Our co-founders had the opportunity to speak on both BBC Radio Scotland and STV News following the release of the NHS Highland Public Health Annual Report 2025 highlighting the devastating reality of child poverty across the Highlands and Scotland.
The report calls for urgent action to support children in their earliest years and paints a heartbreaking picture of the challenges many families are facing across our communities. It states that almost 13,000 children under the age of five in the Highlands are currently living in poverty, that’s 21.9% (more than 1 in 5) of children in our communities. And that number has barely changed since 2010.
Jennifer Davies, the Director of Public Health for NHS Highlands, also highlights that poverty in early childhood can have lifelong impacts on a child’s health, wellbeing and future opportunities. Families are facing increasing financial pressure due to the rising cost of living, housing challenges and rural poverty, something many Highland families experience silently behind closed doors.
But behind every statistic is a real child. A child arriving at nursery without clean clothing. A baby without a safe place to sleep. A teenager struggling with confidence because they don’t have basic toiletries or school essentials. A parent lying awake worrying about how they are going to make ends meet.
For us, one of the most important messages in the report is this: Early intervention matters.
When families receive support early, outcomes improve. Children are healthier, parents are less isolated, and families are better able to cope during difficult times. That is why community support services, grassroots charities and local partnerships are so important.
Yesterday’s interviews were an important opportunity to raise awareness, but this alone is not enough. This has to be a call to action for all of us, communities, businesses, organisations and decision makers to continue working together to support children and families across the Highlands.
We know that times are difficult for many people right now, which makes the support we receive from our community even more incredible. Every donation, fundraising event, volunteer and shared social media post genuinely helps us continue reaching families when they need it most.
Every child deserves the chance to thrive 💛
You can read the full NHS Highland report here.