Poverty – Page 2 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

85% of people in Scotland support higher taxes on the wealthy, major new study finds

SHARING OUR WEALTH REPORT LAUNCHED

Research challenges political assumptions and highlights widespread concern about wealth inequality

A new national study from Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland has found overwhelming concern about wealth inequality and strong backing for fairer taxation of wealth, including among people in higher-income households, challenging the common assumption that such reforms lack public support.

Key findings include:

• 85% support increasing taxes on the wealthy

• 90% say wealth inequality is more harmful than good for Scottish society

• 83% say the wealth gap is too large

• Two-thirds would prefer higher taxes to protect public services rather than cuts

Concern about inequality and backing for fairer taxation were consistent across income levels, age groups, and social backgrounds.

Participants described wealth inequality as damaging to people’s security, opportunities, and quality of life. Many said those with the greatest wealth should contribute more, particularly to support public services.

There is also strong public backing for specific reforms. Around 70% of people supported changes to ensure those with higher-value properties pay more council tax, reflecting broader support for progressive taxation.

Participants consistently linked their views on taxation to fairness and public benefit. Support was strongest where people believed the system was fair, transparent, and clearly linked to protecting public services such as healthcare, education, and local communities.

Lisa Hough-Stewart, Director, Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland and a member of the campaign Tax Justice Scotland, said: “This research shows clearly that people across Scotland are deeply concerned about wealth inequality and strongly support fairer taxation of wealth.

“For too long, political debate has assumed that taxing wealth is unpopular or politically impossible. Our findings show that this is not the case.

“Support comes from across society — including people who recognise they may need to contribute more.

“People recognise the role public services play in supporting everyone in society, and believe those with the greatest wealth should contribute more to sustain them.

“Public opinion is not the barrier to reform. The public is ready for change.”

The findings come at a time of continued pressure on public services and growing debate about inequality, taxation, and Scotland’s public finances. The Scottish Fiscal Commission has forecast a shortfall of £4.7 billion by 2029-30 even to fund existing spending commitments.

Support for tax reform was closely linked to fairness and trust. Participants emphasised the importance of ensuring that tax changes are proportionate, transparently implemented, and designed so those with the greatest wealth contribute their fair share.

The results add to mounting calls for a fairer tax system. Tax Justice Scotland – a campaign backed by more than 50 organisations, from anti-poverty and environment charities to social enterprise bodies, academics, policy think tanks and trade unions – is calling for fair tax reform at UK and Scotland levels.

Ahead of the Scottish election, it is urging every party to set out Tax Justice Plans to ensure national and local taxes in Scotland do more to help tackle inequality, poverty and the climate crisis while fairly generating additional money to invest in crucial public services.

Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland and a member of Tax Justice Scotland, said: “People in Scotland are well ahead of the current political debate on inequality and tax. They can see too much wealth sitting in too few hands while children live in poverty and public services struggle and people know that’s not right.

“Most of us are willing to pay a bit more to support the services we all rely on but we expect the money to be spent wisely and those with the deepest pockets to contribute properly too. That it isn’t radical or complicated economics, it’s basic fairness.

“With the Scottish election fast approaching, every party should set out how they will help deliver a fairer tax system within the next Scottish Parliament.”

The study draws on nationally representative research conducted with more than 2,300 people across Scotland, alongside in-depth focus groups exploring attitudes to wealth inequality, taxation, and council tax reform.

https://www.weallscotland.org/post/sharing-our-wealth

SHARING-OUR-WEATH Download

New framework targets a more Equal Edinburgh

A new framework aimed at reducing poverty and inequality in Edinburgh has received unanimous backing from councillors.

Equal Edinburgh aims to make council and other services easier to access and understand for residents, while reducing the stigma associated with doing so.

The four-year plan draws on lessons learned from its predecessor (which ran from 2021–25), but more specifically from extensive engagement with communities and other partners, including the Scottish Government, Equality and Rights Network and Scottish Women’s Budget Group, carried out over the past 12 months.

Some of the key outcomes include:

Safer and better access to council buildings
Improved online access and clearer communication methods
Improved mental health and wellbeing by making it easier to access services (in person or online)
Better opportunities for residents to participate in local activities and events to reduce isolation and foster good community relations
Improved data gathering and reporting so that decisions are made in an informed way
Improved access for residents to have their say on citywide issues and to engage in consultation and voting processes

When setting the Council budget last month, councillors agreed to allocate £285,000 towards progressing the plan over next three years.

