Orkney will always have a special place in the history of Scotland’s Baby Boxes, having been one of the pilot areas for the scheme.
We have now reached the eighth anniversary of the scheme being rolled out across Scotland, with over 350,000 baby boxes have been delivered across the country, including 1284 to support babies in Orkney since the launch.
I’m really proud that the SNP Scottish Government introduced the Baby Box in 2017, entitling every newborn in Scotland to a box containing essential items intended to make sure that every child has the best possible start in life.
In total, 350,729 boxes have now been distributed to parents across Scotland since the start of the project. The estimated cost of items provided in each Baby Box is approximately £429.
The Baby Box is a tangible example of the SNP Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicating child poverty, which is First Minister John Swinney’s priority in Government.
The success of the boxes represents a real achievement by a government committed to giving everyone a fair opportunity in life.
Providing essential items needed for the first six months of their child’s life is a particularly important gift to new parents when household budgets are under continued pressure due to rising bills under the UK Labour government.
Along with the game-changing Scottish Child Payment and the rollout of free school meals, the baby box is one of many transformative SNP actions making a real difference to children and families.
But the reality is that while the SNP continues to deliver bold policies for a fairer Scotland, with the limited powers at its disposal, Westminster is pushing more folk into poverty through damaging policies like the Two Child Limit.
The SNP is doing all it can – but the limited powers of devolution can only go so far. It is only with the full powers of independence that we can build a better future for every child born in Scotland.
Another way in which the SNP is making a positive difference across Scotland is through the Strengthening Communities Programme.
Almost 80 organisations – delivering regeneration projects to realise the economic potential of communities across the country – have benefited in this round, including six in Orkney, with awards totalling almost £90,000 to organisations in the islands.
The successful Orkney projects are Eday Partnership (£9,828.00), North Ronaldsay Trust (£13,800.00), Shapinsay Development Trust (£10,213.00), Island of Hoy Development Trust (£12,150.00), South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust (£22,950.00), and Stromness Community Development Trust (£18,137.00).
The programme has helped hundreds of local organisations to bring economic, social and environmental benefits to their local communities. It delivered projects including the creation of more housing in remote rural areas, building business units to help small enterprises, and renovating vacant buildings to provide cultural and community centres.
Local communities are best placed to address their own needs, identify improvements in their areas, and realise their own economic potential. That is why community-led regeneration is a key priority for the Scottish Government.
This is a regular column by SNP MSP Emma Roddick. All Highlands and Islands MSPs have been offered the same space in The Orkney News to share their personal views.
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