A sea change in direction is required

More than 170 members and supporters of the Poverty Alliance are meeting at the EICC today (29 November) in the capital for the Making Change Happen conference.

They are calling for a sea change in their campaign for an end to poverty.  

It comes as official statistics show that progress on ending child poverty has stalled, child homelessness is on the rise, and the share of people in deep poverty is higher than it has been since the 1990s.  

The conference will bring together experts and activists to discuss and plan priorities for change across issues including housing, social security, and the climate crisis. The conference will also consider what new tactics and approaches anti-poverty organisations and activists can take.  

Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Scotland is a country that believes in justice and compassion. These values guide the anti-poverty movement in all that we do – including the design and delivery of our campaigning activities. 

“We are approaching a critical period for action. Despite welcome rhetoric from the Scottish Government, we are not currently on track to meet child poverty targets, and the new UK Government have taken office at a time of deepening poverty across the UK. 

“It doesn’t have to be this way. We hope today’s conference marks a sea change in the way the anti-poverty movement organises for positive change and turns our numbers and public support into sustained political pressure.”

The conference will hear a keynote address from Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of the New Economics Foundation, as well as opening remarks from Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish TUC, and climate activist Laura Young.