Moray Council steps up work to tackle child poverty through targeted funding

A report to councillors highlights how funding is being used to improve access to childcare, support parents into work and reduce costs for low‑income households.

Latest data shows that child poverty remains a significant challenge in Moray:

• Around 23–24% of children in Moray are living in poverty (roughly one in four children), in line with national averages.
• This equates to almost 4,000 children locally affected by poverty.
• In some communities, the picture is more stark, with rates reaching over 40% in certain areas, while others are below 10%, showing significant inequality.

These figures underline the importance of sustained local action alongside national efforts to meet Scotland’s target of reducing child poverty to 10% by 2030.

Moray Council has secured and is delivering several funding streams to target the drivers of poverty:

• Bright Start Breakfasts (£54,000) – supporting 10 schools to expand or introduce breakfast clubs, providing children with a healthy start to the day and offering families free or low‑cost childcare.
• Child Poverty Accelerator Funding (£102,000 over two years) – bringing together health visitors, children’s services and employability teams to support parents of young children into work, training and education.
• Adopt and Adapt Funding (£140,000) – investing in data tools to identify families who may need support at an earlier stage, helping services intervene sooner and reduce the need for more intensive support.
• Transport funding (£155,000) – supporting parents to travel to work, training and education, particularly important in rural areas where access can be a barrier.
• Addressing Depopulation funding (£30,000) – exploring new ways to link transport and childcare provision, especially in rural areas such as Speyside, to make childcare more accessible and sustainable.
• Children’s activities funding (bid submitted) – proposals are being developed to expand affordable after‑school and childcare provision, helping parents work or increase hours.

This work complements wider investment including the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund and Parent Employability Fund, which aim to increase household incomes and reduce family costs.

Leader of Moray Council, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “Around one in four children in Moray are still growing up in poverty, and we know the impact that can have on life chances.

“This funding is helping us take practical action, from expanding breakfast clubs and childcare to supporting parents into work and making services more accessible in our rural communities.

“Tackling poverty and inequality is a key priority in our Corporate Plan, and we are committed to working with partners to deliver real, lasting change for families across Moray.

“While this funding represents a significant boost, much of it is time‑limited. The council is focused on maximising its impact now while building learning and approaches that can be sustained in the longer term.”