Amongst other things, this will allow continued investment in the delivery of the British Sign Language Plan (2024-2030) and additional BSL Videos on the council website, funding for Volunteer Edinburgh to facilitate the Equalities and Rights Network and development of more inclusive communications.

From day one, Equal Edinburgh will support staff to provide high quality service to all residents and foster positive relationships with local communities through partnership working. A new EDI board will be set up to monitor progress and support delivery, with a progress update presented to councillors in 2028.

Councillor Jane Meagher Council Leader, said: “We’re clear that we want Edinburgh to be a city where everyone feels safe, secure and welcome – and we’ve set ourselves ambitious targets around tackling poverty and inequality.

“This new framework celebrates the diversity of this city and our communities, made up of people with a rich variety of life experiences. I’m particularly pleased by the role our communities and other partners have played in shaping this work, and that we’re learning the lessons from what has gone before.

“We’re building on best practice already underway across the city to deliver better services and outcomes for residents, ensuring that everyone has access to, and can benefit from, our support as quickly as possible – in a way that suits them.”

Appendix 1 – EDI Framework Download

Food banks provide almost 220,000 food parcels to people facing hunger across Scotland

Majority are for families with children, reports Trussell

Families with children continue to be among hardest hit, receiving 56% of parcels despite representing only 38% of the overall population
Severe hardship among older people is rising sharply, with parcels provided to people aged 65+ more than doubling (106%) since 2019
Scottish stars including Brian Cox, Sanjeev Kohli, Julie Graham, Mark Bonnar and Gregor Fisher join call for political parties to commit to ending need for food banks ahead of Holyrood elections
Trussell warns that people are feeling “overlooked and left behind” as the strain eases for some, while ongoing, day-to-day hardship continues to weigh heavily on other families

New figures released today by Trussell reveal that almost 220,000 emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hunger and hardship across Scotland in 2025, as hunger continues to grip communities.

Trussell’s community of food banks in Scotland are providing the equivalent of 600 food parcels a day – or one parcel every 2 and a half minutes.

Trussell reported a 13% drop in the total parcel numbers provided in Scotland compared to the previous year of 2024, largely due to easing inflation – reflecting a slowdown in the rising cost of essentials – alongside fewer people losing their jobs. While this means some people have been able to get back on their feet, the charity warns too many are feeling “overlooked and left behind” as incomes from social security and wages continue to fail to cover the high costs of essentials like food, utility bills, and toiletries.

Parents are among the people shouldering the heaviest burden, as families with children received more than half (56%) of all parcels in 2025, despite making up just 38% of Scotland’s population. Trussell is also reporting an alarming rise in hardship among older people in Scotland. Between 2019 and 2025 the number of parcels provided for people aged 65 and over more than doubled (106% increase).

Food banks are describing the persistent hardship they witness as “appalling”, with people sitting in the dark to save electricity, parents skipping meals to feed their children, and people in such impossible situations that they open food parcels to eat before leaving the food bank.

At the same time, levels of need continue to outpace donations. Many food banks say they are at breaking point and are having to purchase significant amounts of food just to keep shelves stocked.

The charity says such appalling levels of hunger and hardship should serve as a wake-up call for the upcoming election. In Scotland, there are high levels of public concern about hunger and hardship with 94% of people saying it’s a problem. (Trussell Public Attitudes Survey 2025)

This Holyrood election, the charity is calling on all political parties and candidates to commit to a plan to end the need for food banks in Scotland for good.

A host of Scottish celebrities have also joined Trussell’s call.

Brian Cox, actor and Succession star, said: “No one should have to turn to a food bank to get by. But shockingly, almost 220,000 emergency food parcels were distributed across Scotland last year – with so many of these provided for children.

“I know from my own experience that poverty has a lasting impact that never leaves you. It has a stubborn grip. Food banks are a lifeline, but they shouldn’t have to exist in a just and compassionate society.

“That’s why I’m calling on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks in Scotland for good. Because hunger is not inevitable.”

Sanjeev Kohli, Still Game star and comedian, said: “Finport & Craiglang might be fictional, but in very real communities the length & breadth of our country, too many people are struggling to afford the essentials and will have no choice but to turn to their local food bank for support.

“Parents are being forced to ration nappies and people are opening food parcels to eat as soon as they leave the food bank. I don’t want to live in a country which stands by as people are forced to the brink like this.

