Edinburgh becomes first city to set end poverty date

The City of Edinburgh Council has set an ambitious target aiming to eradicate poverty in the Scottish capital by 2030.

The aim of ending poverty in Edinburgh by 2030 is as defined by the four targets set by the Edinburgh Poverty Commission: no-one in Edinburgh needs to go without basic essentials they need to eat, keep clean, stay warm and dry; fewer than one in ten people are living in relative poverty in Edinburgh at any given time; no-one in Edinburgh lives in persistent poverty; and no-one in Edinburgh experiences stigma due to their income.

The City of Edinburgh Council is now committing to working with citizen action group, End Poverty Edinburgh, and other partners to make the pledge a reality within the next decade.

Adam McVey, council leader, said: “Tackling poverty in Edinburgh is one of our key priorities as a council – enabling everyone in our city to take advantage of everything the capital has to offer. We have already made significant resources available for people and are working hard to eradicate poverty in our city. Now we’re doubling down, taking on the research and recommendations from the commission to guide us as we work towards our goal of ending poverty in the capital within the next 10 years.

“One of the most powerful elements of the work done by the commission was hearing and responding to the voices of those who have lived experience of poverty in Edinburgh. Our first priority will be to meet and agree ways of working with the new group End Poverty Edinburgh to ensure that their views can continue to shape the way we implement the commission’s findings.

“We know that this will not be an easy task, but Edinburgh is a city of wealth and enormous talent and we’re determined to work with the Scottish and UK governments, citywide partners– and of course, our residents - to drive the change that is so greatly needed.”