Building a Stigma-Free Scotland: The Anti-Stigma Charter

As the Challenge Poverty Week draws to a close, Stacey Cuthbertson from Capital City Partnership provides an update on the work that Joined Up for Families have been doing on poverty related stigma.

'Through our work with the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal's Intensive Family Support Service at Capital City Partnership, we have spent the past year collaborating with families and organisations across the region to address a challenge that often goes unnoticed: poverty-related stigma. This issue goes beyond material deprivation, deeply affecting people's dignity, self-esteem, and how those in poverty are viewed and treated in society."

As Ruth Lister, Professor Emerita of Social Policy, put it:

"Poverty is not just about a lack of resources, it is also about shame and stigma, the daily humiliations that people experience."

Parents and young people shared that poverty-related stigma is experienced daily within their communities. Harmful stereotypes, judgmental attitudes, and discriminatory practices affect how people access support, contributing to their isolation and marginalisation.

The Anti-Stigma Charter: Co-Designed by Families

To tackle the issue of poverty-related stigma, we created the Anti-Stigma Charter through a co-design process that actively involved families affected. Over 30 families, including parents and young people, shared their personal experiences of stigma. These experiences shaped the Charter, ensuring that its principles of dignity, equality, and inclusivity are grounded in reality. 

We collaboratively developed a set of actionable principles and guidelines to help organisations fully understand the scope of the issue and take proactive steps towards mitigating stigma. Signing the Charter is a commitment to addressing and reducing the stigma associated with poverty that many people experience, particularly those who rely on support services. It is designed for anyone working to support individuals and families, including practitioners, project staff, community, and statutory organisations. 

Fife’s Stigma Toolkit

The Charter was inspired by the experiences of families in Fife, Scotland, working with the Making it Work for Families Project to create a practical Stigma Toolkit. Developed in partnership with The Poverty Alliance, the toolkit offers concrete tools and strategies to combat stigma and enhance support practices. This resource is being rolled out across Scotland alongside the Charter, providing tools for organisations to address stigma at its roots.

Alongside the Charter, a powerful video has been created in collaboration with Making it Work for Families, Poverty Alliance, End Poverty Edinburgh and The City of Edinburgh Council. The film features families sharing their experiences alongside contributions from members of End Poverty Edinburgh. This film will be embedded into The City of Edinburgh Council’s staff training to raise awareness of stigma. 

Why Stigma Matters

Stigma can involve negative assumptions, prejudice, and discrimination. Stigma is often rooted in moral judgements about what is wrongly assumed to be a choice. It can lead to discrimination, marginalisation, and the unjust treatment of individuals based on characteristics such as race, gender, sexuality, health, or wealth.

For many people, the shame and embarrassment tied to being poor is as damaging as the financial hardship itself. The emotional toll can erode self-esteem and prevent people from seeking help. Addressing stigma is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring that every individual feels valued and respected, regardless of their circumstances.

Stigma isn’t just an individual problem—it's systemic. That’s why the Charter calls on services and organisations to examine their practices, question unconscious biases, and commit to creating environments where people in poverty can access support without fear of judgement.

What’s Next?

As part of Challenge Poverty Week, we encourage everyone - individuals, community groups, and organisations - to reflect on how they can help eliminate stigma.

We’re excited to announce that the Anti-Stigma Charter and its accompanying resources will be launched soon. This framework will empower individuals, community organisations, and service providers to work together in creating a stigma-free Scotland. 

By embracing the Charter and utilising resources like the Stigma Toolkit, we can collectively foster a more just and compassionate society.

To stay informed and get involved, sign up for updates on the Anti-Stigma Charter and its resources. Together, we can build a society where everyone thrives, free from stigma.

Sign up here to receive the latest news and information on the Charter. 

You can access Fife's Stigma Toolkit here. 

Read more about the work of The Poverty Alliance and Challenge Poverty Week here.