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Have Your Say: East Lothian's Poverty Plan
Description
We are inviting you to shape East Lothian's Plan for tackling poverty over the next three years. We promise to listen to what you tell us and shape our activities based on your experiences. We will report back on how what you have said has shaped the plan.
East Lothian Partnership’s plan to tackle poverty focuses on 4 key outcomes that focus on getting more cash in people’s pockets, living in resilient communities that are ready for the future. This includes:
• Good jobs that pay fairly, where we support people to gain the skills and training needed to find and maintain work, in flexible jobs that pay fairly.
• Enough money from benefits, our social security system should provide people with a fair income, but millions of pounds go unclaimed each year. We will support people to claim the income that they are entitled to.
• Cost of living support, daily essentials can be a financial burden that drives people into poverty. We will provide advice and support to those who are struggling with high living costs.
• Climate change ready, climate change will impact vulnerable and low income communities the hardest. We will take preventative action to protect and support these communities.
Additional information
The way we will work will promote these outcomes.
• Making sure that poverty is everybody’s business, and that actions to tackle poverty are part of every service plan. We will make sure that those making budget decisions understand how poverty affects people in East Lothian.
• Working in a way that is stigma- and trauma-informed. We have heard very clearly that stigma is preventing people from reaching out for support. We will make sure that our services are approachable, discreet and offer dignity and choice. We will help our workforce understand the impact of trauma and poverty.
• Working effectively as a partnership, we will build on our existing strong partnership in East Lothian. We will share data, resources and knowledge more effectively, and work towards a collective vision for East Lothian.
This will be underpinned by specific improvements we need to make to our current ways of working. These include actions around our housing, transport, childcare, and economy. It will require changes in the ways we work with people with lived experience of poverty, how we evaluate our projects, share our data and shape our places. It will also shape how we deliver our services, communicate about our work, and advocate for East Lothian residents.
Apologies some of these seem to have doubled up, but the first attempt none were saved!
If I had to highlight one - it would be encouraging a circular economy approach in all procurement, in grant making, making secondhand the first choice - or having to explain why it's not suitable - will embed this practice in all council workers, flowing through to some of their personal choices, beginning to change course on the behaviour change required both environmentally and to remove any stigma for those choosing secondhand because of poverty.
Investing in education, training, and skill development programs
Collaborate with educational institutions, vocational training centres, and community
organisations to develop specialised programmes focused on circular economy skills and knowledge.
Promote apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job training opportunities in circular
economy businesses and initiatives, particularly targeting individuals from
disadvantaged communities.
Target financial support, such as grants or subsidised tuition fees, to enable
individuals from low-income households to access these educational and training
programs.
Develop reskilling and upskilling programs for workers transitioning from linear
economy jobs to circular economy roles – the green transition.
Lil's work in ReUse events has demonstrated the strong benefits a circular economy approach can have in fighting poverty. We would argue strongly that encouraging a circular economy needs to be listed here. Not just for the importance that funders and other bodies will place in ELC recognising this in its Poverty Strategy & thereby levering other resources; but because as one Lil shopper put it: "can we have more of these, because y'ken, I'm poor".
We believe the circular economy, a sharing economy where our communities support each other in a thriving environment, is one of the strongest ways to fight climate change and poverty. Specifically, this could happen by...
Investing in education, training, and skill development programs
Collaborate with educational institutions, vocational training centres, and community
organisations to develop specialised programmes focused on circular economy skills and knowledge.
Promote apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job training opportunities in circular
economy businesses and initiatives, particularly targeting individuals from
disadvantaged communities.
Target financial support, such as grants or subsidised tuition fees, to enable
individuals from low-income households to access these educational and training
programs.
Develop reskilling and upskilling programs for workers transitioning from linear
economy jobs to circular economy roles – the green transition.
Providing financial incentives and support for circular economy businesses and
initiatives in disadvantaged communities
Support, through policy & practice, the development and growth of circular economy
businesses and initiatives in areas with high levels of poverty and unemployment.
Promote grants or low-interest loans to circular economy businesses that create job
opportunities and provide services in disadvantaged communities.
Provide business development support, such as mentorship, technical assistance,
and access to shared resources or infrastructure, to help circular economy
entrepreneurs and initiatives succeed e.g. via Business Gateway.
Encourage and support the development of community-based circular economy
initiatives, such as repair cafes, sharing platforms, or upcycling workshops.
Providing financial incentives and support for circular economy businesses and
initiatives in disadvantaged communities
Support, through policy & practice, the development and growth of circular economy
businesses and initiatives in areas with high levels of poverty and unemployment.
Promote grants or low-interest loans to circular economy businesses that create job
opportunities and provide services in disadvantaged communities.
Provide business development support, such as mentorship, technical assistance,
and access to shared resources or infrastructure, to help circular economy
entrepreneurs and initiatives succeed e.g. via Business Gateway.
Encourage and support the development of community-based circular economy
initiatives, such as repair cafes, sharing platforms, or upcycling workshops.
Implementing measures to ensure affordable access to circular economy goods and services.
Remove the stigma around circular economy goods and services by engaging all segments of our communities in shared activities that become ‘the norm’.
Develop pricing strategies or subsidies to make circular economy products and services more affordable for low-income households, such as discounted repair services or rental/leasing options.
Establish community-based sharing or lending programs for durable goods, tools, or equipment, allowing households to access these items without the need for individual ownership.
Encourage the development of circular economy initiatives in underserved areas, such as repair shops, second-hand stores, or recycling facilities, to improve
access and convenience.
Implement deposit-return schemes or take-back programs for products and materials, providing incentives for households to participate in circular economy practices.
Integrating circular economy principles into social housing, public procurement, and other relevant policies
Incorporate circular economy principles, such as design for disassembly, reuse of materials, and waste minimisation, into the construction and maintenance of social housing projects.
Develop public procurement policies that prioritise the purchase of products and services that align with circular economy principles, such as those made from recycled or reused materials, or those designed for easy repair and disassembly.
Implement waste management policies and infrastructure that support circular economy practices, such as separate collection streams for recyclables and
compostable materials.
Integrate circular economy considerations into urban planning and development policies, promoting the co-location of complementary businesses and industries to facilitate resource sharing and waste exchange.
Promoting inclusive and participatory decision-making processes
Establish advisory councils or working groups that include representatives from disadvantaged communities and individuals with lived experience of poverty to inform circular economy policies and initiatives.
Conduct community consultations, focus groups, and public forums to gather input and feedback from those who may be impacted by circular economy strategies.
Ensure that information and communication about circular economy initiatives are accessible and available in multiple languages and formats to reach diverse communities.
Provide training and capacity-building opportunities to enable meaningful participation and engagement of marginalised groups in decision-making processes.