In a proactive move during Challenge Poverty Week, Councillor Elaine Cowan, the Council Spokesperson for Education and Children and Young People, ventured to the William McIlvanney Campus in Kilmarnock to meet with the Financial Inclusion Team operating within the school premises.
The roots of this initiative trace back to a pivotal decision made by the Cabinet in 2022. It involved allocating additional funds to the Financial Inclusion Team to expand a project initially piloted at Loudoun Academy.
The pilot project, a resounding success, involved stationing a Financial Inclusion Officer within the school. Their role encompassed offering support and guidance to students and their families, local cluster primary schools, and Early Childhood Centres.
Building upon this success, the Financial Inclusion Team expanded its reach. Today, eight team members are based in a secondary school across East Ayrshire. Their mission is clear: empower families to access the benefits and grants they are entitled to, thereby maximizing family income.
Additionally, they play a crucial role in managing emergencies, armed with a £50,000 Cost of Living fund that allows them to provide up to eight weeks of discretionary free school meals to needy students.
Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education and Children and Young People, emphasized the significance of this expansion.
She stated, “The pilot at Loudoun Academy demonstrated that having a member of the Financial Inclusion Team embedded within the school was the right approach, benefiting families financially while alleviating the stress and worry associated with applying for grants and benefits independently. It, therefore, made perfect sense that this was rolled out to every secondary school.”
During her visit to Kilmarnock Academy, Councillor Cowan engaged with school leadership, including Head Teacher David Rose and Depute Head Teacher Hayley Fitzpatrick.
She also met with the Financial Inclusion Co-ordinator, Debbie Nicoll, and Callum McMichael, the Financial Inclusion Officer working within the school. Furthermore, she connected with students who participated in Cost of the School Day workshops led by the Child Poverty Action Group and representatives of the Pupil Participatory Budgeting group from various schoolhouses and year groups.
Speaking passionately about their involvement, Lauren, Nana, and Rhianna, students from S6, highlighted the importance of addressing poverty within their school community.
They expressed their commitment to collaborate with teachers and the Financial Inclusion team to assist those in need. Lauren underscored the support available to local families through the school, including access to school bags, winter clothing, and food that can be taken home.
The Participatory Budgeting group, comprising 40 young people, received £5,000 from their Head Teacher to enhance wellbeing and equity within the school.
Each house presented ideas to improve the school community, and these proposals were shared with the entire school for voting. Projects range from yoga classes to enhancing the school garden and introducing wellbeing boxes in every classroom.
Councillor Cowan marvelled at the close partnership between the school and the Financial Inclusion team. She emphasized that challenging poverty is an ongoing effort for Kilmarnock Academy, where 45% of students come from SIMD 1 and 2 areas.
The Financial Inclusion team plays a vital role in supporting this work, directly engaging with local families within the school or through home visits and other neutral meeting spaces.
Since May, Callum, the Financial Inclusion officer at Kilmarnock Academy, has secured benefits and savings totalling £28,684.80 for local families. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the program’s potential, which is now expanding across East Ayrshire.
In conclusion, Councillor Cowan expressed pride in the work and hoped to share best practices with neighbouring authorities.
COSLA and the Improvement Service are keenly interested in East Ayrshire’s approach to tackling poverty, recognizing the importance of this initiative within the school community from Early Years to graduation.
This ambitious endeavour by the Financial Inclusion Team shines as a beacon of hope in the fight against poverty within East Ayrshire schools, ensuring that every student and family get the support they deserve.
