Challenge Poverty Week 2025

The first Challenge Poverty Week was launched by the Poverty Alliance in 2013.

The aim is to highlight the injustice of poverty in Scotland, and to show that collective action based on justice and compassion can create solutions.

The week is an opportunity for you to raise your voice against poverty and unite with others in calling for a just and equal Scotland.

Each year, hundreds of organisations in Scotland do just that, including elected representatives, charities and NGOs, local authorities, faith groups, businesses, schools and colleges, trade unions, professional bodies and more.

Stirling Council Advice Services is an accredited provider of welfare benefits, money and debt advice under the Scottish National Standards for Advice and Information Providers.

The service is also one of the key providers of digital inclusion advice and support in the Stirling area.

Advice Stirling offers free, confidential and impartial money, debt and benefit advice to citizens within the Stirling area. Referrals to the service can be made by emailing moneyadvice@stirling.gov.uk or by calling 01786233528.

We also provide a number of outreach sessions, delivering welfare benefits advice, money advice and digital inclusion support directly to communities in a number of locations across Stirling. 

Forum at Alloa Business Centre
Tuesday 7 October 9:30am to 12 midday
Open to all

Please contact employerengagement@stirling.gov.uk for further information about this event.

Speakers include:

• Vicky Murphy – STEP – In work progression and development of staff
• Matty Dixon – Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing – Equity within the workplace and a distance travelled
• Craig Anderson – Stirling Citizens Advice Bureau – Support Available and Creating Employment
• Angela Watt – Resonate Together – From Poverty to Possibility: Building Futures Through Creativity and Skills
• Stephen Cornwallis – Progressive Pathways – Talent development, Skills Delivery and Entrepreneurship

Bannockburn Hub
Coffee, Cake and Life Essentials
10:30am to 12:30pm

Drop in for Coffee, Cake and Conversation every Wednesday (excluding the last Wednesday of the month) at Bannockburn Enterprise Hub 10:30am to 12:30pm. Come have a chat, meet other people in the area and join in activities. All welcome.

If you need advice about your energy bills including what to do if you are struggling to pay your energy bills, there is support to help you and offer free and impartial advice, including:

Get help if you’re behind with your energy bills - Citizens Advice

Stirling District Citizens Advice Bureau
Cameronian Street
Stirling
FK8 2DX
Phone: 01786 470239

Money Talk Team can check you’re not paying too much for your energy and offer free money and debt advice, including benefits and other financial support you may be entitled to, how you can manage debt and ways to save money on your bills.

Phone: 0800 028 1456

Home Energy Scotland offer free, impartial advice on lowering your energy bills, keeping warm at home, switching energy supplier, energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy and financial support you may be entitled to help make your home warmer.

Phone: 0808 808 2282

For community groups, there is also Local Energy Scotland who manage Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme, with grant funding and support for community energy projects and community buildings. They provide support from feasibility and development of early stage community projects up to capital grants. There are great example of local communities who have delivered exemplar community energy projects, including Fintry Development Trust (one of the first to secure a partnership deal with a wind farm developer and the income then funds community projects, including energy efficiency and insulation initiatives, and a focus on energy saving and fuel poverty, including grants and financial help, as well as community garden, EVs and a district heating network serving 26 permanent park homes) and Callander Development Trust (micro hydro scheme - generating energy and using income to support community activities, including local festivals and Highland Games, defibrillators, support for local community group outings, improvements to community spaces, play areas and parks and greening local spaces).

“Did you know our Shop Cook Eat programme can help you to look at how to make your money go further in the supermarket?  Get help to buy wisely and make healthy and tasty meals that also cut down on your food bills”

“Our Communication opportunities help you to build your reading, writing and spelling skills, making essential day to day life task easier to deal with.  Get help to brush up on your skills and increase your choices in life”

“Multiply Stirling can help you improve your number skills. Need help to get to college, get a job and improve your income potential?  You can count on us!”

