Raising voices to support Challenge Poverty Week

Challenge Poverty Week, which is coordinated nationally by The Poverty Alliance, is an annual event which highlights the injustice of poverty, encourages conversations around poverty and demonstrates that collective action is the only way to create positive solutions.

Participants from the Ayrshire360 Encore Writing and Performing class opened the special event at the Dick Institute Kilmarnock, and thought-provoking performances from Lewis, Lillie, Callum and Hannah encouraged conversation among the invited guests.

Everyone attending was encouraged to add comments to a ‘wall of kindness’ by filling out a postcard ‘brick’ detailing how they would like to tackle inequality and end poverty, with contributions from East Ayrshire Young Carers, the Welfare Rights Service, Education and Resettlement Housing Support..

Councillor Neal Ingram, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Human Resources, Equalities and Inclusion attended the event with Councillors Caroline Barton, Graham Barton, Iain Linton, John McGhee and William Lennox, and Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Director of Education and Skills.

Councillor Ingram said: "At the start of this Challenge Poverty Week, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation released their latest research which highlights the vital role of local government in helping people out of poverty.

“This is a key focus of our work in East Ayrshire Council and in 2024 we took the innovative step of launching the Early Intervention and Prevention Fund - a £40 million ten-year fund designed to tackle inequality, child poverty and increase fairness in our communities.

“Funds are available for projects that are both meaningful and effective, from addressing food poverty by ensuring that every primary school child has access to a free school meal and young people at secondary school have access to a £1.25 meal deal; providing clothing grants for 3- and 4-year-olds, to our significant investment in supporting jobs and training opportunities and our support for local organisations, including CentreStage, The Zone and Yipworld as part of the Fairer Futures Partnership work to tackle child poverty. 

“This is a challenging time for the public sector, but we are committed to delivering the best possible services for our communities in partnership with the third sector and community organisations. Through our sector-leading work on reducing the use of temporary accommodation and tackling homelessness, we are focused on improving the lives of our most vulnerable residents. 

“Funding has also been provided to local groups through the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, ensuring that local groups and local people benefit from early intervention and prevention activities, for example Dad’s Rock – a group that encourages dads to take a positive role in their children’s lives.

"Lots of positive work is taking place and there’s lots to be proud of, but we still need to do more to make sure that no one has to make the terrible decision of heating their home or putting food on the table.” 

Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People added: “In my role as Spokesperson and as a local member, I have the privilege of spending time visiting schools, Early Childhood Centres, community centres and community groups who are working tirelessly to support the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“I see the work being carried out daily in our schools, through PEF funding or more general Cost of the School Day initiatives that help to remove stigma and ensure that our children experience a level playing field, wherever possible.

“I visited Dunlop Primary recently to celebrate their 150th anniversary and I was very pleased to hear that the children, as part of Challenge Poverty Week, had written to the First Minister setting out their plans to eradicate child poverty."