An independent commission has outlined a far-reaching vision aimed at ending poverty in Fife.
Forty recommendations have been included in the Fairer Fife Commission’s report, which challenges Fife Council, public services, charities and businesses to work together towards a “significantly fairer Fife” by 2030.
The commission was established by Fife Council in September last year to examine the root causes of poverty in local communities and look at how best to help the 75,000 people thought to be directly affected by poverty in Fife.
And, as the report was launched, council leader David Ross described it as a “document of huge significance for Fife”.
Among the recommendations listed include a push on building more affordable housing, encouraging a million more hours of volunteering a year, creating a new apprenticeship for every £1 million of public expenditure in Fife, a call for free travel cards for low income families, and more support for people facing welfare benefit sanctions.
“This is a real milestone in the fight against poverty in our communities,” Mr Ross said.
“It’s reassuring to receive confirmation from experts in the field that Fife is doing some great work but there is much more to be done.
“We are now going to build on that to develop and implement further practical action to reduce poverty in our communities.”
The commission focused on various issues and heard evidence from looked after children, foodbank users, people suffering the effects of sanctions, and others whose lives are blighted by poverty.
Other recommendations made by the commission include the establishment of a Knowledge Hub to help turn data on fairness in Fife into practical action; better partnerships with the Department for Work and Pensions to improve the local welfare system and create trust between
those looking for work and job centres; and more emphasis on cutting the attainment gap by working with Fife schools individually.
Also outlined was an aim to increase the number of credit union members to 30,000 by 2030, and a desire to set up a pilot project to help those suffering from stress and anxiety as a result of their circumstances particularly people living alone.