Evidence library

Get Heard Scotland (GHS) is a programme coordinated by the Poverty Alliance and funded by the Scottish Government as part of Every Child Every Chance, the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan. GHS is designed to help people on low incomes get their voices heard on the policies and decisions that most impact their lives and their communities. Very simply, it aims to find out – by holding discussions with people affected by poverty across Scotland and with the organisations that support people affected by poverty – what is working in their community, what is not working, and what needs to change to better support people living on low incomes and loosen the grip of poverty on their lives.

Summary Many of the challenges raised by individuals and organisations during the Get Heard Scotland project in 2020/21 remind us that many of the problems we associate with the pandemic, were familiar to policy makers prior to the start of the covid crisis. Problems with social security, digital access, mental health and employment did not begin with the pandemic and will not end when the pandemic is over. Perhaps one of the key lessons from our experience during the pandemic is that where there is collective political will to take action, then resources can be found, and systems can be changed and adapted. We must apply the same sense of urgency and collective endeavor if we are to begin to turn the tide on poverty in Scotland.

Recommendations - see report for specific recommendations.