Stock image - A rainbow on children's hands

News: Social security is vital to end child poverty

Reacting to speeches by Anas Sarwar MSP and First Minister John Swinney, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, making our current trends on child homelessness and our deepening poverty not only unjust, but entirely unnecessary. We know it doesn’t have to be like this. … Read more

Blog: 2025 can be a year for justice and compassion

Peter Kelly, Chief Executive, The Poverty Alliance The end of the year is the time for reflection, and as we move into the holiday season, it should also be a time for hope. As we at the Poverty Alliance look back over the last year we see much to make us hopeful, despite the significant … Read more

Steelgraham, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

News: New report uncovers Roma people’s housing challenges

Read the report here! New research has uncovered how Roma people in the Govanhill area of Glasgow are being denied their right to adequate housing. Community researchers from the Roma rights group Romano Lav asked local people to record their experiences of housing in the area. Some of those taking part reported shocking conditions including … Read more

News: Welcome for budget pledges on unjust two-child limit

Responding to today’s Scottish Government draft budget, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “The two-child limit is a huge injustice that has no place in a compassionate society – because every child matters and every child should get support they need. “We welcome the Scottish Government’s proposals today, and we hope that the UK … Read more

UK Government Red Despatch Boxes

News – Chancellor must do more to support people in poverty

Responding to today’s UK Budget, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “People across the UK believe in a nation based on justice and compassion. Today’s Budget was an opportunity for the Chancellor to turn those values into action, and to rebuild trust in government. Despite some welcome changes, there is still some way to … Read more

First Minister John Swinney MSP gives his Vision for Economic Renewal on 21 October 2024 (c) The Scottish Government

News – Poverty campaigners welcome FM speech

Reacting to today’s speech on investing in the economy by the First Minister, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “We welcome the First Minister’s speech today. We hope it marks the start of a fundamental shift towards compassion and justice among our political leaders. We were particularly pleased that he talked about how the … Read more

Participants in the first MIG seminar in Dundee

News – Governments must act to deliver a minimum income guarantee for all

Click here to read the interim report and seminar briefings! A new report says both Scottish and UK Ministers should be asked to deliver a Minimum Income Guarantee with the potential to draw a line under poverty once and for all. The new report from the Poverty Alliance comes as hundreds of organisations across Scotland … Read more

News – Organisations across Scotland unite to challenge poverty

Campaigners and charities across Scotland are coming together to take part in this year’s Challenge Poverty Week. The annual drive to highlight the ‘injustice of poverty in wealthy Scotland’ runs from Monday 7 to Sun 13 October. Today, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation launches its Poverty in Scotland 2024 report, showing that the number of people … Read more

News – Faith leaders unite in call to draw a line under ‘unjust’ poverty

Play Video Scotland’s faith leaders have united around a call to deliver a Minimum Income Guarantee with the potential to draw a line under poverty once and for all. Representatives of Christian, Muslim, and Sikh congregations say the measure is needed to allow everyone to live a ‘decent, dignified, and healthy’ life. Their appeal came … Read more

Bute House - Official Residence of The First Minister

News – Warm words must lead to urgent action on poverty

Poverty Alliance Policy & Campaigns Manager Ruth Boyle Reacting to today’s Programme for Government, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “It’s good that the First Minister talked about his strong commitment to ending the injustice of child poverty in our wealthy nation. But before today’s Programme for Government more than 100 of our members … Read more

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