North Ayrshire Council is backing a week long drive that shines a light on poverty and what we can do to help make life better for people who are in crisis.

Challenge Poverty Week (October 7 to 13), arranged by the Poverty Alliance charity, inspires communities every year to work together, support each other and find new ways to change attitudes.

This is the ninth consecutive year the council has supported the campaign, and Council Leader Marie Burns is proud of the continuing efforts being made across the region to improve living conditions for people struggling to make ends meet.

Some key activities have included:

• the Money Matters Team helping residents access over £20 million in financial gains from almost 6,000 referrals
• £20,000 allocated from the Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund to explore sustainable childcare provision
• 7,000 households seeking energy advice alongside £600,000 in Emergency Support payments going to households struggling with high utility bills as part of the council’s Energy Smart programme
• 130 families benefiting from increased household income because a parent has been supported into employment by council services.

The awareness week begins on the Monday when Tom Arthur, the Minister for Employment and Investment will visit North Ayrshire as the council’s employability team showcase some of the great work being done in the region.

The themes during Challenge Poverty Week are:

• communities
• volunteers
• adequate incomes
• food
• housing

The council will be highlighting some of the work it is doing to care for our elderly community by showcasing first class sheltered housing complexes, while the work to provide cheaper and more sustainable grocery shopping in our expanding network of food larders will also feature in a week long campaign with a daily focus on each of this year’s five activities.

The council’s top priorities include tackling child poverty and supporting residents through the cost-of-living crisis.

Councillor Burns is chair of the Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, which was set up to help improve life for people and is supported by a three year £1.4m Child Poverty and Cost-of-Living fund that was allocated by the council in the 2023 to 2024 budget.

“We have always been a supporter of Challenge Poverty Week. It gives us a chance to shine on a light on the issues and, importantly, also to highlight the range of support out there for people and families.

“It’s vital that we work together to drive down the levels of poverty people in our communities face every day, it is crucial that we combine our resources and ideas, and help people with dignity and respect.

“It is a privilege to support Challenge Poverty Week 2024 along with hundreds of other organisations. I look forward to meeting residents, businesses, charities and North Ayrshire residents throughout the week at events.”

Follow the council’s social media channels, using #Challenge Poverty and #CPW24, to find out more about the support across North Ayrshire and events happening in the region.

Published: 07 October 2024