Martin Whitfield MSP is joining hundreds of charities, businesses and other organisations across South Scotland in supporting this year’s Challenge Poverty Week (3 to 9 October).

Co-ordinated by the Poverty Alliance, Challenge Poverty Week brings together local groups across the country with big national organisations to help highlight and tackle poverty in communities across Scotland.

The theme for the week this year is #TurningtheTide, with a focus on this being the time to turn the tide on poverty by redesigning our economy so that it works for everyone, with no one left to languish in poverty.

As well as supporting Challenge Poverty Week activity at Holyrood during the week, Mr Whitfield will visit a local Living Wage employer in East Lothian on Friday to help promote the difference that the real living wage can make to people’s financial circumstances.

Speaking about the week, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“With poverty rising in the wake of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, Challenge Poverty Week has never been more important. I welcome the #TurningtheTide theme this year, which puts the spotlight on the kind of radical measures that are required to reverse poverty in Scotland.

“My own focus during the week this year will be on encouraging more employers to consider signing up for the real Living Wage. Paying the real Living Wage shows strong ethical commitment and has put hundreds of millions into the pockets of workers in Scotland. But it also brings tangible benefits to employers who commit to it.

“Around 2,700 firms and organisations are already in the Living Wage Scotland movement and I hope to encourage more in the South Scotland region to join them in paying the real Living Wage to all their staff.”

Find out more about Challenge Poverty Week at www.challengepoverty.net