South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership (SLH&SCP) has reinforced its commitment to challenging poverty – by signing up to the Poverty Alliance’s Pledge.

The Poverty Alliance aims to combat poverty by effecting change in the policies, practices and beliefs of communities, policy makers, professionals and the general public.

The Alliance is already active in Lanarkshire and sits on a local working group with a host of partners. One key aim of the organisation is to highlight the negative impact of attitudes around poverty.

Val de Souza, Director for Health and Social Care, South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Our vision is working together to improve health and wellbeing in the community – with the community.

“Whilst we are already committed to developing the correct policies and commissioning sufficient resources to effectively address poverty and inequalities in South Lanarkshire, we also need to challenge the many popular myths and stereotypes about poverty.

“That begins at grassroots level and the work of the Poverty Alliance chimes with the work we are carrying out, especially through our work with the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) and Building and Celebrating Communities (BCC) programme.

Ms de Souza added: “We are striving to create the environment where real, honest conversations can take place with a view to empowering our communities, tackling big issues, like poverty, and creating real change.

“We are delighted to sign The Poverty Alliance’s Pledge, formalise these links and build on the work to tackle this hugely important issue.”

The Pledge has three main tenets: Poverty is not inevitable; attitudes matter; actions change attitudes.

Anne Hopkins Simpson of South Lanarkshire Council along with Jo McIntyre of South Lanarkshire Carers Network were also present for the signing.

Both expressed their commitment to challenging poverty and continuing to work in close partnership.