Martin Canavan 🧡
@mrtncnvn.bsky.social
Daddy. Husband. Travels. Books. History geek. Head of Policy & Influencing @aberlourcharity.bsky.social Trustee @together-sacr.bsky.social Fighting to end child poverty.
Glasgow, Scotland.
Glasgow, Scotland.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is
February 17, 2026 at 11:41 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is
What a speech. I Am Somebody.
February 17, 2026 at 7:53 PM
What a speech. I Am Somebody.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Our third call to all political parties ahead of the Scot Parliament Election is Support Families Who Need Extra Help.
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
February 17, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Our third call to all political parties ahead of the Scot Parliament Election is Support Families Who Need Extra Help.
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Migration is not colonisation — it’s contribution. Our CEO, Sabir Zazai, challenges harmful myths and calls for compassionate conversations about migration.
It’s time to reject toxic narratives and recognise the value of those who make Scotland home.
Full statement here: https://ow.ly/l8eC50Yf3SK
It’s time to reject toxic narratives and recognise the value of those who make Scotland home.
Full statement here: https://ow.ly/l8eC50Yf3SK
February 13, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Migration is not colonisation — it’s contribution. Our CEO, Sabir Zazai, challenges harmful myths and calls for compassionate conversations about migration.
It’s time to reject toxic narratives and recognise the value of those who make Scotland home.
Full statement here: https://ow.ly/l8eC50Yf3SK
It’s time to reject toxic narratives and recognise the value of those who make Scotland home.
Full statement here: https://ow.ly/l8eC50Yf3SK
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Just going to leave this here
February 12, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Just going to leave this here
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
📢 It's launch day!🚀
💷 Social spending ≠ economic damage.
💪Plenty of countries prove you can have strong social security and strong economies.
Read our new report, More than a Safety Net ⤵️
@stephenkb.bsky.social @davehawkey.bsky.social @caseysmithippr.bsky.social
www.ippr.org/articles/mor...
💷 Social spending ≠ economic damage.
💪Plenty of countries prove you can have strong social security and strong economies.
Read our new report, More than a Safety Net ⤵️
@stephenkb.bsky.social @davehawkey.bsky.social @caseysmithippr.bsky.social
www.ippr.org/articles/mor...
More than a safety net: The welfare state as springboard to economic success and a better country | IPPR
It is widely proposed that higher social spending – especially in the form of social security benefits – is damaging to the economy. Yet the evidence prese
www.ippr.org
February 12, 2026 at 9:31 AM
📢 It's launch day!🚀
💷 Social spending ≠ economic damage.
💪Plenty of countries prove you can have strong social security and strong economies.
Read our new report, More than a Safety Net ⤵️
@stephenkb.bsky.social @davehawkey.bsky.social @caseysmithippr.bsky.social
www.ippr.org/articles/mor...
💷 Social spending ≠ economic damage.
💪Plenty of countries prove you can have strong social security and strong economies.
Read our new report, More than a Safety Net ⤵️
@stephenkb.bsky.social @davehawkey.bsky.social @caseysmithippr.bsky.social
www.ippr.org/articles/mor...
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Our second call to all political parties ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election is Tackle the Public Debt Crisis.
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
February 12, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Our second call to all political parties ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election is Tackle the Public Debt Crisis.
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
We are celebrating 10 years of bringing relief to families trapped in poverty across Scotland through the Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund!
If you know a family struggling to make ends meet, find out how to apply: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/get-help/urgent-assistance-fund
If you know a family struggling to make ends meet, find out how to apply: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/get-help/urgent-assistance-fund
February 11, 2026 at 11:31 AM
We are celebrating 10 years of bringing relief to families trapped in poverty across Scotland through the Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund!
If you know a family struggling to make ends meet, find out how to apply: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/get-help/urgent-assistance-fund
If you know a family struggling to make ends meet, find out how to apply: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/get-help/urgent-assistance-fund
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Our first call to all political parties ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election is #EndChildPoverty.
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
February 10, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Our first call to all political parties ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election is #EndChildPoverty.
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Read all our 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' calls: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/supporting-families-ending-child-poverty-scottish-parliament-election-2026
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Working isn't working. Our analysis confirms that work is not a guaranteed route out of poverty.
In the latest data, the majority (55 per cent) of non-pensioner families in poverty had someone in work. This is up from fewer than two-in-five families in the mid-1990s.
In the latest data, the majority (55 per cent) of non-pensioner families in poverty had someone in work. This is up from fewer than two-in-five families in the mid-1990s.
