Speaking at the End Poverty Edinburgh Annual Conference, Council Leader joined campaigners to call for action to challenge the injustice of poverty in Scotland’s capital.
Speaking at the End Poverty Edinburgh Annual Conference, Council Leader Jane Meagher joined campaigners to call for action to challenge the injustice of poverty in Scotland’s capital.
The fourth annual conference, held at the Grassmarket Community Project with people with lived experience of poverty, is part of Challenge Poverty Week 2026 which runs from Monday 5 October to Sunday 11 October, and is coordinated by The Poverty Alliance in Scotland.
In her welcome speech, Council Leader highlighted the need for urgent action to tackle the drivers and stigma of poverty along with work underway to prevent, and support those, who find themselves in poverty. She added that this action was even more vital given new research published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showing that 21% of children in Scotland still live in poverty and setting out the vital role of local government in helping people out of poverty.
Speaking at the event, Council Leader Jane Meagher said:
It is shocking that around 80,000 of our residents are still struggling to get by and that one in five children in Scotland’s capital are living in relative poverty. It is unacceptable that this is Edinburgh’s reality and it is imperative that we continue to do everything we can to end poverty in the city.
Tackling the root causes of poverty and inequality continues to be a key priority – and while I’m proud of the work already being done, there is clearly more we need to do to make sure that no one needs to choose between heating or eating.
The annual conference highlights the hard work of our third sector, council officers and community partners to put in place practical solutions to help those facing hardship. We can’t tackle poverty on our own and this Challenge Poverty Week, we are committing to working collaboratively to solve the injustice of poverty in our communities.
With over 80,000 Edinburgh residents struggling to make ends meet and one in five children living in relative poverty, a citywide commitment has been made to end poverty as part of the End Poverty Edinburgh Action Plan.
Actions underway include:
- Responding to a direct call to action from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission to deliver a new model for poverty prevention, early intervention and mitigation
- Work in progress to build foundations for the long-term including securing resources, engaging with stakeholders, and recruiting specialist staff.
- Co-design of a Third Sector Poverty Prevention Grants Programme
- Workshops and an online call for evidence currently taking place to inform details of the programme, with the application period likely to be spring-summer 2027, for delivery starting in April 2028.
- Addressing in work poverty
- Active promotion of fair work through a collaborative group of employers and the Edinburgh Fair Work Action Group, all committed to the promotion of Fair Work in the city.
- Tackling child poverty
- Practical ‘Making Education Equal for All’ framework for teachers and school staff – equipping them with practical guidance on how to help those in their communities living in poverty.
- Reducing the number of unpaid child maintenance payments in Edinburgh by raising the profile of the benefit as a key form of income maximisation.
- Taking a data led approach to tackling poverty in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and migrant or refugee families focussing on benefit uptake.
- Training on the stigma of poverty
- Roll out of training based on a series of short animated films, developed with people who have lived experience of poverty, in collaboration with the Poverty Alliance.