Thinking of the extra pressures faced in the winter months more electricity and gas usage. Things like Halloween and Christmas sooo commercialised and the peer pressure at such young ages to have things like phones, electric scooters, top of the range clothes and shoes. Cost of shopping it’s like you get nothing for your money and before u know it more shopping is needed. I know of families struggling because they have changed from tax credits to UC and the earning threshold is different so because they are not earning enough they are getting less in UC or nothing at all. Tax credits was 16 hours uc is 24 is what I’m told so people are really struggling which then affects the mental health as the persons job wage isnt enough to live on so they have the worry of how will they feed their child. Awful that there are people out there trying to do the right thing and work but getting penalised for it!

Good nourishing free meals for children at school;

Easy access for mental health services;

Good education provision for children with special needs;

Affordable school uniform.

My main concern is energy costs. For the last 2 years I have been self-disconnecting to save money for any other unexpected family emergencies.

The whole year was stressful due to financial uncertainty already now winter add up extra stress as energy cost

My son needs warm flat due to his health concerns and GP knows how we are struggling she even said energy bill will be higher but your son needs it.

School holidays around the corner. Life is a struggle

We are asking for a simple life when govt living a life of luxury.

Hi Alex,

I would like to respond to your Big Question .

My thoughts are that the Government's focus on Child Poverty Strategy should include:

How to reduce child poverty - make it a priority

Look at the Adverse impact on the development of children that child poverty is causing.

The impact on children's health including impact on unborn babies.

The impact on Children's education.

Future outlook - looking 10/15 years ahead the prospects of higher /further education/University education and employment for children who have grown up in poverty.

It's really fantastic and that somebody in government is actually curious and asking these questions, thank you.

So I think for me, it wouldn't necessarily change my circumstances and my son circumstances but without doubt the benefit cap and the two child limit is something that's holding so many families underwater and it's something that could be addressed immediately. And I think that, you know, it's criminal not to. I think, for me personally, as well, how can we change things? I've reached the limit that I can earn as a carer for my son with complex needs. It is just so low. There's no chance of us ever getting out of poverty. If it's kept that way, there needs to be a bit more fluidity and more joined up, cohesiveness inside the system for parents who are self-employed. Because at the moment, it's a cliff edge, if you earned a penny over what you're allowed to and then you get nothing. And that is looking at everything from free school meals right through to losing things like your council tax support. So everything has a knock-on effect. It's not just money in the bank, but there's no infrastructure for helping carers.

People like me with really positive skill sets have fallen out the labor market because we've had to do the job of, you know, the authorities and services, and that's really wrong. I feel like there isn't enough support for carers and that is really super difficult. I think you should be listening to Children and Families. Lived experience is so priceless, and I also think that we should be able to sort of audit the progress

I am an asylum seeker and 34 weeks pregnant as well. I am at a hotel right now. I have some difficulties financially and also psychologically. I am receiving just home office support - a few pounds per week. It is nothing for eating, clothing and subsistence.

In these periods, i need more support and help.

Sometimes it is too hard to wait for home office payments to buy or solve your needs. As everyone knows, financial difficulties have direct impacts on the psychology.

I think this is an opportunity to follow on from the previous weeks question, I think this would be a great chance for the Cabinet to show respect and promote dignity when dealing with this subject. Especially in regards the families in hardship because in all fairness to the people involved, as someone who is classed as working poor, the factors which keep both myself and my family firmly in this category are mostly, not all, outwith my own control and yet the majority of the time when asked my opinion on these issues, I am made to feel somewhat inadequate in regards to my circumstances. A feeling I know more people than not have experienced.

But, to the other priorities. I believe the cause of poverty should be properly examined to best understand the complexities of the situation. With extra attention placed on the cost of living crisis, the aftermath of a global pandemic as well as the inflated rent market in the private sector of house lets/renting making it almost impossible to live adequately.

I believe the should have varied panels of parents carers, guardians teachers, yes many panels, from the most socially economically deprived areas nationwide as unfortunately the poverty situations vary from region to region and an overall blanket approach won't work if they are serious about combating this rising crisis.

And lastly, the previous point will ensure they are tackling the most important issues faced.

My daily life is quite difficult as a single mother. Taking care of a baby alone is very hard. But I feel happy when I see my baby growing up and being healthy.

Ở khách sạn buồn và chán .nhiều lúc tôi cứ sợ trầm cảm mất

Staying in the hotel is sad and boring. Sometimes I'm afraid of getting depressed.

Tôi đang ở khách sạn, ở đây rất buồn chán. Tôi cảm thấy ở đây rất tù túng và đồ ăn ở đây thật sự rất khó ăn. Rất buồn.

I am staying at a hotel, it is very boring here. I feel very confined here and the food here is really hard to eat. Very sad.

I am a mother with 3 children but I live with one at the moment the other two are back home in Sierra Leone. I live in Glasgow City as an asylum seeker.