A FIFTH of children in Scotland are living in former coalfield areas, which are in the most deprived 30% areas – and a charity has urged politicians from all parties to pledge their support for areas which were once bustling mining towns and villages.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) said inequalities still blight many former mining communities.

It was formed 20 years ago to help these areas – which it said now account for 10% of Scotland’s population – recover from the devastating effects of pit closures. The CRT said ongoing political backing was needed to address a range of social and economic issues, which include higher than average unemployment, many children living in poverty and poor health.

It commissioned research from the Glasgow-based Social Value Lab in 2013 for a study into deprivation in Scotland’s former coal mining areas.

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An update is currently in progress, but early indications are that these areas still lag behind the rest of the country in many ways.

They show continuing deprivation, with around 30% of coalfield neighbourhoods in the most deprived 20% of Scotland, with key challenges across education, employment, income and health and significant and concentrated deprivation in Fife, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian.

Coalfield communities have higher rates of 16- to 19-year-olds not in education, employment or training and fewer 17- to 21-year-olds enrolling in higher education. Unemployment is also higher, with 12,395 people – 4.3% of the working-age population – claiming Universal Credit or Job Seekers Allowance in October 2019, compared to 3.1% across Scotland. Rates of child poverty are also above average with 17,750 children (21%) living in low-income families.

Over the last 20 years, CRT, which is backed by Scottish Government funding, has invested more than £20 million into former mining communities.

However, trustee Nicky Wilson, said: “Since our organisation was established to assist former coalfield communities they have come a long way, achieved a great deal and we have made a lasting and positive impact.

“However, there is much work to be done to ensure these communities benefit from a better quality of life, improved access to opportunities and services and are as resilient and sustainable as other parts of Scotland.”