Commission's Co-Chair appointed as Chair of the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland

Maureen McGinn, co-chair of the Poverty Truth Commission, was yesterday (23^rd November) appointed Chair of the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland. 


The Commission has benefited hugely from Maureen’s insightful leadership over the last two years and we are delighted at her appointment. We know that she will bring her many experiences of the Commission into her new role. 

Poverty Truth Commission meets with Minister for Public Health

On 6th October six of the PTCs Commissioners met with Michael Matheson, minister for public health at the Scottish Parliament. 

Civil servants from a number of departments were represented and the meeting was very proactive, seriously taking the Poverty Truth Commission's model into account. Following the meeting the Employability and Tackling Poverty Division will be holding a seminar on poverty in their department to include people in poverty and enable learning from the Poverty Truth Commission to be shared. The Health and Equalities division will hold a similar seminar as well as piloting a mentoring scheme for civil servants working in areas relating to poverty, where they will be mentored by someone in poverty over an extended period. We are delighted to have the support of the Public Health minister and others present for what we believe is a very unique and effective model of poverty organising.

Encouraging Glasgow's Health Board to address need for psychological services for Kinship Children

On 3rd October the Poverty Truth Commission's Kinship Care working group met with Ann Hawkins and Mark Feinmann from Glasgow's Health board to address the urgent need for psychological and trauma services for children in Kinship Care who have often been severely damaged by pre-natal and early months experiences. 

The meeting was very positive and it was agreed that there is a lack of trauma services and that statutory services dealing with Kinship Care could do with being better coordinated. As a result the North Glasgow health board will pilot a seminar on Kinship Care which includes a variety of statutory and third sector service providers with Kinship Carers to determine priority needs and encourage increased communication.

People with learning difficulties speak out

PEOPLE FIRST is the name of the independent self-advocacy and collective advocacy organisation of people with learning difficulties in Scotland.

It is run by and for people with learning difficulties, and declares its purpose as being to bring about change by:

1. The way people with learning difficulties see themselves – most of us have grown up believing that we are not much use; that we have nothing useful to say and that we can do nothing for ourselves or anyone else.

2. The way the world sees and thinks about people with learning difficulties – most people in our communities believe that, at best, we are “poor souls” and, at worst, that we are a nuisance and a drain on society.

3. The law and policy as it affects people with learning difficulties – our lives are often ruled and directed by laws and policies that we have had no say in. One of our mottos is “nothing about us without us” and we’re pleased to say that, these days, Government and local government usually tries hard to listen to our points of view.

Government to be assessed on homelessness

HOUSING activists will be among those speaking when the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council and Scottish Churches Housing Action host a meeting at the City Chambers in Edinburgh on Friday 30 September 2011.

Scottish church leaders have teamed up with the housing charity to assess the progress made by the Scottish Government to eradicate homelessness.

Scottish Churches Housing Action helps churches and others make practical responses to homelessness in Scotland by encouraging the development of affordable housing from redundant or underused church buildings

The meeting is to discuss if the Scottish Government is on course to meet its pledge of providing a home for almost every unintentionally homeless person in Scotland by 2012. More here.

A template for action

"I believe the Poverty Truth Commission provides a template for the consideration of social policy formulation by government at all levels. The recommendations made on the areas studied deserves serious consideration by the public bodies concerned." - Lord Provost of Glasgow - Bob Winter, Commissioner

Economics as if poverty mattered?

FORMER Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has given evidence to the Church of Scotland’s economics commission.

Mr Darling was one of a number of experts to give evidence to the Special Commission on the Purpose of Economic Activity - alongside those who have direct experience of poverty, in accordance with the recommendations of the Poverty Truth Commission.

After giving evidence to the commission Mr Darling took part in a question and answer session with journalists.

The Church of Scotland set up the commission following the credit crunch in 2008. The 13-strong commission chaired by Professor Charles Munn will report to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in May 2012. Commission members come from a range of backgrounds and bring specific skills and interests to the group.