Annual Report 2022/23 - Data Updates and Analysis

Foodbank usage

Foodbank usage rose to an average of 134 per month in 2022-23. The average number distributed in Shetland continues to rise. There was a decrease in 2020-21 as the indicator did not capture the activity undertaken locally by various organisations during the pandemic (Shetland Partnership 2020-21 Annual Report). There has been a rapid growth in the number of charitable food banks over the past decade throughout the UK (Bramley et al, 2021).

In Scotland, 2022-23 saw the highest ever levels of need, representing a 30% increase from the same period the year before (The Trussell Trust). Mirroring this, Shetland saw a 31% increase from the same period last year, based on the monthly average of food parcels distributed by Shetland Foodbank. It is important to recognise that data from food banks in the Trussell Trust network (including Shetland Foodbank) is just one part of the picture of need across Scotland, and Shetland.

Children living in low income families

Children living in low income families had been increasing for Shetland and Scotland, since 2014/15 until 2020/21.  In 2020/21, however, the percentage in Scotland decreased, whilst Shetland’s increased.  Conversely, in 2021/22, the percentage of children living in low income families in Scotland increased for all local authorities except Shetland, with Shetland’s decreasing. 11.6% of children were living in low income families in Shetland in 2021-22. This was a reduction compared to the previous year’s 13%, but is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Much of the reduction in children living in low income families in other areas and the increase in Shetland in 2020/21 may be explained by:

• An uplift in the value of Universal Credit in 2020-21.  This meant that for families already on Universal Credit, many were moved out of what is defined as low income. Those households claiming Universal Credit are more concentrated in urban areas, accounting for the decrease in levels of child poverty in many of these areas.
• In Shetland, where costs are high and employment relatively buoyant, most households have work, if only small amounts, just to get by.  This means that most poverty is "working poverty". Therefore:
  • People's incomes may have been hit by loss of earnings due to the pandemic, especially those in casual employment and those in hospitality and retail.
  • Opportunities to work in 2020/21 may have been lost which would have reduced incomes for some families and led to an increase in uptake of benefits, for some.

The increase in other areas and the reduction in Shetland in 2021/22 is likely to be a reversal of the trends caused by the pandemic.

The statistics in Scotland suggest a gradual increase in child poverty levels since the early 2010s (Scottish Government).  This is reflected in Shetland, although levels are consistently lower than Scotland as a whole.

The Child Poverty Action Group highlight that poverty rarely has a single cause and that in the past, child poverty levels in the UK have been significantly lower than they are today. A range of factors including: rising living costs, low pay, lack of work and inadequate social security benefits, together mean that some people do not have enough resources.

Other indicators such as Free School Meal uptake, Education Maintenance Allowance and School Clothing Grants can be helpful to get a fuller representation.

After housing costs are considered, child poverty in Shetland was 15.44% for 2021/22 (End Child Poverty Coalition).  The Local Child Poverty Action Report contains further detail about how the partnership is monitoring and working to overcome child poverty in Shetland.