Blogs

The pandemic has shone a light on many of the deep inequalities created by the decisions that have been taken about how we design our economy. Miriam Brett, Director of Research and Advocacy at Common Wealth, here outlines some of the steps that can be taken in Scotland to build a more equitable, sustainable, and … Read more

Activist Jenna Woods shares her experience of navigating unaffordable transport costs as she pursued higher education and the world of work. She argues that expanding free public transport to under 25s and people receiving Universal Credit would help alleviate poverty and level the playing field. In a country as prosperous as Scotland, everyone should be … Read more

 Amanda Foster, Community Activist with Poverty Alliance, argues that by introducing a Minimum Income Guarantee, the Scottish Government could ensure that disabled people like her have what they need to live full and dignified lives.  This article was originally published in The Herald. In our society, we all believe that everyone should be able to … Read more

After a fraught week for many community and voluntary organisations in Glasgow, Peter Kelly (Director of the Poverty Alliance) reflects on what it means for the fight against poverty in the city and elsewhere. Glasgow is known for many things; its vibrant music and arts scene, its beautiful green spaces, perhaps even the economic transformation … Read more

Twimukye Macline Mushaka, Senior Fieldwork Officer at Poverty Alliance, reflects on the things she learned from talking to different people across Scotland as part of the Get Heard Scotland project. Her blog comes ahead of  the publication of the full Get Heard Scotland report later this month. While all of these sessions were undertaken before … Read more

Director of Poverty Alliance, Peter Kelly, reflects on what our response to the pandemic has shown us about our shared values and – crucially – the action we need to take to ensure these values are reflected in the design of our economy.  We are living through extraordinary times. Whilst a palpable sense of fear … Read more

Francis Stuart is Policy Officer at the STUC. Here, he writes on the case for – in the absence of meaningful climate justice policies being developed by national governments – more bold and radical action from wider civil society. The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, knows a thing or … Read more

Dave Liddell, Chief Executive of Scottish Drugs Forum, discusses the links between poverty and drugs and what more we can do to stop the increase in fatal overdoses. Scotland has almost 60,000 people with a drug problem.  That is a higher proportion of the population than any country in Europe; and our fatal drug overdose … Read more

Neil Cowan, Policy and Parliamentary Officer at the Poverty Alliance, writes on the need for the new Prime Minister to make solving poverty his government’s priority. Boris Johnson will be named the new UK Prime Minister today, after members of the Conservative Party voted overwhelmingly for him to be their new leader. He will meet … Read more

In a just and compassionate society like Scotland, every child should be given the opportunity to participate fully in society. Currently, however, 240,000 Scottish children are trapped in poverty. As a society we have a moral duty to change this. In Scotland we have the power to lift tens of thousands of children out of … Read more