The Poverty Alliance

19/06/2026

Living in rural Scotland comes with a hidden, unjust financial penalty that can trap households in hardship. Today, we're publishing lessons learned from the three-year Taking Action on Rural Poverty project, funded by The Robertson Trust.

We look at the ways government and agencies can work to lower the extra costs placed on people in rural communities when it comes to getting everyday necessities like food, transport, heating, childcare, social care, and health care.

https://www.povertyalliance.org/report-taking-action-on-rural-poverty-key-learning/

18/06/2026

🚨🚨 Challenge Poverty Week Daily Themes are here!

Challenge Poverty Week takes place from Monday 5 - Sunday 11 October and we are raising our voices with organisations across Scotland against the injustice of poverty.

Each year, we announce a selection of themes that we will be prioritising during the week, and we know lots of you find this structure useful to help with your planning. We’d love you to get involved in one or more of our theme days and we will soon be announcing campaign actions associated with each day as well as some resources to help you get involved.

Please share the themes with your own followers, and share them on your story.

Although we would like you to use our themes, we want everyone who is challenging poverty and calling for an end to poverty in Scotland to get involved in Challenge Poverty Week. So if the themes don’t quite line up with your own priorities or plans don’t worry! There will still be lots of resources you can reach to and lots of activity you can get involved in.

17/06/2026

📅 Thu 25 June: 12-1:30pm
Online meeting - open to all
Social security should be there for all of us when we need it. But young adults claiming Universal Credit are too-often faced with unjust barriers. Join our Senior Research Officer Lauren Wilks to talk about our new research and the urgent changes that are needed to ensure young adults get the support they're entitled to.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KXYTiKnVQXuLwww4HZympg #/registration

16/06/2026

📣 Limited places still available! 🗓️ 10-11.30am, Thu 18 July

Not sure where to start with engaging with elected members? This session is designed to help you take your first steps in getting the Challenge Poverty Week messages heard both locally and nationally.

Join our Policy and Parliamentary Officer, Chloe Campbell, as we go over some of the basics of how decision-making works in Scotland, and share simple ways to start building relationships with MSPs, MPs, and councillors.

Not sure where to start with engaging with elected members? This session is designed to help you take your first steps in getting the Challenge Poverty Week messages heard both locally and nationally.

14/06/2026

Reacting to incidents of racist violence in Scotland, Poverty Alliance convener Polly Jones said: "Everyone has a right to feel safe on our streets, at their work, and in their own home.

"The Poverty Alliance strongly condemns the violence and intimidation that has been targeted to people from racialised communities on the streets of Scotland. Everyone who has any kind of influence must join us, do everything they can to protect our friends, colleagues and neighbours, and stand up to the hatred being promoted by a racist minority.

"We know that when it comes to living on a low income, Scotland is a two-tier society - with people from racialised communities having more than double the poverty rates of those who define themselves as white.

"That's just wrong - and it highlights the injustice at the heart of our rigged economic system, where corporations and the very wealthy are allowed to get away with not properly contributing to the public good, and people are left without what they need to build a dignified life.

"Hate and frustration grow quicker when people feel that society isn't working for them. Our political leaders can urgently start building an economy that puts people's wellbeing first, and a better society for all of us - with real Living Wages, excellent public services to support our daily lives, and a strong foundation of social security that is there for everyone when we need it.

"And we must be absolutely clear: migrants and people seeking protection are welcome here. Scotland is stronger, fairer and more vibrant because of the people who choose to make their lives here. They deserve the same security, dignity and respect as anyone else.

"Respect and compassion can beat hatred and injustice. Together, we can build a better future for everyone in Scotland."

12/06/2026

Congratulations to Scott Montgomery of The Killie Community who won the Employee of the Year Award from SCVO last night! We've just published a short interview with Scott in our Member Spotlight series.
https://www.povertyalliance.org/member-spotlight-the-killie-trust/

11/06/2026

Unpaid show care and compassion for other in their lives - which makes it so wrong that so many are forced to get by on low incomes that don't meet their household needs.

This we want to highlight that injustice, and show our support for a society where no carer is left in poverty.

10/06/2026

It's wrong and unjust that 1 in 6 women suffer from financial abuse. And - as Kirsty Roebuck of Bethany Christian Trust writes in her guest blog, that can push them towards homelessness and make it harder for them to get out.
https://www.povertyalliance.org/guest-blog-for-richer-or-poorer-the-effects-of-financial-abuse-on-homelessness/

08/06/2026

The unjust inequality in Scotland's drugs deaths is shocking. People in the most-deprived 20% of Scotland's population are 14 times more likely to die a drugs-related death than the least-deprived 20%. That's just wrong - and it's brought about because people are being deprived of equal access to good housing, a safe environment, education and training - and an adequate income.

Our Peter Kelly spoke with the Scottish Drugs Forum podcast about how The Scottish Government act to build justice, safety, and opportunity for all.

https://drugsuncut.podbean.com/e/poverty-public-health-and-inequality-in-scotland-what-needs-to-change/

04/06/2026

Please take a moment to congratulate DG Voice - Dumfries & Galloway's region-wide disabled people's organisation!
They have been awarded prestigious triple accreditation by our Living Wage Scotland team: Living Wage Employer, Living Hours, and Living Pension status.
This makes DG Voice the first charity in the South of Scotland and the first employer in Dumfries & Galloway to meet all three demanding standards simultaneously.
“As a disabled people’s organisation, fairness, dignity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do,” said DG Voice’s Chief Executive, Kim Dams. “We cannot credibly champion the rights of disabled people unless we provide our own staff with a genuine living wage, stable hours and long-term financial security.
“This triple accreditation is a powerful statement that disabled people and those who support them deserve fair pay and conditions, not just warm words.
“I hope that when larger organisations see that we, as a tiny charity with limited resources, can make this commitment it inspires them to do the same. We would be happy to help any organisation to work towards this accreditation and to Disability Confidence.”