The team, which had 2,075 new referrals in the same period, provides free, confidential and impartial money, debt and benefits advice to citizens in the Stirling area.
It is also a key provider of digital inclusion work, enabling people to deal more easily with online challenges through the roll out of Universal Credit.
Their life-changing work (see case study below) is one of many ways Stirling Council is tackling poverty 365 days a year, which is being highlighted during a week-long campaign (Oct 7-13) to address this growing national issue.
Organised by The Poverty Alliance, Challenge Poverty Week will enable the local authority and its community partners to raise awareness of how living in poverty impacts on the lives of people in Stirling and signpost to the local supportive services and programmes in place all year round.
It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate the Council’s efforts to address the three identified drivers of poverty – income from employment, income from social security and benefits, and costs of living.
Renewed purpose
Convener of Stirling Council’s Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, Cllr Chris Kane said: “Securing over £5.25 million for vulnerable people over the course of 12 months is a fantastic achievement for our dedicated staff in the Advice Services.
“This transformative work is one of many ways the local authority and our community partners are addressing poverty, which is one of the Council’s six key priorities.
“While this an opportunity to shine a light on these diverse projects and raise awareness of inequalities, the result of this crucial campaign must be a renewed purpose to work together and tackle this national issue.”
Over 240,000 children in Scotland live in low income households. People from black and minority households, disabled people, lone parents and young people are also all at a significantly increased risk of poverty.
Marked and persistent inequalities continue across Stirling and, while the percentage of children living in poverty in Stirling (19%) is below the national average, huge disparities still exist in income and life expectancy across the region.
As part of Challenge Poverty Week, the Advice Services will be holding drop-in sessions at venues throughout Stirling where the public can find out about the support on offer:
Monday – Thistle Centre (10am - 4pm)
Tuesday – Raploch Community Campus (10am – 4pm)
Wednesday – Customer First (10am – 4pm)
Thursday – MacRobert Art Centre (10am – 3pm)
Friday – Mayfield Recovery Café (1am to 3pm)
A number of other events are taking place during this week-long call to action across Stirling. These include:
- A practical and interactive event to tackle the sensitivities around poverty at Forthbank Stadium, hosted by ClubSport Stirling
- An event staged by the *Community Planning Partnership at Stirling University (Friday, 11 Oct), with expert speakers on a range of poverty-related subjects and a panel discussion.
Children, staff and the local community at Allan’s Primary School and Baker Street Nursery are also embracing the campaign, organising a range of activities to highlight the reality of poverty in the area and to examine solutions to solve it. This will climax in a special assembly on Friday (11 Oct), where food items will be donated to Start Up Stirling, following a challenge between all the different houses in the school.
On social media, meanwhile, Stirling Council and its community partners will be showcasing some of their recent transformative initiatives to tackle poverty, which people and organisations can engage in using the hashtags #ChallengePoverty and #AyeWeCan
A just and compassionate society
Vice Convener of the Community Planning a Regeneration Committee, Cllr Maureen Bennison said: “It’s simply not right that so many people are trapped in the grip of poverty in our communities and we must do all we can to tackle this issue.
“I am delighted that there has been such a positive response from within the Council and from our partner organisations to get behind this important week-long campaign.
“While this week will showcase the vital and life-changing work that is taking place, reflected in the huge amount of money obtained by our Advice Services for its clients, this is an opportunity to show that, together, we can solve this growing problem and demonstrate that we do live in a just and compassionate society.”
For more information on Challenge Poverty Week, visit www.challengepoverty.net
Case Study
Lorraine Kelso (56) of Dunblane was referred to Stirling Council’s Advice Services around two-and-a-half years ago.
At this point, she was in danger of having her home repossessed due to serious difficulties with debt but, following the intervention and support of the team’s trained advisors, she has turned her life around in a positive direction.
She said: “I had developed mental health problems and was also medically retired from work. I had reached the stage where I wouldn’t open any letters as they were all related to debt. Mentally and physically, I couldn’t handle what was going on.
“After being referred to Signpost Recovery, they put me in touch with the Council’s Advice and Welfare Service. Caroline Smith-Taylor and Rhona Stark from the team came in to support me and were absolutely brilliant.
“You couldn’t meet two nicer people and they helped me sort everything out. Throughout it all, they were extremely patient in explaining to me everything that was going on to ensure I understood it all.
“Now things are looking positive – I am back on my feet, I have my own house and pay everything on time. I have a folder that used to contain all my debt letters: now it’s empty.
“If it wasn’t for the support I received from the Advice Team, I wouldn’t be here – I would be on the streets. I really don’t know what I would have done without them.
“I wasn’t aware of the Advice Team before they helped me, and I am happy to highlight the important service during this important campaign, so other people across Stirling know this support is there for them if they need it.”
Case Study background information
Stirling Council’s Advice Services consists of three core projects:
Advice Stirling
Advice Stirling offers free, confidential and impartial money, debt and benefit advice to citizens within the Stirling area. Trained advisers can also help prepare and provide representation at welfare benefit appeal hearings.
Forth Valley Macmillan Money Matters
This is a joint initiative between Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Forth Valley, Stirling Council, Falkirk Council and the Department for Work and Pensions. The team advises patients living in the Forth Valley area and provides full benefits checks and assistance to apply for all eligible benefits and grants
Stirling Digital Inclusion Team
Stirling Council’s Digital Inclusion Project offers free and tailored help to complete beginners or those looking to improve their digital skills, with the aim of improve confidence in the use of a wide variety of online services. Digital Inclusion Officers will also work with tenants of Forth Housing Association or Rural Stirling Housing Association in a convenient location to make them become confident in getting online to apply for jobs/benefits, shop for deals, send/receive emails and engage with social media.
For more information and for contact details on Stirling Council’s Advice Services, head to the Stirling Council website
Picture details and background info:
*Stirling’s Community Planning Partnership (CPP) has a legal responsibility to work with communities and the third sector to plan, resource and deliver integrated public services that will reduce inequalities and improve local outcomes. For more information on the CPP in Stirling and the organisations involved, visit the Stirling Council website
Picture shows Cllr Chris Kane (pictured centre) and members of Stirling Council’s Advice Services at their stand inside the Thistles Centre which signalled the start of Challenge Poverty Week in Stirling.