February 10, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Working isn't working. Our analysis confirms that work is not a guaranteed route out of poverty.
In the latest data, the majority (55 per cent) of non-pensioner families in poverty had someone in work. This is up from fewer than two-in-five families in the mid-1990s.
In the latest data, the majority (55 per cent) of non-pensioner families in poverty had someone in work. This is up from fewer than two-in-five families in the mid-1990s.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
It’s very good of Prince William to distance himself from his horrific uncle Andrew, while on a visit to hang out with journalist-murdering bastard Mohammed bin Salman. I
February 9, 2026 at 10:19 PM
It’s very good of Prince William to distance himself from his horrific uncle Andrew, while on a visit to hang out with journalist-murdering bastard Mohammed bin Salman. I
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
We don’t need more food banks, we need change.
Repost if you agree.
Repost if you agree.
February 9, 2026 at 8:45 PM
We don’t need more food banks, we need change.
Repost if you agree.
Repost if you agree.
£40 feckin billion! Spurs built a brand new state-of-the-art stadium in West London for £1 billion that holds 60k folk. How about build a brand new parliament building for the same. Give the other £39 billion to poor families and help to rebuild our communities. Make Houses of Parliament a museum.
'They want £40bn to rebuild Parliament? Just let the damn place rot'
The Mandelson scandal has revealed a democracy so broken and a politics so toxic it isn’t worth saving. The entire system of British government needs dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column
The Mandelson scandal has revealed a democracy so broken and a politics so toxic it isn’t worth saving. The entire system of British government needs dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column
'The politician worth trusting does not yet exist'
The Mandelson scandal has revealed a democracy so broken and a politics so toxic that it isn’t worth saving, argues our Writer at Large
www.heraldscotland.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:42 PM
£40 feckin billion! Spurs built a brand new state-of-the-art stadium in West London for £1 billion that holds 60k folk. How about build a brand new parliament building for the same. Give the other £39 billion to poor families and help to rebuild our communities. Make Houses of Parliament a museum.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Today we're launching 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' our calls to all political parties ahead of the @parliament.scot Election. Read what we're calling on the next Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to do to #EndChildPoverty for good: www.aberlour.org.uk/publications...
February 5, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Today we're launching 'Supporting Families, Ending Child Poverty' our calls to all political parties ahead of the @parliament.scot Election. Read what we're calling on the next Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to do to #EndChildPoverty for good: www.aberlour.org.uk/publications...
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
We're delighted to see the legislation to end the 2 child limit introduced at UK Parliament. To finally see the scrapping of this cruel and poverty creating policy.
This is a historic day for children and families across the UK as legislation to remove the two-child limit from our social security system starts to make its way through Parliament.
1/5
1/5
February 4, 2026 at 12:08 PM
We're delighted to see the legislation to end the 2 child limit introduced at UK Parliament. To finally see the scrapping of this cruel and poverty creating policy.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Today, the Bill to end the two-child limit begins making its way through Parliament.
The policy drove child poverty to a record high, hurting young people.
We commend the government's choice to scrap the two-child limit and join 65 other organisations in asking all MPs to support this Bill.
The policy drove child poverty to a record high, hurting young people.
We commend the government's choice to scrap the two-child limit and join 65 other organisations in asking all MPs to support this Bill.
February 3, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Today, the Bill to end the two-child limit begins making its way through Parliament.
The policy drove child poverty to a record high, hurting young people.
We commend the government's choice to scrap the two-child limit and join 65 other organisations in asking all MPs to support this Bill.
The policy drove child poverty to a record high, hurting young people.
We commend the government's choice to scrap the two-child limit and join 65 other organisations in asking all MPs to support this Bill.
The current value of Universal Credit fails to provide those who rely on it with enough to cover even just the day-to-day basics. We need to see reform of social security that includes an #EssentialsGuarantee so that people’s income is at least adequate enough to cover life’s essentials.
MPs will soon debate the annual benefits ‘Uprating Order' on how much benefits rise this year. But shockingly, support has never been set according to any logical calculation, like ensuring Universal Credit covers life's essentials - which @jrf-uk.bsky.social estimates cost £120 a week🧵1/4
February 2, 2026 at 9:42 AM
The current value of Universal Credit fails to provide those who rely on it with enough to cover even just the day-to-day basics. We need to see reform of social security that includes an #EssentialsGuarantee so that people’s income is at least adequate enough to cover life’s essentials.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
We were delighted to have Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP visit our Mother and Child Recovery House to hear from mums we support about their recovery journeys.
