Call for new First Minister to make poverty a priority
An East Kilbride debt centre fighting against poverty is calling on Scotland’s new First Minister to make the issue top of the agenda.
A new Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Scotland YouGov poll shows four million (89 per cent) people in Scotland think fighting poverty should be a priority as the East Kilbride Debt Centre joins a campaign to tackle the issue.
CAP are encouraging people in East Kilbride to join the fight against poverty as rising costs continue to have a devastating impact on local communities across the nation.
YouGov polling shows adults across Scotland are feeling the impact of rising costs as more than half (2.4m) have lost sleep worrying about finances.
Millions are going without essentials as 46 per cent (2m) reported going without heating and 31 per cent (1.3m) have skipped meals during the cost of living crisis.
As costs continue to soar, 84 per cent (3.7m) expect poverty to increase in the UK over the next year.
In Scotland, 45 per cent of people don’t know where to go to access free debt help. East Kilbride Debt Centre, in partnership with CAP Scotland, is committed to supporting people in East Kilbride with free, person-centred, debt help and emergency aid that is open to anyone.
“Poverty is on the rise. We need to face it together in East Kilbride”, said CAP’s East Kilbride Debt Centre manager, Alan Wilkin.
“At the debt centre we partner with Christians Against Poverty so we can offer free debt help, life skills groups, a CAP job club, a CAP money budgeting course and practical support for local people so they can have an opportunity to break free from poverty.
“CAP’s latest YouGov poll shows that poverty is impacting lives throughout Scotland and I’m certainly seeing people suffering here in East Kilbride due to rising costs and low incomes.
“Demand for our emergency aid is rocketing as requests for food and energy top ups are at an all-time high – it’s likely to get worse unless we all play our part.
“That is why Christians Against Poverty is launching a new campaign asking people to join the fight against poverty’s grip on our local communities.
“We are calling on Scotland’s new First Minister to keep tackling poverty front and centre as our national mission. We want to see an end to poverty.”
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity working with over 800 affiliated churches to deliver debt help, budgeting guidance, support to find work, life skills groups and more.
Find out more about the help you can receive at https://capuk.org/get-help/ cap-debt-help