It was a short week for me, as I had Monday and Tuesday as annual leave.
When I came back on Wednesday, I was quickly reminded that I had been tasked with writing a draft news release for the launch of a new report and toolkit from the Serving the Future project. We hope the toolkit has lasting impact in terms of reducing low-pay in Scotland's hospitality industry, while helping businesses get stronger.
This weekend is Scottish Labour Party conference, and my colleague Chloe pulled together a list of all the different fringe events and stalls that Poverty Alliance members are involved in. We've been sharing that on our social media through the week.
Come and meet members of Scotland's anti-poverty network and find out how we can build a just and compassionate future together. #ScotLab25
— The Poverty Alliance (@povertyalliance.org) 21 February 2025 at 08:40
Councils across Scotland have been setting levels of the unjust, regressive council tax for the coming year. My manager Ruth was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme, and also featured in Global Radio news bulletins, and in the Scottish Sun. I was on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC ALBA.
Our @ruthboyler.bsky.social on BBC Radio Scotland yesterday. We can´t build a just and compassionate Scotland without replacing the unjust, regressive council tax.
— The Poverty Alliance (@povertyalliance.org) 21 February 2025 at 11:30
We both said that people want strong local services that support a just and compassionate Scotland free from poverty, but the council tax doesn't let us support those services in a fair way because it puts a bigger burden on low-income households. It has to go, and be replaced with a fair system that lifts the burden on poorer households and allows us to properly invest for a better future. As part of Tax Justice Scotland, we have proposals about what to put it in its place.
Our policy & campaigns team had a meeting with our chief executive Peter to talk over ideas for a national demonstration at the end of Challenge Poverty Week in October. We've asked for Expressions of Interest from consultants to work alongside us to make it happen. It's an exciting idea. I hope it gives our political leaders the impetus to move from rhetoric to concrete action that will build a better Scotland beyond the injustice of poverty.
It's wrong that people suffer prejudice and discrimination, just because they live on low incomes. I have a meeting later today with colleagues from West Dunbartonshire Citizens Advice Bureau to find out more about an exciting schools programme they've been working on to highlight and challenge this kind of unjust stigma. It's an area where we have done work previously, helping to support the creation of the Fife Stigma Toolkit.
People need a strong foundation to build a life beyond poverty, and we believe the Minimum Income Guarantee can deliver that. This week, Carers Scotland and IPPR Scotland published a great report on how the Guarantee could be piloted in Scotland, giving unpaid carers the recognition and support they need and deserve. I asked Fiona Collie from Carers Scotland to contribute a guest blog about the work, and I'm very much looking forward to what she writes.
Next week, I'm looking forward to the Taking Action on Poverty Argyll & Bute network meeting on Monday, the Policy & Campaigns Team work planning day on Wednesday, and the Poverty Alliance AGM on Friday. We'll also be publishing a powerful guest blog from a hospitality worker who was involved in Serving the Future.
🗓️ 10am-12pm, Mon 24 Feb
How can we work together to influence policy? We're looking forward to talking about that and more at the third #Argyll & #Bute anti-poverty sharing and learning event. #TARP
Register for the Zoom meeting here. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...— The Poverty Alliance (@povertyalliance.org) 3 February 2025 at 12:13
As always, please drop me a line if you want to talk about any aspect of my work at david.eyre@povertyalliance.org.
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