Citizens Advice Scotland

Day

Tuesday 10 February

Time slot

15:00-16:00

Room

Sidlaw auditorium
Wheelchair accessible

Contact

Nicole Hepburn

Topics

Families & communities Equalities & human rights Policy

Overall aim

• Deep dive into maximising incomes as a tool for tackling poverty.
• Explore how advice services change lives.
• Examine what needs to change in our social security systems.
• Discuss the solutions that we need to see focused on in Party manifestos for the upcoming Scottish election.

Description

foreCASt is a popular and engaging webinar series from Citizens Advice Scotland that showcases insight into the key issues affecting people in Scotland and the solutions needed to improve people's lives. 

We’re bringing this episode of foreCASt live and in-person to the Gathering as part of our election mini-series on the key policy areas that we need to see in manifestos. The 2026 Scottish Parliament election is happening at a critical time. People across Scotland are facing deepening and entrenched crises as thousands of households do not have enough income to live decent and dignified lives. This episode will explore maximising incomes as a tool for tackling poverty and the essential role that advice services and social security play in this. 

Advice services are a core part of Scotland’s anti-poverty infrastructure. In 2024/25, Citizens Advice Bureaux supported more than 41,000 people gain over £169 million through advice on social security and employment entitlements, debt reductions and more. Yet the context for delivering advice is more challenging than ever with not only the volume and complexity of issues people face rising, but precarious funding arrangements also threatening essential service delivery. You will hear insights from our panel of speakers, including policy experts from Citizens Advice Scotland, guest speakers from Citizens Advice Bureaux and other external commentators as we discuss what’s needed for all of us to have liveable incomes. 

Find previous episodes of foreCASt on our website: https://www.cas.org.uk/news-and-events/forecast 

Who is the event aimed at?

Directors, Influencers, Public

Who is speaking at this event?

David Hilferty is Director for Impact for Citizens Advice Scotland. David joined CAS as Strategic Lead for Social Justice in October 2022, moving from a role in the Scottish Government's Directorate for International Trade and Investment. Prior to that, David was Deputy CEO at Money Advice Scotland where he led on the design and delivery of the organisation’s strategic plan.

Emma Jackson is Head of Social Justice at Citizens Advice Scotland and regular host of foreCASt. Emma is a passionate social justice campaigner, with both her personal and professional life has been dedicated to tackling inequality, having previously worked for the debt help charity Christians Against Poverty as Scotland Director. She's an engaging communicator and speaks widely on the subjects of inequality, poverty and justice. Emma is a regular broadcaster and contributor for BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Thought for the Day’.

Guest speakers TBA