The Tackling Poverty Locally Directory is a free online resource designed to highlight innovative practice and provide guidance on how similar initiatives can be adopted elsewhere in the country.

The first 20 case studies included in the database, which launched yesterday, feature projects set up to tackle food poverty, reduce stigma, assist people into employment, deliver financial inclusion, tackle housing costs, and address the cost of living crisis.

The examples include work led by small community groups, local NHS Boards, local government, and the Third Sector.

Hosted by the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit (SPIRU) at Glasgow Caledonian, and funded by the independent charity abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, the database will be further developed throughout 2024.

Professor John McKendrick, co-director of SPIRU, said: “Scotland has committed to eradicate child poverty by 2030, which has led to a proliferation of innovative practice.

“We need to use our resources better and to learn from each other.

“Our Directory aims to become the go-to place where anyone interested in tackling poverty in their area can learn what works.”

Examples in the directory include:

• The ‘1 in 5’ project in Edinburgh, which provided insight into changes schools could implement to support children from low-income families to reduce school-related costs.
• The Private Rented Sector Housing and Welfare Team (PRS Support Hub) in Glasgow, which provides a holistic support service that helps families sustain their tenancies
• The Household Support Fund, developed by Falkirk Council, to provide cash-first support to low-income families. Its primary objective is to help reduce the need for crisis support, encourage engagement with advice services, and break the stigma often associated with receiving other types of support such as vouchers or food parcels

Viv Jackson, programme manager at abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, said: “The Directory will enable projects to help far more people than just those involved with each programme.

“By helping organisations across Scotland learn what works from each other, and replicate the most successful projects, the Directory will enable anti-poverty work to have a far-reaching impact.”