Anti-poverty group relaunches to address coronavirus impact

A group working to reduce poverty in Dundee has been relaunched after coronavirus laid bare the “obvious wealth divide” in the city.

A new report to mark the return of Dundee Fairness Commission has highlighted the hardships heaped on those already living on the breadline during lockdown.

I t sa id peop le struggling to make ends meet faced a “totally different lockdown” than those with access to a car and disposable income.

Commissioners spoke to people living in poverty who said paying for food and bills, as well as access ing med ica l , emotional or practical support, became even harder during the pandemic.

Tr u d y M cL eay , comm iss ioner and chairwoman of the Dundee He a l t h and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board, said: “This pandemic has altered many things in life.

“Fo r some it has brought greater challenge and for some opportunity.

“A s a c i v i c commissioner I feel we h av e been given an opportunity to refocus on areas wh ich have impacted on our most vulnerable groups and we have renewed insight into what matters to people.

“O u r f a i rn e s s commission is back on track.”

The commission, made up of 12 people with experience of poverty and 12 professionals, has been working to fight poverty in Dundee since it launched in May last year.

As part of the relaunch, commissioners have surveyed more than 400 people and the findings, as well as proposals for how to tackle the issues raised, will be reported in March.