Church of Scotland marks Challenge Poverty Week 2020

The Church of Scotland will mark this year's Challenge Poverty Week (5-11 October) with a series of short videos looking at the work of Priority Area congregations in their local communities.

In partnership with Poverty Alliance, the annual event aims to highlight the issue of poverty across Scotland, as well as what can be done by individuals and organisations to support change.

Starting on Monday 5 October, the four videos will each focus on a different church, including Port Glasgow New in Inverclyde, Methil: Wellesley in Fife, Castlemilk and Govan and Linthouse, both in Glasgow.

These parishes are designated as Priority Areas by the Church of Scotland as they are areas experiencing the greatest impact of poverty in the country according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Each congregation has considered the best way that the church can get alongside their local communities so that all can flourish.

Shirley Grieve, Secretary of the Church of Scotland's Priority Areas, said: "All of the congregations featured in the videos are intent on working with local people to find the best approaches to tackling poverty in the pandemic.

"Coming together, people are finding imaginative ways of building on the resilience and experience of the community to address poverty, whilst ensuring the dignity of all."

Videos for Challenge Poverty Week

Ways to support Challenge Poverty Week

• Write to your local politician to ask them to commit to taking further action to end poverty. You will find template letters on the Challenge Poverty Week website, or you can write about an issue you care about.
• Use social media to share anti-poverty content like petitions, news articles or research using the hashtages #ChallengePoverty and #TogetherWeCan
• Get involved with existing community initiatives or charities
• Take part in an online event

Find out more about the work of the Church of Scotland's Priority Areas or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.