Members' Business — S6M-14683 Paul O'Kane: Challenge Poverty Week 2024

That the Parliament recognises Challenge Poverty Week 2024, which is coordinated by the Poverty Alliance, Scotland’s anti-poverty network, and runs from 7 to 13 October; notes that activities, events and actions will take place across Scotland, including in the West Scotland region, which will be aimed at increasing public support for tackling poverty and highlighting the realities of, and solutions to, poverty; acknowledges that Challenge Poverty Week 2023 was the biggest yet, with over 500 organisations taking part; notes that the week emphasises the need for fair funding for the third sector and the importance of a number of key policy asks, including across housing, transport, adequate incomes and food, to help unlock people from the grip of poverty; understands that 21% of people, and 24% of children, are living in the grip of poverty; notes the view that governments, elected members, civil society and communities all have a role to play in solving poverty; is concerned that particular groups of people, including women, lone parents, disabled people and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, are disproportionately experiencing poverty; considers that people in Scotland believe in compassion, justice and ending poverty; celebrates the work undertaken by organisations and communities across Scotland to stem what it sees as the rising tide of poverty, and notes the calls for MSPs to attend and support events and activities in their constituencies and regions as part of what it believes is this important campaign.