026 Holyrood election manifesto with a focus on child poverty and online harm.

Children First’s manifesto calls for the next Scottish government to tackle child poverty and ensure a consistent rollout of the Bairns’ Hoose model across Scotland.

Bairns’ Hoose, a charity led by Children First, offers a safe space for child victims and witnesses of crime to recover from harm.

The manifesto also calls for a commitment to urgently tackle online harms and the impact on child development, which the charity claims is on the rise.

The charity is asking the new government to commit to collaborating on a national public health campaign on the impacts of online harm.

Mary Glasgow, Children First chief executive, said: “There is a childhood emergency in Scotland and the cost of inaction is generational.

“Families feel alone and aren’t getting the help and support they need when they need it. This makes it harder for children to attend school, feel safe in their communities and stay protected online. All while thousands of children and young people wait for mental health support.

“Children First’s manifesto sets out urgent actions the next Scottish government must take to put children first, protect children and protect childhood.”

The charity’s manifesto also calls for an increase in the Scottish child payment, which is currently a weekly payment of £27.15 for every qualifying child under 16 years of age.

Annual statistics published in March show that compared with the previous year, relative child poverty in 2023-24 reduced from 26% to 22% in Scotland, and absolute child poverty fell from 23% to 17%.

However, the charity recently found 85% of parents and carers do not know where to turn when challenges arise while parenting their children.

They also found most people, including children, believe growing up in Scotland is worse now than in the past.

Ms Glasgow added: “Children First’s manifesto sets out a bold, achievable vision for change.

“We know from our experience of supporting children and families across the country that change is possible. Together, Scotland can build a bright, safe future for every child.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scottish Government actions to tackle child poverty, including our Scottish child payment and baby box, are making a meaningful difference to families.

“Child poverty has fallen in Scotland, in contrast to the rest of the UK. Whole family support – redesigning the system, both for the people who deliver vital services and for the people who rely on them – is a key strand of work under way to deliver the Scottish Government’s defining mission of eradicating child poverty.

“However, our policies are having to work harder in the current economic context and because of decisions taken by the UK Government, like keeping the two-child limit on universal credit. Given the UK Government refuse to lift this cap, we are developing the systems required to effectively scrap its impact from next year.

“We continue to support child victims and witnesses through the Bairns’ Hoose programme, backed by over £20 million Scottish Government investment to date. This is key to our ambition to keep The Promise and provides children and young people a safe space to access a system of holistic support comprising child protection, recovery, health and justice services.

“Keeping young people safe, including online, is of paramount importance. While regulation of the internet is reserved, we engaged with the UK Government to strengthen protections for children in the Online Safety Act. Ministers will continue to work with the UK Government and Ofcom as the Act is implemented to help keep children and young people safe online.”