Challenge Poverty Week events 2026

The Council and our partners are supporting a programme of events across the area during Challenge Poverty Week. The events will bring communities and organisations together to raise awareness of poverty, highlight the support available locally and explore how we can work together to help build a fairer Clackmannanshire.

Challenge Poverty Week is about

• raising our voices against the injustice of poverty because we all want to live in a more just and equal Scotland
• building awareness of the lived-experience of poverty in our communities and the solutions to tackle it
• changing the conversation around poverty, helping to end the stigma of living on a low income

Monday 5 October

Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration link: Monday Breakfast Briefing | Social Security
• National event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Improvement Service Breakfast Briefing: Priority Groups | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration email: childpoverty@improvementservice.org.uk
• National event - staff, partners and professionals

Joseph Rowntree Foundation - Poverty in Scotland 2026 Report launch | 9:30am–12:30pm (in person) | 10–11:45am (online)

• Registration link: Poverty In Scotland 2026 | JRF Scotland – The Poverty Alliance
• National event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Social Security Scotland Benefits Overview | 10–11:30am

• Registration link: Social Security Scotland Benefits Overview
• National event - staff, partners and professionals

Tuesday 6 October 

LEP Employer event | 4–5.45pm | Forth Valley College Alloa Campus

• Registration link: LEP Employer Event
• Regional event - employers, businesses and funding/workforce support focused organisations

Home Energy Advice team support surgery | 10am–1pm | Spiers Centre, Alloa

• In person drop-in event
• Public event

Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration link: Tuesday Breakfast Briefing | Energy
• National event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Improvement Service Breakfast Briefing: Priority Groups | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration email: childpoverty@improvementservice.org.uk
• National event - staff, partners and professionals

Wednesday 7 October

Forth Valley and West Lothian Tackling Poverty Shared Learning Event | 9:30am–3:30pm | Forth Valley College, Falkirk Campus

• Registration email: conor.barbour@falkirk.gov.uk
• Regional event - practitioners and partner organisations

Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration link: Wednesday Breakfast Briefing | Fair Work
• National event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Improvement Service Breakfast Briefing: Priority Groups | 9:30am-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration email: childpoverty@improvementservice.org.uk
• National event - staff, partners and professionals

Thursday 8 October

Gambling Harm Awareness webinar | 10-11am | online MS Teams

• Registration email: rmaclean@clacks.gov.uk
• Regional event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration link: Thursday Breakfast Briefing Special | In Conversation With Amanda Amaeshi
• National event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Improvement Service Breakfast Briefing: Priority Groups | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration email: childpoverty@improvementservice.org.uk
• National event - staff, partners and professionals

Poverty Alliance & Human Rights Consortium Scotland - Challenging Poverty Through Human Rights webinar | 3–4pm | online Zoom

• Registration link: Challenging Poverty Through Human Rights webinar
• National event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Poverty Alliance Annual Challenge Poverty Week Lecture, with Asad Rehman, 6-8pm, The Social Hub, Glasgow

• Registration link: Annual Challenge Poverty Week Lecture
• National event - public, staff, campaigners and professionals

Friday 9 October

Volunteer-led Community Cafe | all morning | Bowmar Centre, Alloa

• Public event

Community Cafe with Energy Support | 12noon-2pm | The Hive

• Public event

LEP Community Leadership Panel session | 9:30–11am | Forth Valley College, Alloa Campus

• Reviewing small grants applications for two funds, and deciding on awards
• Regional event - panel members/community representatives

Improvement Service Breakfast Briefing: Priority Groups | 9:30-10am | online MS Teams

• Registration email: childpoverty@improvementservice.org.uk
• National event - staff, partners and professionals