Moray Poverty and Inequality Report – Lived Experience of Poverty in Moray 2019-2021 – download here
Welcome, we would like to introduce the background to the Moray Poverty and Inequality Report 2019-2021.
The Covid pandemic has brought to the fore the range of poverty and inequality Moray residents experience in their daily lives. Whilst austerity measures pre-Covid are at the root of many needs, the additional pressures and new experiences of furlough, redundancy and unsecured debt for some have contributed to feelings of anxiety and helplessness.
Volunteers, including local residents have stepped up to take on duties and responsibilities, sometimes without previous experience or training, to care for people as different supports were reduced or removed. Family members became the educators for children, balancing also their own commitments, work and responsibilities.
An action group was developed from the Fairer Moray Forum to address a disconnection between grassroots activity and work ongoing at a strategic level. Community groups shared their experience of occasions where they were struggling to support the individuals on the ground as they presented at food larders and needed quicker responses or support from more formal service provision that may not have been easily accessible or available to them at all at this time.
Communities could, and did, respond far more quickly than services who had systems to follow. Partners assisted with signposting, service information collation and solutions that expanded their own knowledge.
In parallel the next Community Learning and Development Plan for Moray 2021-24 was being developed with the focus in year one on Covid recovery. A key feature is understanding the barriers to participation and learning. Acknowledging that basic security needs have to be met before people are able to engage, participate and learn, it was considered essential to understand the challenges better to gain insights into meeting the learning needs of people with increased barriers.
After some background information what follows are a selection of case studies or summaries from individuals and partners to highlight the lived experience of Moray residents. All cases have been anonymised and serve to remind practitioners and officers the range of existing needs and the domino effect that issues have. Our thanks to all who have shared their stories. Every person has their own narrative of how
they experience poverty and its ramifications.
The Fairer Moray Forum Action group will focus on recommendations from these case-studies and raise during Challenge Poverty Week.
Fairer Moray Action Group
Download the Moray Poverty and Inequality report in FULL here.
For more information about the Moray Poverty & Inequalities Report, the case studies or the new CLD Plan please contact Karen Delaney, Strategic Partnership and Policy Officer, Moray Council. karen.delaney@moray.gov.uk or 07800 670692
