Anti-Poverty Network Event

I had the pleasure of attending The Causeway Coast and Glenns Anti-Poverty Network event which was held here at Causeway Coast Vineyard on Friday and which brought together representatives from community organisations, support services, and local council to discuss key issues affecting individuals and families experiencing poverty in our area.

The whole session was structured around a series of roundtable discussions, allowing participants to explore and understand a range of poverty-related topics, share experiences from their communities, and try to identify practical solutions.

Discussions covered areas such as debt, access to services, digital poverty, food insecurity, housing challenges, and opportunities for partnership working.

One key area for myself that was highlighted was the importance of increasing awareness of Social Tariffs for broadband and Wi-Fi users.

It was discussed that many households on low incomes may be eligible for significantly reduced internet costs but are often unaware of these schemes.

Improving promotion and referral pathways for Social Tariffs was identified as a potential practical step that could help reduce financial pressure while supporting digital inclusion. Especially when many schools are now asking kids to do homework online, but families may not be able to afford the increasing broadband prices. 

The event provided a valuable opportunity for great networking opportunities, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. 

Regards 

Phil
Provisions Manager at Vineyard Compassion