Challenge Poverty Week

We are supporting a range of events taking place in Perth and Kinross throughout the week, in partnership with the Anti-Poverty Taskforce and The Poverty Alliance, which organises Challenge Poverty Week. 

Highlights will include a Poverty Community Roadshow taking place in the Civic Hall at 2 High Street in Perth on 10 October from 11am to 3pm. 

This will feature organisations and services  that provide support to those affected by financial insecurity.

Attendees will include Home Energy Scotland, HEAT Blairgowrie & Rattray, Perth Citizen Advice Bureau, SSE, Aberlour Children's Charity, P&K Foodbank, Welfare Rights, Carers Centre, Big Hoose Project, and much more.

Perth and Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing said: "Poverty is one of the biggest challenges we face as a local authority.

"It is unacceptable that we have nearly 6,000 children living in poverty in Perth and Kinross and we are committed to doing all we can to support those who need it the most.

"I would urge everyone who may be struggling to come along to the Civic Hall on 10 October and see what support may be available.

"Last year our Welfare Rights Team helped our residents claim £8.5 million in benefits which they were unaware they were entitled to - money that can make a real difference to people's lives."

Perth and Kinross Council has undertaken a host of actions over the past year to tackle poverty in addition to helping people with their benefit claims.

These include supporting the creation of jobs for young people in rural environments and processing applications from more than 2,500 people to our Financial Insecurity Fund.

The Council has also committed £200,000 to supporting the provision of Warm Spaces this winter.

A full programme of events can be found on The Poverty Alliance website.