‘Scotland Demands Better’, which is being coordinated by the Poverty Alliance and was endorsed by this year’s General Assembly, will culminate in a family-friendly march in Edinburgh on Saturday 25 October.
Rt Rev Rosie Frew said: “The Bible calls on us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. The Church is determined to be visible and vocal about the injustice and oppression that is happening around us.
“We welcome the Scotland Demands Better march and our presbyteries and congregations across the country will be actively involved, helping to bring Christ’s compassion into our public life.”
The campaign calls for:
- better jobs for everyone who needs one, with fair conditions and wages that pay the bills.
- better investment for life’s essentials – like affordable homes, good public transport, a thriving natural environment and strong public services.
- better social security so that all of us have a foundation for the future.
Other organisations backing ‘Scotland Demands Better’ include the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Scottish TUC, Justice & Peace Scotland, Oxfam, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Citizens Advice Scotland, and many more.
Peter Kelly, chief executive of the Poverty Alliance, said: “Change for the better happens when people stand together and demand it. Scotland desperately needs that change.
“Too many of us are being cut off from life’s essentials. Too many are frightened of what the future will bring. Too many of us are feeling tired, angry, isolated, and disillusioned. Too many are without a home, or sacrificing meals for their families, dreading winter due to heating costs, or struggling to get by on wages that don’t cover their household costs.
“We know it doesn’t have to be this way. There has been some welcome action from politicians, but it can’t be right that one in five of us are still living in poverty. It’s time for organisations across Scotland to come together to show our political leaders that we demand the fundamental changes and investment that will lead to a better future for all of us.”
Rt Rev Rosie’s address at the launch of ‘Scotland Demands Better’
I’m Rosie Frew, a parish minister in Bowden and Melrose in the Scottish Borders, currently serving as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
I’m also a school chaplain. Often in school, particularly primary school, we talk about the Golden Rule – treat other people the way you want to be treated yourself – words spoken by Jesus, a sentiment expressed in most religions and philosophies, and probably agreed upon by almost everyone.
I will ask a class, ‘how do you want to be treated?’
The kids will give me a list – with kindness, fairness, understanding, respect, and so on…
I then say that we can broaden this – want for other people what you want for yourself.
And I’ll ask, ‘what do you want?’ Now and in the future.
Again, the kids will give me a list – good friends, education, a job they enjoy, enough money to live on comfortably, a warm and secure home, a healthy environment, people to care for them when they’re sick, and the list goes on and on.
Which brings us to today and the launch of Scotland Demands Better. Endorsed enthusiastically at the recent General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, along with Christians from a range of other traditions and denominations.
What do we want?
We want a better future for all of us – that means jobs for everyone who needs one with fair conditions and wages that pay the bills.
We want better investment for life’s essentials: like affordable homes, good public transport, a thriving natural environment and strong public services.
Life’s essentials! These are not life’s luxuries.
The role of the Church is listening, learning, serving and caring – we are present in communities facing deep hardship and deprivation, as well as places that are affluent. We are present in city centres and remote islands. In all places this is what we are hearing. This is what people are needing, are wanting – better investment for life’s essentials.
We want better social security so that all of us have a foundation for the future.
You may have heard the phrase – Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us – it’s not just a slogan but a moral imperative; people who live with the realities of poverty every day must be at the centre of discussion and policy ideas.
The Bible calls on us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. The Church is determined to be visible and vocal about the injustice and oppression that is happening around us. We welcome the Scotland Demands Better March and our presbyteries and congregations across the country will be actively involved, helping to bring Christ’s compassion into our public life.
We stand in solidarity with activists, faith groups, trades unions, academics, families, campaigners. Good neighbours and fellow travellers.
This movement is about dignity and democracy. Every political party needs to take the concerns of civil society seriously ahead of the next elections. All voices need to be heard.
Scotland Demands Better.
Join in
Congregations can find out more, sign-up to a newsletter and download resources such as posters on the Poverty Alliance’s website.
Top of page picture: First Minister John Swinney, Lady Eilish Angiolini and Rt Rev Rosie Frew.