Guest blog: Scotland demands the opportunity to have a decent life

I’m Linda Craik and I’m a full-time unpaid carer to two family members.   

When I cast my vote in elections, I thought I was choosing people who indicated that their intentions and values were similar to my own – but it turns out I was wrong!   

So, I see this campaign as an opportunity for the public to reinforce the messages of what the people of Scotland need and deserve to give them the opportunity to have a decent life – be that through better working conditions and wages, affordable homes, enough money to pay the bills, eat and have life essentials and access to support services that will help people to thrive. 

The demands we are making are not extreme or unachievable – they are just things that everyone in our country has a basic human right to expect.   

People are not asking for a hand-out – just a hand up to ensure they can have opportunities to create a decent quality of life. 

I was in paid employment from leaving school until I became a carer 9 years ago.  As a carer, the main sources of advice and support I have been able to access has come from voluntary and third sector organisations – and due to the lack of, or unstable, funding they can’t help everyone. 

There are more than 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland who save the economy about £15bn per year – but when you fall into the poverty cycle you feel like you are invisible or a problem that no-one wants to deal with.  

So, on top of dealing with your own personal, daily struggles, you have to cope with the judgement and stigma that comes with living in poverty. 

If those in power were to meet our demands then huge numbers of people would be lifted out of poverty and could make meaningful contributions to their communities, the city and the country as a whole. 

I’ve never been one to make a public display of my private life or struggles – but it gets to the point (usually rock bottom) when there is no option but to speak out and speak up.  Campaigning is a bit like a last resort for myself, and others - to be heard by those who hold the power and the purse strings – to tell them to stop thinking of those living in poverty as “a problem” – because we most definitely are NOT! 

I would encourage everyone who wants to see a better future, not just for themselves, but for everyone in their communities and the rest of the country to join this campaign because the louder the voices the more we can’t be ignored.