Renfrewshire councillors have been warned that child poverty remains a major challenge across the area, with nearly one in four children in some communities living in low-income households.
A meeting of Renfrewshire Council’s Fairer Renfrewshire Sub-committee heard that 23.5 per cent of children in the Renfrewshire South and Gallowhill ward were living in relative low-income households after housing costs in 2024/25.
Paisley North West had the second-highest figure in Renfrewshire at 18.8 per cent.
The figures were presented as part of a detailed report on child poverty statistics considered by councillors on Wednesday, 3rd June.
Members heard that the overall proportion of children in relative low-income households after housing costs across Renfrewshire had fallen from 13.9 per cent to 12.7 per cent.
However, councillors were told it was too early to determine whether the decrease represented a long-term trend because of recent changes to the way the statistics are calculated.
The meeting also heard that 11 per cent of children in Scotland are living in deep material poverty, meaning they lack at least four out of 13 items considered essential.
Presenting the report, senior policy officer Barry Jardine said that 75 per cent of children living in relative poverty after housing costs were living in households where at least one person was in paid work.
Speaking during the meeting, Fairer Renfrewshire convener Councillor Jacqueline Cameron said the figures remained concerning despite some signs of improvement.
She said: “The figure dropped from 13.9 per cent to 12.7 per cent of children in Renfrewshire living in relative low-income households after housing costs is slightly promising, but the figures in Gallowhill, where one in four children is living in poverty, and in Paisley North West, which is still fairly high, are a matter of real concern.
“It is not really acceptable.
“We also know that the majority of children in poverty now live in working households.
“Behind every statistic is a child who may be going without basic essentials, missing out on opportunities or facing daily stress because of financial pressures.
“Tackling child poverty has to remain a primary concern for all of us, not just in this committee and Fairer Renfrewshire, but right across the working of the council.”
Councillor Cameron added that the council and its partners must continue to focus support on the areas facing the greatest challenges.
Responding, Laura-Ann Currie told councillors that reducing child poverty would continue to be a major priority for the council and its partners.
She said: “Child poverty will continue to be a key priority in the work that we are doing with partners.
“We keep trying to challenge partners and others to say what we can do differently in that area, and we are trying to learn from other local authority areas in Scotland.”