“I stand with Trussell in putting pressure on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks for good.”

Julie Graham, Shetland actor, said: “It’s not right that anyone should be facing hunger in Scotland today.

It’s especially alarming how many children are experiencing this, struggling to get through a day at school on an empty stomach.

“That’s why I’m standing with Trussell and calling on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for food banks, so no one has to go through this.”

Mark Bonnar, actor and Celebrity Traitors star, said: “It’s shocking that so many people are still facing hunger and hardship in Scotland today.

“This shouldn’t be the case in 2026. Food banks are a lifeline, but they shouldn’t be necessary. I am standing with Trussell to call on all political parties to commit to ending the need for food banks in Scotland for good.”

Gregor Fisher, actor and Rab C Nesbitt star, said: “The number of people having to turn to food banks across Scotland in order to survive is unacceptable.

“With almost 220,000 emergency food parcels being distributed to people across the country, and so many of these provided for children, it’s clear that the time for action is now.

“It’s a disgrace that so many families are struggling to get by. That’s why I’m standing with Trussell to call for all political parties in the Holyrood elections to prioritise solutions that will end hunger, and commit to a future without food banks.”

Cara Hilton, senior policy and public affairs manager at Trussell Scotland, said: “Today’s figures show that too many people across Scotland are still being pushed to the brink. Hunger continues to hold a harsh grip on communities, leaving many people feeling overlooked and left behind.

“This is heartbreaking. No one should be forced to turn to a food bank because they can’t afford the essentials we all need, like food, bills and toiletries. But right now, too many people are being forced to skip meals so their children can eat, or survive on cups of tea because they don’t have any food left in the cupboards.

“This Holyrood election, we need to see the political will to act on the unacceptably high levels of hunger and hardship. We must build a Scotland where everyone can afford the essentials, where every child has a decent start in life, and where charitable food provision is consigned to history. 

“We urge all political parties and candidates to commit to a plan to end the need for food banks in Scotland for good. We won’t stop until everyone has enough to afford the essentials and we can end the need for food banks for good.”

Pam, 59, a former police officer from Kirkintilloch, said: “Having worked as a police officer until I had to quit due to ill-health, I never thought I’d need to use a food bank. I had to get a hip replacement due to arthritis, and then my house was repossessed as I just couldn’t afford to keep going.

“I visited the food bank in some of my darkest days, and the support of the food bank helped me not only get the food I needed but the right support too. They gave me the help I needed to cope with my illness and that’s why after using the food bank, I volunteered there to help give back.

“Despite being able to get back on my feet a little, I later suffered an aneurysm in my brain which left me having to learn to walk again, and the damage that caused means I sometimes struggle with the sheer level of administration that comes with claiming Universal Credit.

“I am now at risk of having to use it again because the health element of my benefits is being reviewed.”

Trussell says food banks need everyone to play their part to move us towards ending the need for emergency food in the UK.

The public can help make sure food banks can continue to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice in the year ahead by donating food or funds to Trussell or your local food bank to help end hunger in the UK.

You can find out how many emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship in your local area on the Trussell website: campaign.trussell.org.uk/parcels-by-postcode

Trussell: 5 Key Asks

ENDING THE NEED FOR FOOD BANKS: TRUSSELL ELECTION MANIFESTO

We are calling on the next Govt to ensure holistic, tailored advice is better funded & more accessible & for public debt collection to be reformed to stop households being trapped in poverty.

You can read more in our Trussell Holyrood manifesto here:

https://bit.ly/TrussellScotSP26

scotland_election_manifesto_120126 Download

Bishop Brian scales hill to highlight water poverty

Fortunately, most of us don’t have to climb a hill to brush our teeth in the morning. But that’s exactly what Bishop Brian McGee did to raise awareness of communities around the world in need of clean water.   

Bishop Brian is SCIAF’s Bishop President and cares deeply about poverty and injustice around the world.

Bishop Brian said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?

“This year our WEE BOX Appeal focusses on just that. In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.  

“Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce.   In Ethiopia far too many women,  girls and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and in some places taking their lives in their hands just to reach water.

“Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a tonne and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water.

“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this.”  

Lent is 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer leading up to Easter. Each year generous Scots up and down the country give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine or crisps during Lent and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.       

