Challenge Poverty Week 2022

Poverty is a significant long-term problem for people’s health.

With concern that surging costs will result in more people living in poverty and widen the health inequalities gap, Public Health Scotland (PHS) is even more focused on working with partners to help tackle poverty in Scotland.

Data and public health evidence shows that not having enough money for essentials leads to chronic stress and limits a person's ability to live a healthy life.

This Challenge Poverty Week, PHS Chief Executive, Angela Leitch, highlights the importance of working together to #TurnTheTide on the injustice of poverty in Scotland:

“Over time, living in poverty damages health and wellbeing. Reducing poverty will help improve all of Scotland’s public health priorities and many of Scotland’s national outcomes.

“The last few years have been difficult for many people across Scotland and we know that those already experiencing social inequalities and other challenges were most negatively impacted by the pandemic.

“PHS is working with others to help lift people out of poverty, especially low-income families. We learned from local partners that accessing data to understand child poverty was a challenge. Using a data and systems led approach, we worked with Inverclyde Council to develop a package of resources to help local areas identify needs and use this insight to make informed decisions on how best to support families.

“We are also working with the Poverty Alliance to ensure there is lived experience input from families to better target the right support, in the right way, for those who need it most. Linking lived experience input with a data and evidence led approach can make a real impact in preventing families from being locked in poverty.”

To find out more about support for living costs, visit moneysupport.scot (external website)

View our resources to help address child poverty in local areas: Prioritise child poverty: a data and systems approach - Publications - Public Health Scotland

Find out more about Challenge Poverty Week and the Poverty Alliance: Challenge Poverty Week – 3 – 9 October 2022 (external website)