STV Appeal 2012 raises just under £2,000,000

THIS year's STV Appeal has raised just under £2,000,000 for children living in poverty in Scotland, half of which was raised through donations with the remainder being match funded by the Scottish Government.

The Appeal hopes to expose Scotland’s secret shame, raise awareness, challenge stereotypes and draw attention to the real extent of child poverty in Scotland. They hope to give Scotland's vulnerable children a voice. You can find out more about the appeal at their website.

The Poverty Truth Commission believes that poverty will never be truly addressed until those who experience it first-hand are at the heart of the process and that includes children. We have worked with a number of children about their experiences of poverty. The video below called 'My name is Isha' gives an insight into one girl's thoughts about poverty.

Nothing About Us Without Us is For Us @ Edinburgh Castle

TWO weeks ago Darren McGarvey, a member of the Poverty Truth Commission, was amongst the speakers at the launch of the STV 2012 Appeal at Edinburgh Castle.


Speaking alongside First Minister Alex Salmond, Sir Tom Hunter and STV Chief Executive Rob Woodward, Darren spoke of his own life of struggle but also about what he has helped to achieve through the work of Volition – the music-based project he has developed in Govan.


At the heart of his message was the fact that the great and good can be determined to eradicate poverty but they will not succeed until those who have direct experience of it are able to be part of the solution and not blamed for the problem. It is changing the way that we do things, and not charity, which will bring about real change.