Poverty in Scotland Today

Contents About us .......................................................3 Working together .........................................5 Poverty in Scotland today ............................7 Overcoming violence ...................................9 Kinship care ................................................ 11 Stereotyping poverty...................................13 Commissioners sit in a circle at a Commission meeting Root causes of poverty ...............................15 “My involvement with the Poverty Truth Commission was a Principles and practicalities .......................17 revelation in so many ways. Not least, I came to appreciate just how ‘disempowered’ people can feel when experts, officials Our shared legacy ......................................19 and politicians talk about their plight but without any real Our challenges to others ............................21 reference to the people they’re talking about. “Through the Commission I have become convinced that we are more likely to identify solutions to some deep-seated problems if politicians and officials involve those who experience the reality of poverty in their daily lives. That is the challenge to policy makers and those who deliver public services at every level of government.” Jim Wallace, Former Deputy First Minister and Commissioner We Call We call for the involvement of people living in poverty in shaping and delivering anti-poverty policy. "People have been suppressed by poverty, and that is what this We challenge government (at local, Scottish and UK levels) group is all about - the truth about what poverty is and what it to develop and implement clear and accountable ways does to people. Through this group we’ve learnt to raise up our heads, speak our truths and ask people to take note." to involve directly people struggling against poverty at the Jessie Harvey, Commissioner heart of designing, implementing and evaluating solutions to poverty. 1 2 Nothing about Us without Us is for Us “The Poverty Truth Commission brought together a diverse group including, crucially, people living with poverty. All learned About the Poverty Truth poverty in front of 400 people. That day from each other, improved their understanding of poverty and a group of Scotland’s decision makers developed their communication skills. I believe the Commission Commission decided to join with the testifiers, provides a template for the consideration of social policy The Poverty Truth Commission has accepting that they could not address formulation by government at all levels. The recommendations been a two year project bringing poverty without those affected. Since made on the three areas studied deserve serious consideration by the public together some of Scotland’s civic then the Commission has focused bodies concerned.“ Bob Winter, Commissioner leaders with people at the sharp end of on three main areas of particular poverty. They have worked together to relevance to our commissioners: care discover the truths about poverty and for children unable to live with their parents, overcoming violence in our C0-Chairs: explore real solutions to it. They have Maureen McGinn (Lady Elvidge) Former Chief Executive - Laidlaw Youth Trust also become friends. communities, and addressing the Tricia McConalgue Bridging the Gap, the Gorbals stereotyping of people living in poverty. Throughout our work we have sought Why? to develop a new way of working. We Commissioners: Anne Marie Peffer Dr Alastair McIntosh Marie McCormack Despite hundreds of charity reports have come a long way and we still Casework manager for Scotland, Fellow- Centre for Human Ecology Bridging the Gap, Glasgow and government strategies poverty have a long way to go. Buttle UK and Director- GalGael Trust Martin Johnstone continues to worsen in the UK. Our Blair Green Frances Wood Chief Executive - Faith in motto, taken from the South African In this report we share our experience, Full time HGV driver and surveyor, Head of Employability and Community Scotland our key findings, the challenges we Drumchapel, Glasgow Tackling Poverty Division, Scottish Most Rev Mario Conti post-apartheid process, is ‘nothing Government call others to meet, and, above all, our Carol Turner Archbishop of Glasgow about us without us is for us’. We Original testifier, Yorkhill, Glasgow Ghazala Hakeem Nicola Boland Community worker, Govanhill, believe that just as women’s rights model of participation. We believe we Daniel Boyle Youth Worker in Royston, have experienced something unique Apprentice mechanic, Ruchazie, Glasgow Glasgow. would never have been won without Glasgow. Sadly passed away. Jamie Lee Smart and valuable - something which has Professor Pamela Gillies women at the helm, poverty will never Darren McGarvey Qualified nursery