ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

• City of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Council accepts challenge from ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Poverty Commission to end poverty in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ by 2030
• Follows publication of final Commission report last week which outlined seven areas of action needed to eliminate poverty in the Capital
• Council commits to working with citizen action group, End Poverty ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, and other partners to make the pledge a reality within the next decade

The bold pledge comes after the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Poverty Commission published its final report, , last week and received great support at the Council’s today (Tuesday 6 October). This sees the city taking a Team ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ approach with other partners and organisations to become the first UK local authority to commit to ending poverty by a specific date.

The aim of ending poverty in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ by 2030 is as defined by the four targets set by the Commission:

• no-one in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ needs to go without basic essentials they need to eat, keep clean, stay warm and dry
• fewer than one in ten people are living in relative poverty in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ at any given time
• no-one in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ lives in persistent poverty
• no-one in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ experiences stigma due to their income

In the report the called on the Council, employers, public sector and third sector agencies across the city, to come together to challenge poverty within ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ by providing:

• The right support in the places people work and live
• Fair work that provides dignity and security
• A decent home people can afford to live in
• Income security that provides a real safety net
• Opportunities that drive justice and boost prospects
• Connections in a city that belongs to its citizens, and
• Equality in health and wellbeing

The committee also agreed to work closely with End Poverty ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ to implement the recommendations. The group - made up of residents with first-hand experience of living on a low income and civic allies drawn from business, public services and the third sector – has taken up the reins from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Poverty Commission and will work with organisations to change the reality of poverty across the city.

Adam McVey, Council Leader, said:

“Tackling poverty in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is one of our key priorities as a Council – enabling everyone in our City to take advantage of everything the Capital has to offer. We have already made significant resources available for people and are working hard to eradicate poverty in our city. Now we’re doubling down, taking on the research and recommendations from the Commission to guide us as we work towards our goal of ending poverty in the Capital within the next 10 years.

“One of the most powerful elements of the work done by the Commission was hearing and responding to the voices of those who have lived experience of poverty in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½. Our first priority will be to meet and agree ways of working with the new group End Poverty ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ to ensure that their views can continue to shape the way we implement the Commission’s findings.

“We know that this will not be an easy task, but ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is a city of wealth and enormous talent and we’re determined to work with the Scottish and UK Governments, citywide partners– and of course, our residents - to drive the change that is so greatly needed.”

Cammy Day, Depute Council Leader and Depute Chair of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Poverty Commission, said:

“We’re in no doubt that this is an ambitious target and it is one that we need the whole city to embrace as well as support from Scottish and UK Governments to achieve. Poverty can impact any one of us at any time, and we need to take a Team ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ approach to tackle it, where organisations, communities and residents work together to end poverty in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ by 2030. We welcome the opportunity to work in collaboration with others, such as the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Partnership and relevant organisations in the public, private and third sectors, to make this happen.

“We know that, while the pandemic has certainly escalated the situation, this is a crisis that requires urgent attention and I’m heartened by the endorsement that the Commission’s report received today.

“Again, I would like to thank all of those in the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Poverty Commission and End Poverty ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, as well as every person who took the time to give us their thoughts or tell us their own stories, for the incredible work that has been done to date.”