Local Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed has welcomed the start of Challenge Poverty Week, a joint campaign involving elected representatives, charities, NGOs, local authorities, faith groups, businesses, educational establishments, trade unions and professional bodies, who combined raise their collective voices against poverty.
In a blend of public awareness raising, events and volunteering, participants unite to call for a more just and equal Scotland as well as collaborate on potential solutions for solving ingrained poverty and inequality.
Covering 6 daily themes, Challenge Poverty Week is one of Scotland’s largest coordinated campaigns on anti-poverty. The environment, social security, employment, health, public services and communities are all covered across the week, with tailored messaging, lobbying and events to explore each topic.
The SNP Scottish Government has declared a national mission to end child poverty and has invested around £2.5 billion to support low income households over the last year, including nearly £1 billion to directly support children. Other actions include:
- The Scottish Child Payment – a benefit unique in the UK and designed to tackle child poverty head on – is now reaching 108,000 children. The Scottish Government intends to double the Scottish Child Payment to £20-per-week as early as possible and will set out how this is done as part of the budget bill process.
- The Scottish Government is providing immediate support through the £520 a year Bridging Payments, reaching 148,000 children and young people in receipt of free school meals. The Scottish Child Payment and Bridging Payments together are putting £130 million into the pockets of families in 2021-22.
- Since May, the Scottish Government has increased Best Start Foods payments, increased school clothing grants, started expansion of universal Free School Meals and pledged to expand free ELC and develop wrap-around childcare. The Scottish Government will also double the Carer’s Allowance Supplement to £462.80 in December.
- The Scottish Government will deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% in the social rented sector and 10% in our remote, rural and island communities – building on the record of delivering 103,000 affordable homes since 2007.
Evelyn Tweed MSP said:
‘Challenge Poverty Week is an extremely valuable campaign which aims to shine a light on poverty and inequality, and bring together key stakeholders to explore solutions.
‘This comes in a week when the UK Government is set to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week, just as people are bracing themselves against rising food and fuel costs, the end of the furlough scheme, and imminent increases in National Insurance contributions.
‘The Scottish Government is taking a range of ambitious actions to tackle poverty but decisions taken by the UK Government undermines so much of what we want to achieve.
‘Independent research has highlighted UK Government welfare reforms and cuts as a key driver of child poverty across the UK – and likely to wipe out the benefit the Scottish Child Payment can bring. If the UK Government refuses to challenge poverty, it is imperative that powers are devolved so that we can make eradicating poverty across Stirling and Scotland a reality.’