Chris leads the Scotland team at JRF that works to find solutions to poverty in Scotland and amplify the voices of people experiencing poverty. The team works with partners across the public, private and third sectors to advocate for solutions that will loosen poverty’s grip on people in Scotland, and to inspire more people to understand it and take action to solve it. Prior to joining JRF, Chris worked for the Scottish Government as Head of the First Minister’s Policy and Delivery Unit. He was formerly a government lawyer, working principally on NHS and social care law.
Email: chris.birt@jrf.org.uk
All parties have published their manifestos for the 7 May Holyrood elections, but they fall well short of the action needed to meet child poverty targets, leaving the next Scottish Government to match rhetoric with action.
Now is the time for politicians in Wales to be bold, and take significant action, to ease hardship and increase economic security.
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.
A toolkit to help Scottish political parties shape their thinking and action to meet the 2030/31 child poverty reduction targets ahead of the 2026 Scottish Election.
This year our report asks how effective social security is at reducing poverty and advancing equality in Scotland.
This year’s State of the Nation report looks in detail at whether work is working for people in Scotland.
Discover how low-income families in Scotland have endured another harsh winter as the cost of living crisis continues to take its toll.
In this blog, Chris Birt explores how the cost of living crisis is impacting on people’s physical and mental health and how that is piling pressure on the already struggling Scottish NHS.