Council launches its anti-poverty strategy
Plans in place to tackle challenges over five years
A new strategy that aims to tackle poverty has been approved by West Lothian Council.
The Better Off: Anti-Poverty Strategy 2018/ 19 to 2022/ 23 has been developed to take into account the changing world and better reflect the challenges, constraints and opportunities there are in West Lothian over the next five years.
The updated strategy sets out the council’s ambition to take positive steps to address the financial pressures felt by residents, and to ensure that tackling poverty is at the centre of work within West Lothian.
Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: “There are a number of indicators which are attached to poverty and West Lothian is, generally speaking, below average in terms of the national landscape.
“However, despite this generally positive local context, poverty is still a significant issue for many households and communities. West Lothian, like many other parts of Scotland, experienced the impact of the credit crunch and subsequent recession. Tackling poverty, in particular child poverty, is a main priority for West Lothian Council. Almost one in five children are living in poverty, with many living in a family where a parent is already working. As part of the strategy, we have been speaking to households in our communities. Families have told us that reducing day to day living costs is important. Actions speak louder than words and we’ve put in place a number of actions that are designed to make an impact and reduce levels of poverty. We have already agreed to increase the school clothing grant and we will continue to fund the school holiday lunch and activity programme. We will be working hard to improve uptake of free school meals and educational maintenance allowance.
“Schools will be looking at how they ‘poverty proof’ the school day. Together, we can and will take action to make sure that everyone has a decent standard of living and the same chances in life.”
The focus of the new strategy will be on households which are working but not earning enough, not working and on a very low income, just about managing or not managing at all.
The council’s previous strategy set about minimising poverty and focused on strengthening the ways in which partners worked together and ensured that actions and resources were targeted to help those most at risk.
Elaine Nisbet, the council’s anti-poverty and welfare advice manager added: “Right now in West Lothian, thousands of people are locked into poverty and it is increasing as more and more people are struggling to get by. The reality is, almost anyone can experience poverty and it restricts the choices people can make, leaving them in difficult situations. We have talked to people who have a lived experience of poverty and the actions we will take are based on what they told us would help them most. Our new strategy will consider the changing nature of poverty and the current and future landscape.”
We can and will take action to make sure everyone has a decent standard of living and the same chances in life.