Our social security system – like our NHS – is something that we can be rightly proud of. It's an example of how we can turn justice and compassion into concrete action.
This week, I circulated our reaction to massive planned cuts to social security by the UK Government. Our chief executive Peter was quoted in The Scotsman, and our policy & campaigns manager Ruth was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland alongside Tressa Burke, CEO of our member organisation, the Glasgow Disability Alliance.
People in the UK are desperate for a govt that delivers a just and compassionate country. Cuts to social security don't embody those values!
www.povertyalliance.me/news-stand-t...— The Poverty Alliance (@povertyalliance.me) March 6, 2025 at 9:40 AM
By coincidence, I took part in a working session of Together for Social Security, a group convened by Michael Orton of Warwick University, and Nicky Hawkins of Heard. We're trying to create an infrastructure for strategic communications to promote positive narratives on social security. It was very positive, and there should be some concrete outcomes to share relatively soon.
My time management can sometimes let me down, so I've asked our Administrator Sinead to become a 'critical friend' to me. I'll basically share my to-do list with her at the start of the week and then do a check later on to make sure tasks are getting done. I think it's maybe a hangover from all my years as a working journalist, where deadlines are tight and every day starts with empty pages, or blank running orders. I also just have a lot to do.
I mentioned last week some of the comms work we did around the fantastic Fair By Design photovoice exhibition Give Me Some Credit. This week I published a guest blog from one of the creators, Zahida Purves. It's a powerful read.
"We don't want you to see our photos and feel sorry for us, we want you to see that reform and change is required."
Zahida was one of the creators of the fantastic #GiveMeSomeCredit exhibition by @FairByDesign. Please read and share her fantastic guest blog.
www.povertyalliance.me/guest-blog-w...— The Poverty Alliance (@povertyalliance.me) March 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
We also had a guest blog from Grame Robbie, Depute CEO of our member organisation CFINE in Aberdeen. He was highlighting the importance of the Fairer Aberdeen Fund, ahead of a crucial budget meeting of the city council.
In his guest blog, Graeme of @CFINEAberdeen says @aberdeenCC councillors can continue to support the Fairer Aberdeen Fund, helping citizens and strengthening justice and compassion in the city.
www.povertyalliance.me/guest-blog-b...— The Poverty Alliance (@povertyalliance.me) March 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Local authority cuts can undermine support for the community & voluntary organisations that are often a lifeline to people on low incomes. It's a big problem for our members, and an issue we've highlighted repeatedly to the Scottish Government and others, in line with SCVO's Fair Funding campaign.
We published a new report as part of Rights in Action project. It's called 'Becoming Human Rights Defenders' and it documents the work done by our development officer Lydia to help community groups in rural Scotland. She wrote a great blog about it for us.
“it has really highlighted ...the ability to take action, to defend and, and to stand up for your human rights”
Our @LydiaMurphyPA blogs about her great work helping groups in rural Scotland strengthen their role as #HumanRights defenders.
www.povertyalliance.me/blog-support...— The Poverty Alliance (@povertyalliance.me) March 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I did some training with our Senior Research Officer Lauren, and our new Operations Director Charlotte. It was an introduction to our Values First approach to communications around poverty.
I had another meeting with Charlotte and others, looking at how changes to our membership structure approved at our AGM will need to be communicated to members, and reflected on our website.
I had a meeting with our David Reilly and Chris White of the Mental Health Foundation, talking about how we are going to host a new resource to help support people with mental health problems who find themselves struggling on a low income.
I met with our policy officer Chloe to talk about policy asks around a national demonstration that we are working on as the culmination of Challenge Poverty Week.
Today, I spent some more time working on a new structure for our website, making it more reflective of our strategic plan. I like doing that kind of website work, especially because tools like WordPress and Beaver Builder have made it so much easier to do. Which is just as well, as my self-taught HTML and CSS coding skills are passable at best.
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