Financial wellbeing - poverty isn't a choice: supporting one another

Poverty isn't a choice - let's come together  and support each other

The council is committed to looking after our most vulnerable citizens, to help create a fair city where our communities are at the heart of our decisions - so that services are directly targeted to help them thrive.

Within the council's Strategic Plan, one of our four grand challenges is focused on how we can reduce poverty and inequalities across the city, for example, in response to the current cost-of-living crisis. 

Poverty affects us all - directly or indirectly. It is a real issue that affects individuals, families and our communities and together we can all play a role to help care and support those who are less fortunate. 

Supporting our staff - key information and support routes available to you

If you need to chat to someone because you are worrying about your financial wellbeing we have several support routes available to you. All are recommended Government approved pathways that are available to you -  for free, impartial and confidential money advice and support.

• Information on local support services for Glasgow City and other Scottish Local Authority areas can be found here: https://www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/cash-first-leaflets
• Read our staff financial wellbeing factsheet - which provides a comprehensive list of free, impartial and confidential money advice and support available to you.  Full details are available on our Workforce Wellbeing Support Page 

Our factsheet includes key information such as:

• PAM Assist - being able to chat to independent professionals from our Employee Assistance Provider in complete confidence about how you are feeling - to help your mental wellbeing on: 0800 247 1100, Webchat: pam-assist.co.uk, email: counsellingteam@pamassist.co.uk
• Cost of Living - Scottish Government advice aimed at helping people through the current cost of living crisis, this website is a one stop shop providing information on support, grants, benefits and advice.  Visit https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot/
• Debt - Step Change Freephone 0800 138 111 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-4pm) for free advice, guidance and tools to helpwith debt problems. Visit: https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice-scotland.aspx
• Household - Home Energy Scotland  Freephone:0808 808 2282 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm) for advice and help to keep your home warm, cut your energy costs, and reduce your bills.Visit: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/ for more information.
• Travel and discount schemes - such as Young Scot National Entitlement Card free for 11 to 25 year olds, provides access to discounts and exclusive rewards-https://young.scot/the-young-scot-card and First Bus Glasgow, Commuter Travel Club - 10% discount on monthly tickets (paid via Direct Debit). 

Glasgow Helps - access to the right support at the right time

Glasgow Helps - for free confidential information and advice on issues such as food, utilities, income maximisation, housing, homelessness and much more to help you access the right support at the right time and in the right place. Phone 0141 276 1185 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

Council staff living outside of Glasgow

All staff working for the council family are able to access Glasgow Helps support - even if they live outside the council boundary and within another local authority area.

However, please note that the support offered will only be for yourself, and not for any members of your family that live with you - and that some solutions may not be available as they are localised to the Glasgow area. If you have any friends and family who live within the Glasgow area they will be able to access Glasgow Helps support as normal.

Watch the Glasgow Helps video to learn more about the support they can provide you. 

Link https://youtu.be/_Lc4vEmLGOs

Reminder - Tax Credits are ending: need to apply for Universal Credit

Tax credits are ending, and most people in receipt of these credits will need to apply for Universal Credit (UC) instead.

If you are in receipt of tax credits, look out for a letter called a Universal Credit Migration Notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explaining what you will need to do, and by when.  

There are plenty of things you can do to prepare for this change, find out more about the support available to help you switchover.

If you are unsure about when to make your claim to UC, or you have received notification from HMRC or DWP and need assistance to understand what this means for you, you can phone Help to Claim on 0800 023 2581.

This service is delivered by the Citizens Advice Bureau and are independent of the council.

Challenge Poverty Week 2023 - opportunity to raise our voices against poverty

This week, 2 October to 8 October 2023, is Challenge Poverty Week - an annual event that aims to raise awareness about poverty and its impact on individuals and our communities.  The week, led by the Poverty Alliance, is an opportunity for us all to raise our voices against poverty and help to break down the stigma associated with it.

As John Sherry, Head of Financial Services and Transformation in Chief Executive's Department explains: "During the week we want to put a spotlight on challenging the perceptions of poverty and help to make people more aware that poverty is not a choice. A change in circumstances can happen to anyone and there are many people trapped in the grip of poverty - especially across our city.

"We all have a role to play and can benefit from a little more knowledge and understanding around this topic to help reduce the negative attitudes people have around those that are in receipt of benefits or living in poverty.  By supporting one another and knowing where to go for help - together we can help to create a compassionate society."

Across our city

Many of us will know a family that already has little or no disposable income and as we head closer to winter the cost-of-living crisis is only going to get worse and many families will struggle to make ends meet. The simple fact is that our city has more households that are deeply vulnerable to this sort of crisis

Almost half (44%) of our citizens live in the 20% most deprived communities in Scotland. We know that unfortunately just under a quarter of our children (24%) are growing up in families that are, on average, living on £115 a week below the poverty line.

John continues: "This week serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by many in our community, challenges that are not theirs alone but are shared by us as members of the community and the city. Poverty can be a real health and wellbeing threat to our communities and the people we serve, so it is important for us to come together as a city to make a difference in the lives of those most affected by poverty.

"During the week we will be out and about in our communities with our third-party providers to raise awareness of the support routes directly available to them. For our staff, we have a video to challenge your perceptions of poverty, a financial wellbeing support sheet with key information if anyone is concerned about money issues and we are also rolling out dedicated training and support for our managers.

"During Challenge Poverty Week we encourage each one of us to watch the video  and reflect on the impact our work makes to the city. Every task, every project, every interaction, no matter how small contributes to the larger goal in creating a fairer, more inclusive city that understand and responds to support our staff and our citizens."

Watch the video - challenge your own perceptions of poverty

Link: https://youtu.be/Mor7qLduJNM?si=FtehGXK5TS3lBXJG

Child Poverty in Glasgow  - report 2023

 Child Poverty in Glasgow Report 2023 [8Mb]

Events 2023 -  internal and external

MANAGERS - Monday 2 October from 11.00am to 12.30pm : meet the Leadership Team on Teams

Challenge Poverty Week is an opportunity for us all to raise our voices against poverty and unite with others in calling for a just and equal Scotland. All managers, supervisors and aspiring managers are invited to this one-off Glasgow People Manager event to learn how the Glasgow Family is working in partnership to reduce poverty and tackle inequality in the city and understand how, as an organisation, we all have a role to play.  

At this short online event participants will hear from the people leading the way in supporting our citizens to reduce poverty and maximise their income opportunities. They will discuss the challenges we are facing as an organisation and the innovative ways we are changing the way we work to support our citizens and reduce inequality in the city.

SIGN UP NOW

Guest Speakers

• Michelle McGinty - Head of Corporate Policy and Governance
• John Sherry - Head of Financial Inclusion and Transformation
• Heather Douglas - Head of Early Learning & Childcare
• Frankie Barrett - Group Manager, Employment and Strategy

WOMEN'S NETWORK COFFEE CATCH UP - Thursday 5 October from 11am to 1pm, B.20,  Learning Academy

Challenge Poverty Week is an opportunity for us all to raise our voices against poverty and unite with others in calling for a just and equal Scotland.

The Women's Network are inviting all staff to attend our next Coffee Catch Up networking event. This event will allow colleagues to come together to discuss the impact of poverty and financial challenges, share information and guidance and form connections to support each other.

Sign up to attend by emailing womensnetwork@glasgow.gov.uk

Local Challenge Poverty Week 2023 events  - find out more

See a list of events happening all across Scotland at Poverty Alliance.

These include both in person and online sessions.