We need investment in research to gain a better understanding of the experiences, needs and circumstances of those parenting adult aged children, and new policy developed to address unmet needs and provide adequate support.

Parenting Across Scotland has working with our members and families on this underexplored topic, hosting several roundtables and engaging with politicians.

Read more here: www.parentingacrossscotland.org/media/1702/pas_briefing-papers_parenting-with-adults-1.pdf

We call on parties to commit to long term sustainable funding so that universal and intensive family support can be effectively rolled out across Scotland. By doing so, families will have access to non-stigmatising, accessible and sustainable support to assist them in their parenting journeys.

There are many valuable whole family support services in the third sector. Much can also be learned from international models such as Open Kindergartens, which Parenting Across Scotland has been piloting in Scotland alongside partners, thanks for the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.

Parties should commit to investing in research about and with Scottish families, co-produce policies and strategies with families, and build strong relationships with organisations supporting families.
By doing so, we can create a Scotland where families are reflected and supported in policy.

By ensuring parents and carers are more confident of their children's rights, we will see more families being able to seek remedy and redress if there are infringements, thereby encouraging services to take action to address them.

We call on parties to commit to raising the profile of the UNCRC amongst parents and carers, through awareness campaigns and support during transitions.
Particular attention should be on those less likely to access traditional information sources like Parent Club.

Following UNCRC incorporation into Scots Law, it is important to ensure parents and carers know how to advocate for children if their rights are not met.

As a first step we propose increasing the SCP to £40 per child per week in 2026, with a further uplift to £55 by the end of the next parliamentary term. This action is necessary if the Scottish Government is to meet the 2030 child poverty targets (which are currently not on target to be met).

Our first manifesto call is for the Scottish Child Payment (SCP) to be increased to £55 by 2030 to reduce child poverty.

Evidence shows us that increasing the SCP is the most effective way to meet the 2030 targets. As members of the End Child Poverty Coalition, we jointly call for this increase.

Stay tuned over the coming weeks as we delve into each call and look at what needs to be done by future politicians to create a better Scotland for all families to thrive!