Carla supports the Scotland team at JRF to understand the scale and depth of poverty in Scotland. She has previously worked as a researcher at the University of Glasgow, researching gender inequalities in academic science careers, and as a statistician at Education Scotland. She completed a PhD at the University of Edinburgh looking at the effects of economic, social and cultural capital at home and in neighbourhoods on young people’s educational attainment in England.
Email: carla.cebula@jrf.org.uk
With targets missed and poverty too high, radical change is needed. Local government needs to play a bigger role in poverty reduction, both in their delivery and in a healthier relationship with the Scottish Government.
This summary of our Poverty in Scotland 2026 report covers the public’s feelings about local government, the need for local funding reform and calls for councils to use all levers available to reduce and prevent poverty.
As Scotland reviews its child poverty targets, Scottish Government must stay committed to meaningful progress, keeping income measures as the core part of the targets.
The Department of Work and Pensions has improved the income data we use to measure poverty in the UK, which affects the Scottish Parliament’s child poverty reduction targets, and what you can say about child poverty in Scotland.
The Department of Work and Pensions have improved the income data we use to measure poverty in the UK. Here’s what this means for talking about poverty in the UK.
This briefing explores what is driving widespread feelings of economic insecurity in Scotland today.
JRF's latest Scotland polling analysis shows minor changes are not enough. Economic and political systems must be reshaped to provide everyone in Scotland with the security they deserve.
Economic insecurity is shaping how people in Scotland vote, think about politics, and if they believe change is possible at all — particularity those facing the most pressure.
Poverty is still too high, people are feeling overlooked and ignored by politicians - the next Scottish Parliament is vital for a better future for children in Scotland.