SCOTLAND’S capital is taking significant steps towards ending poverty by 2030, according to the first annual report on its progress.
It is a year since the Edinburgh Poverty Commission, an independent group sponsored by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2018 to define the steps the city needed to take to end poverty, published its final report.
The report – A Just Capital: Actions To End Poverty In Edinburgh – concluded that deprivation in the capital is real and damaging but it is not inevitable. It outlines key actions delivered in 2021 for providing immediate crisis support to people in need, expanding income maximisation services, promoting fair work, improving access to employability support, helping those at risk of homelessness and improving prospects, opportunities and wellbeing.
More than 44,000 crisis and community care grants have been delivered in the past year (more than double the previous year) alongside 8800 Free School Meal payments and 8300 School Uniform Grant payments (a 50% increase in take up). In addition, led by the third sector, partners across the city provided 45,864 meals as food parcels and 3654 pre-prepared meals during the first half of 2021 alone.
Investment in advice and income maximisation services across the city. Council and third sector work in this area has secured a total of £22 million of financial gains for Edinburgh citizens through improved access to entitlements and reduced costs.
Councillor Cammy Day, depute chair of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission and depute leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “There’s no doubting the enormous impact the pandemic has had on families in this city especially those on the lowest incomes. We are one year into a long and difficult journey, but if all our partners, communities and residents work together, along with support from the UK and Scottish governments, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a real difference to those most in need.”
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