A new report being published this week will reveal what Scotland's young people think about poverty and how it is impacting on their lives.

The research, which involved consulting nearly 1000 young people aged between 12 and 25 years old, was carried out by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) as part of a year-long campaign on poverty.

It includes the voices of young people who have been directly impacted by poverty and stories of their own personal struggles.

One participant said: "My mum tries very hard to make ends meet and no matter how hard she tries, we struggle to pay the bills."

Another said: "My father cares for me three out of four days per week and if it wasn't for my disability, he wouldn't have had to give up his second job…Often things happen that people can't control, which can leave them worse off money wise."

The report also included comments such as: "I am disabled, my mum is disabled and my dad is a missing person. We rely on benefits to live."

Another participant talked about their sister, who became pregnant at the age of 18 and had twins: "Affording to raise two babies as a teenager has been difficult for her and she has found that even though she makes good choices for her family, she does not have much money at all."

Statistics show one in five children and young people are living in poverty in Scotland.

Jordan Linden, chair of the SYP, which will publish the full report on Friday, said those growing up in poverty were being "robbed of a childhood".

He added: "Poverty is an issue that transcends party politics, and goes right to the core of who we are as a nation and as people.

"We must hold elected leaders accountable to their promise to tackle child poverty.

"Equally important is to heed the voices of young people when solving an issue that directly affects them."