Shouting louder than ever during Challenge Poverty Week

Home-Start Aberdeen is joining forces with hundreds of organisations across Scotland during Challenge Poverty Week (3rd – 9th October) to raise the profile of the difficulties faced by a growing number of young families amidst the cost of living crisis. We have teamed up with Aberdeen’s community radio station, ShmuFM, to highlight the organisation and its work to a local audience through social media and community radio shows during the week.  

“Challenge Poverty Week aims to highlight the injustice of poverty in Scotland, and show that collective action based on justice and compassion can bring solutions,” explains Home-Start Aberdeen’s General Manager, Eleanor McEwan, who will discuss the charity’s work and impact on air on Friday 7th October at 10am.  

“At Home-Start Aberdeen we help over 200 struggling young families every year. From poverty and poor mental health to disability and bereavement, the issues faced by struggling young families are made only more challenging by the current cost of living crisis. Whether it’s practical or emotional, the support we give them relies on our fantastic team of volunteers – and we couldn’t do it without them.  

“We’re currently looking for more volunteers and have an interesting mix of roles to fill, from working in our George Street charity shop to being a home volunteer, or a trustee on our board. It would be fantastic to hear from anyone who’s interested in making a real, tangible difference to vulnerable young families in their local community.”   

Communications Officer for ShmuFM, Lucy Stroud, added: “Tackling poverty is a really important issue for ShmuFM, and we’re pleased to give organisations like Home-Start Aberdeen a platform to shine a light on their work and the need for more support at such a difficult time for so many families. Challenge Poverty Week is a week dedicated to raising our collective voices against poverty and calling for a more just and equal Scotland, but at ShmuFM this is only the start of a longer-term engagement with our listeners, involving community magazines, short films and broadcast interviews that will aim to really boost awareness and ultimately support, for charities such as Home-Start Aberdeen at this crucial time.”