Supporters also hold fundraising events in their schools and parishes and take on personal challenges to raise money. They then donate whatever they raise at Easter to provide a hand-up to vulnerable communities worldwide, struggling to survive due to hunger, poverty, conflict and the climate emergency.      

Bishop Brian added: “I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the transformational work that our amazing SCIAF supporters are funding in Ethiopia. It is genuinely changing lives. 

“Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.  

“We know that there are still so many more people suffering in Ethiopia and across the world from extreme poverty. With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face.”    

This Lent, please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.  

For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox.

To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.  

Children First urges families living in poverty in Edinburgh to contact them for help

This winter, Children First is urging families in Edinburgh struggling to make ends meet to call its national support line.

The charity’s experienced team can give confidential assistance with money worries, and thanks to extra funding from the Scottish Government, can provide emergency support to families living in poverty.

As well as immediate help, every family that contacts the charity’s support line will be offered expert debt management advice, support to access benefits, and guidance to help families build a more secure financial future.

Thanks to partners British Gas Energy Trust, the charity is also able to offer eligible families new white goods ranging from fridges to washing machines – but only until the end of February.

In 2025, the charity’s support line helped nearly 1,500 families with money worries. The team put £1.8 million back into household budgets and supported families to manage over £1 million pounds in debts.

Simon McGowan, Assistant Director at Children First, said: “We know it can feel hard to talk about money worries, but getting help early can make an enormous difference. Our friendly team listens without judgement and helps parents and carers get the support they need to make life better for their children.

“As well as immediate financial help to alleviate a crisis, we can offer practical, down-to-earth help with budgeting, benefits, debt and energy bills. And thanks to British Gas Energy Trust, until the end of February we can provide white goods like washing machines and fridges to families living without these essentials.

“We want parents and carers to know they don’t need to face their money worries alone. If you’re struggling, please get in touch. We can help you straight away.

“Call the support line team free on 08000 28 22 33 from 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday or 9am – 12 noon Saturday and Sunday or start a webchat with the team on our website at www.childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline.”

When Amy* first called Children First’s support line, she was at breaking point. Trapped in a damp flat with two young children, suffering from postnatal depression and £190 short every month, she felt invisible and hopeless.

Children First’s support line arranged immediate food and heating support so Amy’s children could stay warm and fed. They secured £1,500 from the Home Heating Fund and negotiated lower bills, cutting Amy’s broadband by £38 per month. The team also secured £180 per month in child maintenance and connected Amy to housing, mental health and local family support services.

Amy’s financial situation improved by more than £4,500, lifting a weight off her shoulders and helping give her and her children a brighter, more secure future.

Amy said: “I felt invisible before I called. Now I feel like someone is on my side. My kids are happy, and I can breathe again.”

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the family.

In January 2026, Children First was awarded £1.5m in funding from the Scottish Government to provide extra emergency support to families in crisis as part of the national mission to eradicate child poverty.

Find out more here: £10m emergency support for families – gov.scot

Trussell: Morrison’s food collection

The @Morrisons food collection is this week! 

From Monday until Sunday 9 February, Trussell staff and volunteers will be in local Morrisons stores raising vital donations of food.

If you can, please pop by and donate. Every item makes a difference to people facing hardship in your community.

Poverty Alliance: Politicians can avoid division and build better future for all

WITH welfare and benefits in danger of becoming a political football in the Holyrood election campaign (see today’s FMQs for starters – Ed.), Scotland’s Poverty Alliance has spoken out:

Poverty Alliance Policy & Campaigns Manager Gary Christie said: “When it comes to ending the injustice of poverty and investing in a better future, the Poverty Alliance works constructively with leaders from all political parties.

“One of the things we ask of all is that they avoid creating false division between people. Very few politicians would criticise someone for using our NHS or claiming Pension Credit. So, it’s morally wrong to point at others who use our shared social security system.

“Nearly 40% of the people on Universal Credit are in work. Nearly 1 in 3 people referred to Trussell Trust foodbanks are in working households.

“We all pay into our shared public services, and we all benefit. People who don’t pay income tax contribute every time they buy something that has VAT on it. And many people on the lowest incomes in Scotland have higher tax rates than the wealthiest in society. We are all in it together.

“Instead of risking stigmatising and hurting our friends, neighbours and fellow citizens, it would be good for politicians to look at their own responsibilities first. They have the power to move towards a Minimum Income Guarantee based on fair work, strong services, and a just social security system for all of us. These must be pursued together, not traded off against one another to score political points.

