BBC News
By Chris Clements
Published
image copyrightJane Barlow
A programme aimed at tackling child poverty in a Glasgow school has helped families claim more than £400,000 in extra benefits in less than 18 months.
A financial inclusion officer was installed at Bellahouston Academy in December 2019 by Glasgow City Council and money advice service GEMAP.
It came after concerns were raised by a staff member about pupil poverty.
The pilot scheme, which was trialled at four Glasgow schools, is now set to roll out across all city secondaries.
To date, parents at Bellahouston Academy have made an additional 335 claims totalling £432,816.72 after being helped by the scheme.
Pupils at St Mungo s Academy PARENTS in Glasgow have accessed more than £700,000 in unclaimed benefits thanks to an anti-poverty project. Four schools took part in an initial trial working with a financial inclusion support officer (FISO) to help parents navigate the welfare system. Now the scheme is to be rolled out to all 30 city secondary, an ASL school and two primaries following its success. Gena Howe, child poverty manager at Glasgow City Council, said the project came about after a series of encounters demonstrated that parents and carers needed support accessing entitlements. She had been at a meeting of the Calton Child Poverty Network where parents told her of difficulties with understanding and claiming benefits.
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