Almost 2,700 children are living in poverty across Stirling, according to a new report.
The shocking toll has been revealed in data released alongside the End Child Poverty Alliance and comes as the impact of the cost of living crisis on families begins to take shape.
The report outlines that 2,698 children were in poverty in Stirling at the end of March 2021 - representing 18 per cent of kids 15 years old and younger.
Child poverty is assessed within the report, by Loughborough University, as those living in households with below 60 per cent median income before housing costs.
The 2021 figure actually represents an improvement on previous years as just under 3,300 children were assessed to be living in poverty in 2020 as the impact of the pandemic took hold.
Across Scotland, more than 200,000 children were believed to be living in poverty in 2020/21 - making up 21 per cent of the eligible population.
Joseph Howes, chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said: “The additional £20 support from the government during the Covid crisis does appear to have affected the figures positively in most areas. This shows that change is possible, these levels of child poverty do not have to be the norm.
“There will always be conflicting government priorities, but surely the wellbeing of the most vulnerable children in our society should be front and centre, particularly as we go through the most severe period of price rises for 40 years.
“It remains incredibly worrying that at a moment like this there is nothing in the government’s Levelling Up strategy on this issue. I just don’t understand this, we must see a national child poverty strategy created, it is heartbreaking that there isn’t one when we can see evidence that shows change really is possible.
“It still feels like we are on the edge of a precipice. There is significant concern that the numbers of children in poverty will now rise again sharply with families facing huge cost increases in the coming months.”