nurse, Glasgow Principal of Glasgow Caledonian be truly addressed until those who changed us as human beings. We Hip Hop artist and founder of Janette Harkess University hope it will be useful and relevant to Volition Glasgow Director of Policy, Scottish Council Rt Hon Bob Winter experience it first hand are at the heart for Development and Industry others struggling against poverty, policy Detective Chief Superintendent The Lord Provost of Glasgow of the process. John Carnochan Head of Jean Forrester Sadie Prior makers, voluntary sector organisations Strathclyde Police Violence Church and community volunteer, Kinship carer, North Glasgow Reduction Unit North Glasgow and many others. Scott MacKinnon Donna Barrowcliffe Jessie Harvey Student, Cranhill, Glasgow What we’ve done Community worker from Kinship carer and Chair of Maureen McGinn & Ruchazie, Glasgow North Glasgow Kinship Care Stephen Lynch The Poverty Truth Commission was Nitshill resident, Glasgow formed in March 2009 after a group Tricia McConalogue, co Chairs. Salah Beltagui support group Chairman of the Muslim Council Johann Lamont MSP Very Rev David Lunan of people from disadvantaged for Scotland Deputy leader of the Scottish former Moderator of the Labour party General Assembly of the Church communities in Glasgow testified on Dr Alison Elliot of Scotland Convener of Scottish Council for Lord Wallace of Tankerness Voluntary Organisations Former Deputy First Minister of William Barrowcliffe Scotland Student, Ruchazie, Glasgow 3 4 Staff and commissioners help people to testify at the Poverty Truth Commission’s launch event. Working together As people from vastly different learned to listen deeply to backgrounds, learning to work each other. together properly has not Many of us who hold been easy and it has taken positions of leadership have time to build found these trust and shared “We have actively relationships commitment. tried to leave our invaluable to We have actively our work and tried to leave labels and titles at outlook. Many our labels and the door” of us struggling titles at the door against poverty We recognise and break down the many have discovered we have We recognise the wisdom, knowledge and expertise of stereotyped assumptions we something worthwhile to say. people living in poverty – the real experts without whom limited held. We have recognised the We are part of the solution progress will be made. way we use or don’t use our to poverty rather than the power and position. We have problem. We challenge people who are struggling to overcome “The Commission shows the poverty to share their struggle and to come together with power of relationships based on others to work for lasting change. “We have worked for each other. Maureen is trust, shared learning and mutual good at understanding the policy, Martin’s good respect. People with very different at putting the points over, and I’ve got the real experiences and expertise have experience. When we work together we have collaborated in new ways to bring “My abiding memory of the inaugural meeting of the Poverty something powerful” about positive social change.” Truth Commission was the stories of the testifiers, speaking Jessie Harvey, Commissioner Maureen McGinn, Commissioner from the heart about the effect of poverty on their lives. It was measured, authentic, positive, and very moving. It’s people “The truth is that poverty is not a lifestyle choice, and the people who understand that change people, not concepts; and this was real.” it and have the best ideas for fighting it, are those living with it. Contrary to the image often portrayed in the media, these people are decent, honest, inventive and David Lunan, Commissioner determined to change their communities and their personal situations. Working together with them through the Poverty Truth Commission has been one of the most Our top tips on working together to tackle poverty can be found on page 17. positive and productive experiences in my career.” 5 Anne Marie Peffer, Commissioner 6 Poverty in Scotland today Many people in the UK think We have heard of ‘put downs’ from Did You Know? poverty is something that happens service providers, public authorities, in Africa. In fact we have deeper the media and the general public. “The hardest part of the struggle In 2008/9 13million people in the UK levels of poverty and higher We have heard about violence, against poverty can be in your were in poverty. 44% were in 'deep levels of inequality than most rich frustration, turning to drugs or own mind; behaviours and poverty' (household income at least patterns you have learnt and an one-third below the poverty line), the countries. Poverty is alcohol, and being highest proportion on record. (JRF, 2010) not just about lack

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