Poverty in Scotland 2024 launch event
The launch of this year's independent, annual state of the nation report which sets out the nature and scale of poverty in Scotland.
The key message of this year's Challenge Poverty Week is the need to come together to raise our collective voice against poverty. Current rates of poverty across the UK underscores a clear need for collaboration across our governments to tackle this entrenched inequality. Both the Scottish and UK Governments have significant powers to positively impact on the lives of people in Scotland.
More about this event
A key annual event in the Challenge Poverty Week calendar is the launch of JRF's Poverty in Scotland report. This year’s report gives a snapshot of poverty rates and then looks in detail at how the social security system is impacting on households in Scotland. This is a key area where both the UK and Scottish Governments can have a huge positive impact on people’s lives.
For the launch of this year’s report, the Poverty Alliance and JRF hosted an event focused on how we can work together to end the injustice of poverty.
Speakers
Chris leads the Scotland team at JRF that works to find solutions to poverty in Scotland and amplify the voices of people experiencing poverty. The team works with partners across the public, private and third sectors to advocate for solutions that will loosen poverty’s grip on people in Scotland, and to inspire more people to understand it and take action to solve it. Prior to joining JRF, Chris worked for the Scottish Government as Head of the First Minister’s Policy and Delivery Unit. He was formerly a government lawyer, working principally on NHS and social care law.
Peter joined the Poverty Alliance as Policy Manager in 2002, becoming Director in 2004. He is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the organisation, ensuring that the Alliance is delivering the objectives set by the board and members. Peter also represents the Alliance in a variety of forums and networks, including Scottish Drugs Forum and the Living Wage Foundation’s Advisory Council. He was Vice President of the European Anti-Poverty Network from 2012 to 2018. Peter is also Company Secretary on the Board of the Alliance.
Before joining the Alliance, he worked at the Scottish Low Pay Unit, helping to campaign for the introduction of the National Minimum Wage.
Educated at Kirkcaldy High School, she then graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a BA (Hons) in Economics and Politics (1996), followed by a Diploma in Housing Studies at the University of Stirling and a Diploma in Public Relations from Queen Margaret University College.
She has worked as a parliamentary researcher, a Policy and Public Affairs Officer at the Chartered Institute of Housing, and as a Media and Campaigns Officer at the Royal College of Nursing.
Shirley-Anne was previously an MSP for the Lothians region from 2007 to 2011, and returned to the Scottish Parliament in 2016 as MSP for Dunfermline. Shirley-Anne Somerville was previously Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, and was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People in June 2018. She was most recently Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills until March 2023. Shirley-Anne Somerville was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in March 2023.
Ian Murray was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland on 5 July 2024. He has been the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South continuously since May 2010.
Ian read Social Policy and Law at the University of Edinburgh. After university, Ian worked in finance at Aegon, before joining an arts-based internet TV station as the Operations Director. Following the collapse of the company, Ian started a number of successful events and hospitality businesses.
Ian was first elected to public office in 2003 when he won a local council seat in Edinburgh. Seven years later, he was elected as the MP for Edinburgh South, and was the only Labour MP in Scotland to retain their seat in the 2015 and 2019 General Elections.
Ian served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland from 2015-2016 and from 2020-2024. He has also been the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Shadow Minister for Employee Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, and the Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment.
Who is this event for?
This event is open to everyone, including:
- policymakers
- advocates for social change
- anyone interested in or working in tackling poverty in Scotland.