Dumfries and Galloway Council (25 June 2015) approved the new Dumfries and Galloway Anti-Poverty Strategy.
The strategy sets out what the Council will do to improve the lives of people in our region experiencing poverty, in all its forms.
There is not a single, specific area in Dumfries and Galloway that suffers from poverty. There are pockets of people in poverty in every area within our region, even the more affluent areas. The strategy aims to tackle this through by creating actions that will address the causes of poverty, not just solutions for certain areas.
The Council will work alongside its community planning partners to develop a partnership approach to delivering the action plan. By working with representatives of communities facing different types of poverty the partners can ensure that anti- poverty activity is developed by and with people facing these barriers and issues
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Council Leader, Ronnie Nicholson, said, “When I became Council Leader, one of the first commitments I made was to develop an Anti-Poverty Strategy for our region. I am pleased that this strategy will be presented to Councillors next week. This Council is fully committed to tackling poverty and giving practical support and assistance to the most vulnerable people across our region. This strategy provides us with focus and practical steps to ensure our resources are targeted at those most in need, helping people out of poverty, improving their quality of life.
“This strategy has been developed with partners and people who are in or have experienced poverty. Our information and services will be tailored to local and individual circumstances. It also reminds us of the lasting impact that the stigma of poverty has on people’s self-esteem and confidence. The agreement of this strategy and action plan is a testimony to the Council’s determination to bring about practical action to help those people affected by poverty within our region.”
The members of the Dumfries and Galloway Strategic Partnership have also given their wholehearted support to the Dumfries and Galloway Anti Poverty Strategy.
Philip Jones, chairman of NHS Dumfries and Galloway and vice-chairman of the Strategic Partnership, said,“I too welcome this important step forward and commend Dumfries and Galloway Council for its leadership and vision. NHS Dumfries and Galloway board will consider its contribution so that we are working closely together to tackle inequality, in all its forms, in Dumfries and Galloway.”
Chick McKenna (chair) Sue Irving (board member), of Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, both expressed strong support for this work and highlighted the contribution that community and voluntary organisations and volunteers make to this agenda.