“Want help in managing your stress and making changes in your life?  Our Wellbeing programmes can help you to progress in life and invest in your future”

For further information - Contact our Learning and Employability team | Stirling Council

We recognise the shortage of childminders nationally and the importance of childcare as an enabler for parents to work or to train for work. Five places were made available to receive support to set up as a child minder. Three participants now registered with Care Inspectorate and a further two awaiting feedback on application to Care Inspectorate. We have committed to year two of this recruitment programme and will support the recruitment of a further ten childminders across the area during 2025/26.

£45,300 has been secured to test and develop further interventions to tackle child poverty.  A Family Engagement Worker within the new Engaging Learners Service will provide support to young people disengaging with education to return to school and also support their wider family members to link with services to improve their own employability prospects and access opportunities available via the Learning and Employability Service.

During 2024/25, 448 Council homes were let to homeless households (53%), existing Council tenants (21%), waiting list applicants (23%), and applicants with a range of other priority needs (3%). This included 12 lets to care experienced people (including 4 kinship carers).

31 additional social rented homes were added to the Council’s social rented stock of which 16 were new build homes  delivered in Plean and Stirling.

During 2024/25, a further 250 Council homes had a solar PV system installed, 78 had a battery storage system installed, 87 homes had underfloor insulation installed, 20 homes had Internal Wall insulation installed and 34 homes had the loft insulation topped up to meet current standards. This combined with the annual gas boiler and other heating upgrades resulted in the average Energy Efficiency Rating as calculated by Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) increasing from a score of 83 to a score of 84 (Band B) that is the equivalent to the rating expected of a new build property.

The average kWh/m² per annum fell by 5.24% compared to 2023/24 that demonstrates that the average cost to heat, hot water, light and ventilate a Council homes fell by 5.24% for properties that are already very energy efficient – on average 38% more energy efficient than the average for domestic properties across all of Scotland.

The C60 is a vital bus service between Killin and Callander linking communities between and including Callander, Strathyre, Lochearnhead and Killin and providing access to education, employment, leisure and medical facilities. On 31 March 2024 the private operator stopped operating the service under contract to the Council and the service was withdrawn.

To ensure the continuation of this service the only viable option was for the Council to operate the service inhouse, initially as a 2-year pilot. The service was subsequently reinstated on 1 July 2024 and during the first 12 months of operation 8,483 passengers have travelled on the service. Holders of the over 60 or the under 22 bus passes are able to travel on this service for free.

Feedback from passengers on the service is continually sought via the completion of the online feedback form.  On the whole, feedback has been positive with over 92% of passengers being very satisfied, satisfied or neutral.  Areas of dissatisfaction and areas for improvement identified related to a gap in service during the day. Based on this feedback, from 15 September 2025 an additional return journey has been added to the route.

As part of Challenge Poverty Week, we are highlighting how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is helping to build stronger, fairer communities across Stirling. Managed by the Community Development Team, this year’s funding has supported projects that improve community spaces, boost local wellbeing, and encourage enterprise. Over £288,000 has been invested in initiatives that bring people together, create opportunities, and support healthier, more connected neighbourhoods. From social hubs and learning activities to enterprising ideas that generate income and build resilience, these grants are helping communities thrive. The team continues to work with local groups to ensure remaining funds reach areas with fewer resources, supporting everyone to live well locally.

This Challenge Poverty Week, we are celebrating how local funding is helping build stronger, fairer communities. Over £288,000 has supported projects that improve spaces, boost wellbeing, and create opportunities for all. Together, we are making Stirling a place where everyone can thrive. 

Thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, 16 community spaces across Stirling have received grants to improve facilities for social connection, health, learning, and more. These spaces are vital in tackling poverty and building resilience. 

Discover Affordable, Low-Carbon Travel with FEL Scotland's Bike Library.

Getting around does not have to be expensive, or harmful to the planet. FEL Scotland's Bike Library gives local residents the chance to hire e-bikes at low cost, offering a greener, healthier way to travel. Whether you are commuting to work, heading to class, or simply looking for an easier way to get around, our e-bikes make journeys quicker, cheaper, and more enjoyable.