Pupils from Strath of Appin and Dalintober Primary Schools have taken their concerns about rural poverty straight to the top—sharing their experiences and ideas with Scotland’s First Minister at the recent Cost of the School Day Summit, hosted by the Child Poverty Action Group.
Representing Argyll and Bute, the pupils joined eighty young people from across Scotland to explore the challenges children face in accessing education. From the cost of school trips to the need for breakfast clubs and waterproof clothing, they spoke passionately about the unique barriers rural communities encounter—and how these can be overcome. As well as sharing positive examples from their own school community, the children listened to views from young people across Argyll and Bute and raised them at the event.
Pupils attended the summit as part of the Cost of the School Day Voice Action Group, a national initiative that empowers young people to shape solutions to poverty-related issues in education.
Argyll and Bute Council is already working hard to reduce the attainment gap and ensure every child has the best start in life. Across the region, schools are running initiatives to make education more accessible, including:
- Pre-loved uniform schemes and swap shops, available via the council website or directly through schools.
- Outdoor learning support, with waterproof clothing provided to ensure no child misses out.
- Access to recycled study materials, to help every pupil feel included.
To further tackle any barriers to education, the Council launched My Tribe in 2021, a programme ensuring free period products are available to anyone who needs them in Argyll and Bute. Many secondary schools have a My Tribe Champion to raise awareness and ensure products are easily accessible in schools and public buildings.
Councillor Audrey Forrest, Policy Lead for Education, praised the pupils for their leadership:
“I’m incredibly proud of our young ambassadors who represented Argyll and Bute so brilliantly. Tackling poverty and removing barriers to education is vital to giving every child the same opportunities, no matter where they live.
I also want to thank our wider school communities—parents, carers, staff, and local businesses—whose generosity and support make these initiatives possible.
We hope the summit leads to real change and helps us build on the great work already happening across Argyll and Bute.”
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