Living through a pandemic: experiences of low-income families in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Between November 2020 and March 2021, the Poverty Alliance spoke with 32 families with direct experience of poverty as part of Get Heard Scotland (GHS). The key aim of this research was to understand what works, what does not work, and what should be changed in relation to tackling poverty in Scotland.
Key Findings: The pandemic and the resulting social distancing measures brought new challenges and the intensification of poverty for low-income families. Changes were experienced across all aspects of daily life including employment, education, health care and support structures. Mental health Mental health emerging a core theme amongst research participants.
Parents and caregivers discussed impacts on both them and their children. Household experiences were impacted by multiple factors including size of family and pre- existing health conditions.
Key triggers for increased mental ill-health was the loss of support networks, changes in daily routines including loss of childcare and schooling as well as incurring higher rates of daily costs such as gas electricity, food and so on. Stigma around mental health and poverty compounded the pressures household faced.
