Case studies

The Gate is a community-based anti-poverty project that delivers a range of interconnected services designed to support vulnerable people across Clackmannanshire. Rather than operating as separate projects, services such as the foodbank, soup pots, school uniform hub, community café, larders and digital inclusion support form part of a wider holistic approach to tackling poverty, social isolation …

Relational Mentoring Scotland (RMS) provides whole-household, one-to-one relational support to families experiencing poverty, instability and multiple disadvantage. The service supports households to improve stability, wellbeing, financial resilience, and progression towards sustainable employment. RMS recognises that poverty is interconnected and that families are often navigating multiple pressu…

Orkney Money Matters (OMM) is a partnership project developed by a group of local third sector and statutory organisations in Orkney. As part of the local Community Planning Partnership and the Cost-of-Living Taskforce, it aims to reduce levels of financial insecurity in Orkney by increasing access to advice and cash for those experiencing or at risk of crisis. It does so by improving local advice…

The Social Justice Ambassadors at St. Modan’s High School in Stirling are a group of pupils who lead initiatives focused on promoting equity, supporting low-income students, and advocating for minority groups within the school. Meeting weekly, their work centres on reducing the cost of the school day and closing the attainment gap. Previous activities include the launch of a Breakfast Club—now a r…

Wallacetown Child Poverty Research, maps family support services and develops a parental wellbeing monitoring system for families with children with additional support needs (ASN). The team has connected with 26 services, two early years centres, and regularly attends food banks and community events. Engagement includes sessions, wellbeing and carers events, and family learning activities. Parenti…

The Zone Initiative Ltd is a registered Scottish charity and company based in Dalmellington, East Ayrshire, serving the Doon Valley and surrounding rural communities. The organisation has been operating for 19 years, delivering locally based services for children, young people and the wider community. The community-based Project provides a range of childcare and youth work services in addition to …

‘Blether’ is a free-to-access community shop based in Neilston, which aims to tackle food waste and poverty. By redistributing surplus food that otherwise would have gone to landfill, the project helps residents access nutritious, affordable food. The shop provides affordable, ethically sourced products such as plastic-free goods, fairtrade items, and locally grown produce from the edible Neilston…

The community-led service design project operates within a Scotland-wide programme to improve parental employability. Originating in Stranraer, it now connects three Hubs across Stranraer, Kirkconnel and Kelloholm through a shared grassroots approach. Staff, volunteers, parents and local partners use lived experience to identify barriers, including limited transport, health and social care needs, …

CentreStage Community Arts is an inclusive community arts project based in Kilmarnock and the surrounding area which utilises creative activities inclusive of; music, theatre, dance and performance to improve holistic health, wellbeing, self-confidence, and social skills. The project is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, and provides opportunities to develop skills, build social relations…

The Pupil Support Assistant Traineeship aims to tackle poverty in lone parent households. They do this through the provision of targeted support and training to enable lone parents to enter the workplace as Pupil Support Assistants. Such positions provide a working environment which fits around lone parents’ child caring responsibilities.