Engender blog

Guest Post: Challenge Poverty Week: Food for thought from EaRN’s consultation event, A Platform for Positive Change

Guest blog from Roseanna Macdonald, Equality and Rights Network (EaRN)

Well it’s over halfway through Challenge Poverty Week and we are fresh off the back of our consultation event to address poverty and inequality in Edinburgh and surrounding areas (read the first blog about it here). We had a mix of representatives from public services, third sector workers and interested individuals attend, as well as a guest speaker from Fairer Scotland to tell us about the initiatives the Scottish Government is taking to create more equal Scotland by 2030.

Challenge Poverty Week: Women's employment support

This week is challenge poverty week, so it’s a great chance to look at a whole host of issues which affect women. One huge factor which pushes and keeps women in poverty is access to jobs, and the employment services which support women into work.

Guest Post: Challenge Poverty Week: Tackling Poverty and Inequality with Edinburgh’s new Equality and Rights Network (EaRN)

Guest blog from Roseanna Macdonald, Equality and Rights Network (EaRN)

Challenge Poverty Week is here, and it couldn’t arrive soon enough. It will come as no surprise to those working on issues including employment, equality and welfare that poverty is set to rise in coming months and years; currently an estimated 1 in 5 children are living in poverty in Edinburgh. Questions need to be asked (and answered) about how to tackle the growing numbers of people living in poverty, the harmful stigmas and stereotypes associated with poverty and how poverty connects with – and often deepens – other inequalities.

With these questions in mind the Edinburgh-based Equality and Rights Network (EaRN) is holding its first solo public event, A Platform for Positive Change, on the 21^st October to explore how the Network can be used to tackle poverty and inequality and effect positive change. As a new member-based project, EaRN’s aim is to be a platform for people and communities experiencing discrimination, poverty and inequality to influence policy and practice surrounding equality and rights by sharing their lived experiences. A Platform for Positive Change is an opportunity for public services, third sector organisations, community groups and individuals to identify how EaRN can achieve this aim. Through interactive workshops and discussions, we will be asking participants to identify common priorities between various equalities groups, what role EaRN can play in tackling poverty and inequality, and practical steps the Network can take towards this in coming months.

It is our belief that positive change in the twin landscapes of poverty and inequality can only truly come about through public services engaging directly with those that use, and are affected by, their services. A Platform for Positive Change is the first step towards improving this engagement in Edinburgh; the actions that will come from this event will serve as a basis for EaRN’s future activities. So if you are affected by poverty and/or inequality, or work with people affected, we want to hear your voice in this engagement!

A Platform for Positive Change will be held at Out of the Blue Drill Hall on the 21^st October from 9.30-13.30. Click here to find out more about this event.