Read our Families in Recovery briefing: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/aberlours-families-in-recovery-briefing
#KeepThePromise
Read our Families in Recovery briefing: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/aberlours-families-in-recovery-briefing
#KeepThePromise
January 30, 2026 at 2:16 PM
We were delighted to have Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP visit our Mother and Child Recovery House to hear from mums we support about their recovery journeys.
Read our Families in Recovery briefing: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/aberlours-families-in-recovery-briefing
#KeepThePromise
Read our Families in Recovery briefing: https://www.aberlour.org.uk/publications/aberlours-families-in-recovery-briefing
#KeepThePromise
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Parents tell us the Scottish Child Payment makes a real difference to their lives - it helps them afford basic essentials like food, energy bills, nappies, and children’s clothes. And we see this impact reflected in the latest figures on child poverty in Scotland too (🧵1/4)
The Scottish Tories’ plans to introduce a two-child cap on the SNP’s flagship benefit would cause 'hardship' for children across Scotland, experts have warned
Scottish Tory benefit reform plan would cause 'hardship' for children, experts say
www.thenational.scot
January 30, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Parents tell us the Scottish Child Payment makes a real difference to their lives - it helps them afford basic essentials like food, energy bills, nappies, and children’s clothes. And we see this impact reflected in the latest figures on child poverty in Scotland too (🧵1/4)
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
With recent debate about impact of Scottish child payment on parents work incentives its important to remember the @scotgov evaluation found it "mostly reduced barriers to labour market participation" - helping pay for travel, childcare & clothing. 👉https://t.co/zzC57eFLRF
January 29, 2026 at 4:04 PM
With recent debate about impact of Scottish child payment on parents work incentives its important to remember the @scotgov evaluation found it "mostly reduced barriers to labour market participation" - helping pay for travel, childcare & clothing. 👉https://t.co/zzC57eFLRF
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
This is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.
January 28, 2026 at 3:12 AM
This is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Poverty is deepening.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
January 27, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Poverty is deepening.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
🎉 Breaking News!
A new national housing agency announced today by FM John Swinney will accelerate affordable homebuilding in Scotland.
Our research & campaigns helped push for this bold step. We now need ambition to be matched by the money needed to make it a reality.
🗨️ shelterscotland.org/MHSR
A new national housing agency announced today by FM John Swinney will accelerate affordable homebuilding in Scotland.
Our research & campaigns helped push for this bold step. We now need ambition to be matched by the money needed to make it a reality.
🗨️ shelterscotland.org/MHSR
January 22, 2026 at 2:47 PM
🎉 Breaking News!
A new national housing agency announced today by FM John Swinney will accelerate affordable homebuilding in Scotland.
Our research & campaigns helped push for this bold step. We now need ambition to be matched by the money needed to make it a reality.
🗨️ shelterscotland.org/MHSR
A new national housing agency announced today by FM John Swinney will accelerate affordable homebuilding in Scotland.
Our research & campaigns helped push for this bold step. We now need ambition to be matched by the money needed to make it a reality.
🗨️ shelterscotland.org/MHSR
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
Not all children are born with an equal chance.
Thank you to @aberlourcharity.bsky.social for inviting me to their Family Support Centre in Falkirk and to the brave women who shared their experiences with me.
Aberlour are an excellent organisation that stands up for every child's right to thrive.
Thank you to @aberlourcharity.bsky.social for inviting me to their Family Support Centre in Falkirk and to the brave women who shared their experiences with me.
Aberlour are an excellent organisation that stands up for every child's right to thrive.
January 21, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Not all children are born with an equal chance.
Thank you to @aberlourcharity.bsky.social for inviting me to their Family Support Centre in Falkirk and to the brave women who shared their experiences with me.
Aberlour are an excellent organisation that stands up for every child's right to thrive.
Thank you to @aberlourcharity.bsky.social for inviting me to their Family Support Centre in Falkirk and to the brave women who shared their experiences with me.
Aberlour are an excellent organisation that stands up for every child's right to thrive.
Reposted by Martin Canavan 🧡
We're delighted @gillianmacmsp.bsky.social visited our Family Support Centre in #Falkirk. She was able to meet with families to hear how we support them, including our Intensive Perinatal Service helping to keep families together & Equally Safe Falkirk to support families affected by domestic abuse.
January 21, 2026 at 4:01 PM
We're delighted @gillianmacmsp.bsky.social visited our Family Support Centre in #Falkirk. She was able to meet with families to hear how we support them, including our Intensive Perinatal Service helping to keep families together & Equally Safe Falkirk to support families affected by domestic abuse.