NHS Lanarkshire is working with local and national partners to highlight this year’s Challenge Poverty Week, running next week (Monday 5 – Sunday 11 October).
Organised by the Poverty Alliance, there will be a variety of services and resources highlighted from NHS Lanarkshire that are available to both staff and communities, impacted by poverty.
Jo Duffy, Senior Health Improvement officer, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Challenge Poverty Week is a powerful opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the issues which can affect our staff, patients and communities. By working together with our partners and communities, we can help people to access the key supports available to them, when they need it most.
“As an Anchor Organisation, NHS Lanarkshire is in a prime position to support this work locally through our service delivery, procurement and fair employment levers, to tackle head on some of the root causes of poverty.”
There are free national webinars planned, including breakfast briefings organised by the Poverty Alliance. View what’s on below:
Monday 5 October
- Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing – Social Security Zoom Webinar 9am-9.45am
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation – Poverty in Scotland 2026 Zoom Webinar 9.30am-12.30pm
- Carluke Health Centre 9am-12pm – Changeworks will be in the main reception providing face-to-face engagement, energy advice, and fuel poverty support.
- Carluke Health Centre – Tackling Poverty: Everyone’s Business Staff Training session will be delivered in the Health Education Room between 9.30am-10.30am
- Lanark Health Centre 1pm-4pm – South Lanarkshire Council Community Engagement Team will be providing face-to-face engagement, promotion of the ‘Money is not the only problem’ resource, free period product promotion. Tackling Poverty: Everyone’s Business Staff Training session will be delivered in the Health Education Room between 1.30pm-2.30pm
Tuesday 6 October
- Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing – Energy Zoom Webinar 9.15am-10am
- University Hospital Wishaw 11am-2pm – NHS Lanarkshire Health Improvement Tackling Poverty Team and NHS Credit Union will be providing face-to-face awareness raising and support for staff on; local money advice services, referrals and benefits of the NHS Credit Union
Wednesday 7 October
- Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing – Energy Zoom Webinar 9.15am-10am
- Home Energy Scotland – Saving Energy within the Home 2pm-3.30pm – MS Teams Session. Home Energy Scotland offers free, impartial advice to help people across Scotland save energy, stay warm, and reduce their bills. Funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust.
Thursday 8 October
- Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing – Energy Zoom Webinar 9.15am-10am
- Douglas Street Clinic, Hamilton 9am-12pm The Wise Group will be in the foyer area promoting their ‘Relational Mentoring’ programme. Tackling Poverty: Everyone’s Business Staff Training session will be delivered in the Meeting Room between 9.30am-10.30am
- University Hospital Hairmyres 10am-2pm – NHS Lanarkshire Health Improvement Team and South Lanarkshire Council Community Engagement Team will be providing face-to-face engagement, promotion of the ‘Money is not the only problem’ resource, free period product promotion.
- NHS Credit Union 12pm-1pm MS Teams Session – Briefing session on the benefits for staff in joining the NHS Credit Union
Staff and partners will also be present at various pop-ups across our acute and community sites.
A number of community events will also be held throughout the week, promoted through local channels to raise awareness with local communities and key target groups.
Links to local information and supports are available on our public facing NHS Lanarkshire Cost of living Page. We have also updated our Tackling Poverty FirstPort page, which contains downloadable FAQs, with tips on how to support staff and patients with money worries.
Look out for hashtag #ChallengePoverty and please share the key messages where you can.
