The Scottish Campaign on Rights to Social Security (SCoRSS) is a coalition of over 40 key NGOs, faith groups and unions as well as individuals from across Scotland who want to see a fairer social security system.
Our Principles for Change sets out the five principles we believe need to be at the heart of our social security system.
Any interested organisation or individual is welcome to join. Membership is free and simply involves confirming that you agree with the five principles. members are welcome to get involved in the campaign steering group if they have the time and resources to do so.
To join the campaign please contact:
Ruth Boyle, Campaigns & Policy Manager
ruth.boyle@povertyalliance.org
Tel: 0141 353 0440
Briefing – A compassionate social security system for unpaid carers: Piloting the Minimum Income Guarantee
In the 2023/4 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government outlined a commitment to work with the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) Expert Group “to model a MIG for unpaid carers, the majority of whom are women, and who have been hard hit by the cost of living crisis.” In February 2024, the Poverty Alliance held a … Read more
Report – Executive Summary – Drawing a line under poverty with the Minimum Income Guarantee
The Poverty Alliance worked with civil society to build awareness and support for the implementation of a MIG among those working to address poverty in Scotland. This executive summary collates the key findings of the initial phase of that project. We held six in-person seminars across Scotland, with 116 attendees, focused on the immediate next … Read more
Report – Drawing a line under poverty with the Minimum Income Guarantee Oct 2024
The Poverty Alliance were delighted to receive funding from abrdn Financial Fairness Trust to work with Poverty Alliance members and wider civil society to build awareness and support for the implementation of a MIG in Scotland, focusing on the immediate next steps for delivery over the next three years. Through this project, the Poverty Alliance … Read more
Briefing – Challenge Poverty Week 2024 Members’ Debate
This year, our policy asks for Challenge Poverty Week were the basis of our asks for the Programme for Government, and will remain our focus for the Scottish Budget. These policies were formed in collaboration with a short-life working group with representation from public bodies, the private sector, and a variety of third sector organisations … Read more
Briefing – Scottish Parliament Debate on Free Bus Travel for Asylum Seekers
People seeking asylum are among the most vulnerable groups in Scotland. They are prevented from working, housed in hotels or private rental accommodation – often in isolated areas – and given less than £50 per week to survive. Yet, they are too often barred from using the public transport they need to access mandatory appointments, … Read more
Response – Social Justice Committee Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Child Poverty Act
With the eradication of child poverty the key policy objective of the current Scottish Government, sitting at the centre of the 2024/25 Programme for Government, it is without doubt that the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act has put greater strategic focus on child poverty within this Government’s – and the previous two First Minister’s – priorities … Read more
Research – Mental Health Foundation and Poverty Alliance Training Needs Overview
We worked with the Mental Health Foundation to learn about the training and support needs of Poverty Alliance member organisations around preventative approaches to mental health, with the idea of using the findings to inform development of a new capacity building model. Overall, this survey highlighted that whilst confidence in knowledge around mental health theory … Read more
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
Guest blog – what’s the most effective way of eradicating fuel poverty?
Matt Cole,Chair,Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel Read the Panel’s Recommendations for a Social Tariff! The Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel provides independent advice to Scottish Ministers on fuel poverty and scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s progress towards delivering Scotland’s 2040 statutory fuel poverty targets. The energy price crisis and the spiralling costs for consumers which … Read more
Guest blog – Poverty costs all of us: why together, we can end it
Emma Jackson,Strategic Lead for Social Justice,Citizens Advice Scotland I recently heard a Scottish political commentator say (and I paraphrase) ‘Poverty can’t be ended, no other country has done it, so why do we think we can!‘ It’s stuck with me. Or rather, infuriated me. It’s true, poverty exists across the globe. However, even though … Read more
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