Single parents who helped co-design Scotland’s new early years benefits met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this week
The First Minister has met those who have been at the heart of a project to support new parents.
Single parents who helped co-design Scotland’s new early years benefits met Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow this week.
The first Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payments will be made by the Scottish Government before Christmas, with eligible applicants receiving £600 for their first child and £300 for subsequent new arrivals.
Sturgeon met ten parents who contributed to the design of the application process and helped make sure it was accessible and easy to understand.
She said: “The new Best Start Grant provides much needed help for families on low income on the birth of children. £600 for the first child really does help with all the essentials that new parents need on the birth of a baby.
“It’s providing really important help and I’m delighted that it’s now underway and parents across the country start to benefit from it. For parents on low income this makes a crucial difference. It gives the money they need to provide the essentials they need for a new baby. Also, it’s about making sure that every child gets a good start in life, and an equal start in life, I think that’s the important principal as well as the practical support that is provided being important as well.”
Satwat Rehman, chief executive of One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS), welcomed the introduction of the new payment.
She said: "OPFS has supported parents to play a key role in helping design the new best start grant, ensuring that the reduction of child poverty is one of the guiding principles. The fact that payments are in place before Christmas will be a life-line to some of our most hard-pressed families”
In addition to the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, by summer 2019 two additional early years payments will be introduced. The first £250 payment will be made around the time a child starts nursery, to help with the costs of early learning and a further £250 when they start school.
