Addressing socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 on children in Scotland: A review of capability and available data assets

26 Aug

Written By Data for Children Collaborative with UNICEF

This project was formed through our Impact Collaborations process. For more information, please click here.

Children crossing a road, wearing school bags, winter jackets and face masks.

The Issue

Coronavirus has had an unprecedented impact on children and their families across the globe. The pandemic is not only a health issue, but a societal one too – key services have been disrupted, socialisation has become increasingly digital and isolation has become a new way of life. There is a worry that COVID-19 will not only create new problems for children but will also exacerbate a range of pre-existing issues. In order to best understand what these socioeconomic issues are, and how we can work to solve them, in-depth knowledge and awareness of the data landscape will be critical.

Why Does it Matter?

Lack of contact with family and friends, isolation and difficulty in accessing resources may have a lasting impact on children’s mental health and wellbeing. Whilst the pandemic is primarily a health issue, its effects are incredibly far reaching – covering SDGs such as no hunger, no poverty and quality education. In addition, Article 6 and Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child state that children have the right to the support and resources required to meet their needs and ensure their safe and healthy development. With COVID-19 having devasting immediate and long-term effects, it is important that we start working now to protect children and their futures.

Our Project

The aim of this project is to conduct a desk-based exercise that maps the sources of information (data) - and details about those sources - that are seen to relate to understanding more about the socioeconomic impacts of COVID19 for and on children, and by extension how to tackle them. 

The project team will first define a) what we mean by socioeconomic impacts and b) what we mean by data. They will then identify categories of highest interest and importance (such as health impacts, educational impacts, impact on household income.)

Following this, the team will perform a literature search and literature review of anything relevant to the socio-economic categories identified. This will include literature published pre-pandemic and since the outbreak, to set the scene regarding the existing socioeconomic issues and how these have been/might be exacerbated by the pandemic.

The focus will be on Scotland, but relevant international literature will be incorporated as much as possible. They will also review existing research teams and organisations working in this area, providing insight into the capability landscape across Scotland.

The outputs of the project are:

1) A report outlining existing work within the defined problem and highlighting the key data requirements for addressing similar problems within Scotland.

2) A data catalogue illustrating what's is currently available and what is missing to address the issues.

3) A map of existing research and capability across Scottish organisations and research institutes.  

The outcomes of this project will stimulate further work to address identified gaps and hurdles in addressing the issues examined within the project.