A new report has highlighted the effectiveness of North Lanarkshire Council’s participation in the annual Challenge Poverty Week.
Several initiatives took place during the week, which ran from October 7 to 13 and is overseen by the Poverty Alliance.
The report, which was approved by councillors at a recent committee meeting, provides details of North Lanarkshire Council’s participation. The council has been involved in the event since 2019.
Themes for the week were housing, transport, adequate incomes, food, communities and volunteers and reflection and a programme of events was devised for North Lanarkshire.
This was published on the council’s website and promoted through a social media campaign, while the Tackling Poverty Action Plan and Local Child Poverty Action Report were also updated.
More than 100,000 impressions were received on related social media content from the council, while members of the Tackling Poverty Team and housing staff worked with the DWP and North Lanarkshire Advice Network to encourage people to claim pension credit.
Four animated videos were also released and Citizen Advice bureau held sessions on inadequate income, which were attended by more than 170 people and also saw 16 new volunteers recruited.
Other events included the Connect and Thrive event in Motherwell, briefings for newly qualified nurses which covered personal finance and the referral system, an advice stall at Newmains Community Trust Centre, and Cumbernauld Community Trust event at the Antonine Shopping Centre.
Councillors welcomed the success of these activities and endorsed North Lanarkshire Council’s participation in the 2025 event.
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