“The Scottish Child Payment is a vital building block of that future. It helps give a decent start in life to more than 300,000 of Scotland’s children.

“Rather than talking about unjustly cutting some children off from that vital help, politicians can boost the value of the payment as one important stepping stone towards the Minimum Income Guarantee.”

‘Nothing’s Changed? Everything’s Changed. It’s Worse’

UK Poverty 2026: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK

This report sets out the nature of poverty in the UK, and evaluates changes under the last Conservative-led Government.

It also sets out the scale of action necessary for the current Government to deliver the change it has promised.

Today, we’ve launched our annual state of the nation report, UK Poverty 2026. The report, which accounts for the time just before the current government took power and clearly shows the depth of the problem and the scale of the challenge.

Some of the key findings of the report include:

More than one in five people in the UK, around 14.2 million, were living in poverty.
Britain’s poorest are getting poorer: 6.8 million people are now living in very deep poverty, almost half of everyone in poverty, the highest level on record.
Poverty has hardened, not eased: the average person in poverty now lives 29% below the poverty line, compared with 23% in the mid-1990s.
Child poverty has climbed again: 4.5 million children are in poverty, rising for the third year in a row.
Hunger is spreading fast: 1.1 million more people in poverty cannot afford enough food than two years ago bringing the total to 3.5 million, while 2.8 million more people overall are now food insecure bringing the total to 7.5 million.
Work doesn’t guarantee security: around two-thirds of working-age adults in poverty, 5.4 million people, live in households where someone is in work.
New JRF analysis shows that, under central Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projections, the headline poverty rate will remain broadly unchanged (21.3% to 21.1%) between 2026 and 2029.
Current policies will see little progress towards meeting the government’s manifesto commitment to end the mass dependence on food banks.

People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.

This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.

Overall poverty rates have flatlined since 2005/06 at just over a fifth. The longer a family spends in poverty, the worse the effects on that family.

The longer we tolerate unacceptably high levels of poverty, the worse it is for our country.

THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.

We found that Britain’s poorest people are getting poorer. And poverty is hardening, not easing.

Almost 1/2 of all people in poverty in very deep poverty
More than 1/4 disabled people living in poverty
Around 2/3 of working-age adults in poverty live in a household where someone is in work

Feelings of frustration – and the need for urgent action – were evident

The lives behind the numbers — unacceptably tough, and getting harder

With a foreward from our Grassroots Poverty Action Group (GPAG), this report speaks to some of the policies that would lift hundreds of thousands of children, disabled people and other families out of poverty.

It can be done, and it has been done before. The alternative is a reality that feels harder to thrive in.

UK Poverty 2026 – the essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK Download

Impact Arts launches Holyrood Elections Manifesto

For the first time ever, Impact Arts is launching a manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish elections.

Our vision: A Scotland where people and communities benefit from life-transforming creativity that tackles inequalities and addresses poverty.

CEO Fiona Doring says: “For decades, Impact Arts has seen first hand how arts-based approaches transform their lives through improving wellbeing, strengthening communities, and developing life chances.

“Ahead of the 2026 Scottish elections, we urge decision makers to recognise the arts as a vital part of building a fairer, healthier, and more connected Scotland.”

OUR MANIFESTO ASKS

Scotland’s leaders, we urge you to:

1. Recognise Creative Engagement as a Public Health Approach

2. Improve Access to Creative Preventative Mental Health Approaches

3. Ensure Access to Arts-Based Therapies for Children Facing Trauma and Poverty

4. Embed Creative, Flexible and Person-Centred Approaches into Whole Family Wellbeing

5. Support Creative Ageing to Bring Joy to Later Years

6. Increase Access to Quality Arts-Based Education & Employment Programmes

7. Support Neurodiverse Young People Through Quality Arts & Creativity Projects

8. Promote Creative Home-Making as Key to Sustaining Tenancies & Preventing Homelessness

9. Celebrate Creative Placemaking

Impact Arts urges Scotland’s leaders to embed creativity across public policy. By investing in arts-based and creative approaches, we can build a more inclusive, stronger, and imaginative society.

Explore our extended manifesto featuring references to research and commentary from Culture Counts, Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland, Voluntary Health Scotland, Social Biobehavioural Research Group, National Academy for Social Prescribing, Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership, The Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland, Children’s and Youth Arts Advocacy (CYAA), Scottish Autism, Homeless Network Scotland, and SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum.