Yesterday (23 March) the Primus, the Most Rev Mark Strange joined faith leaders across the UK in sending an open letter to call for bold action on child poverty.
The letter has been sent to Liz Kendall and Bridget Philipson, the Secretaries of State for Works and Pensions, and Education and reads: “We write to you as faith leaders from communities across the UK, to encourage you to be bold and ambitious in your upcoming Child Poverty Strategy. We welcome the government’s acknowledgement in its manifesto that the UK’s increasing levels of child poverty and reliance on emergency food are a “moral scar” on our nation. Without action this scar will deepen, with an additional 400,000 children set to be pulled into poverty over the next decade.”
Commenting, Bishop Mark said: “This letter comes from a place of hope. Hope that the call for action on child poverty be heeded by those in power, and that our representatives take the time to listen and learn from those most affected.
“Across the Scottish Episcopal Church there are congregations large and small who are doing their part in their local communities to target poverty. From hosting food banks, clothing banks, and breakfast clubs, to offering warm spaces in cold weather, or simply a place to be welcomed on Sundays or during the week.
“This is part of our call to minister, and as people of hope, we are always seeking to do more. This letter calls on our leaders to do the same – to seek to do more to support those whose lives are made that much more difficult due to the grinding effects of poverty.”