This article appears as part of the Unspun: Scottish Politics newsletter.

Being an actor, living in a nice part of London means people might ask, and quite rightly, ‘Ah, what does he know about poverty, why’s he talking about hungry children?' But it’s not only about what I do or don’t know, it’s about what’s possible, it’s about what’s right in our society, in Scotland, in the world. It’s about life chances and having a few.

The only reason I am sitting here, writing this, is because the Government paid me to go to art school, the pathway that led to a career. In Scotland, today, that’s still a possibility – in the sense that successive governments have supported that post-war ethos of allowing young people to develop to their fullest potential.

But, to get that far, to be educated, to be able to turn up at school daily, to be able to concentrate, engage and learn, to keep doing that and get to the stage where you have the understanding, ability and belief that there’s a pathway there for you, that you can pass your exams, imagine yourself in employment – see a route to university, to further education. For that, you need more. Happily, it’s in reach.

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When I started working with Magic Breakfast and visited a couple of schools, I was horrified to learn that so many kids are starting the day hungry and not supported. But their work is part of a solution, a calm space; something good for breakfast and a more positive start to the school day is work that most people can agree with, and most governments can afford to deliver.

Magic Breakfast supports pupils with breakfast every day in schools across Scotland and campaigns for those young people who still don’t have enough support, who still start the day hungry, who need to find that pathway and thrive. To build on this work, Scotland must invest in the potential of our children and young people.

When I think about my formative years, growing up in Glasgow, I was surrounded by my family, we had a café, a business that was doing okay, my parents didn’t have very much money, but they had enough. I felt I belonged, there was a community, and I was part of it.

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Talking about this now, my childhood, it’s strange, because I must have gone to school in 1963, which is closer to end of the second World War than to today, almost closer to the Victorian age than we are now.

There was poverty in Glasgow, of course, when I was growing up – yet there was a compassion, and a desire to build and invest in people and society. Scotland has many wonderful things going on, that I’m deeply proud of, but we need to recapture that momentum.

Scotland will have an election in May; we need political parties who recognise the gaping holes in the structure of communities across the country and offer the commitment, solutions and policies to mend them. 

I understand that governing is hard, but I don’t think there is much which is more important than feeding your children, investing in the future, their future, our future, Scotland’s future.

But this won’t just happen. The people of Scotland must make it clear that they want to live in a society which supports all of us, not just some of us. That we want our communities across the country; from Stonehaven to Oban, the Isle of Skye to Fort William to be places where we can belong and thrive.

Peter Capaldi endorsed The Herald's child poverty campaign - Scotland's Forgotten Children. (Image: Damian Shields)

I believe that many of us, hopefully, most of us, share this aspiration. In May politicians will be asking us to consider their offer and vision for Scotland. If, like me, you think it’s important that we all belong, that your friend, your neighbour, your local school and the children who learn there are cared about, are invested in, can start the day valued, fed and ready for what the day brings, have a wee think – will your choice help bring about a better Scotland?

In England a move to universal school breakfast in primary schools is now underway. This shows that school breakfast is possible, and it is set to become a reality for pupils in English primary schools.

The Scottish Budget earlier this year, looks to be promising something similar, with a plan for school breakfast to be available in all Scottish primary and special schools from August 2027. This is encouraging.

I think most, if not all of us would accept that this is progress, and it should see most pupils up to the age of 11 having breakfast available in their school.

There should be no reason why any child starts their day too hungry to learn. Scotland must invest in the potential of the next generation, for everybody’s future.

But the next Scottish Government must do more to invest in that next generation. And then together, we can build a nourishing future for our children and for Scotland.

Peter Capaldi is a Scottish actor and director. Among his roles include Local Hero, portrayal of the twelth Dr Who and spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in sitcom The Thick of It

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