Welfare surgery aims to help tackle poverty
A "WELFARE surgery" held in Inverness is set to be the first of many in a bid to tackle poverty.
Drew Hendry organised the surgery as part of national poverty week with various organisations joining him to offer advice surrounding welfare-related issues to help those in need at Merkinch Community Centre.
Mr Hendry said: "The people who came in to the surgery left with smiles on their faces. They were able to get the advice that they needed and they have a better understanding of what their rights are.
"The surgery was a one-stop shop idea for local people struggling with benefits or welfare issues.
"Most people who attended are not getting the support that they need."
Following the surgery, Mr Hendry and representatives from the invited organisations had a discussed how they can work together to tackle poverty in the local area and to help make their network stronger.
The event was the first of its kind and it is hoped to be the first of many.
Mr Hendry said: "My hope is to run the welfare surgeries on a quarterly basis. The point of inviting these organisations for the round-table discussion was to find out how we could all work together more."
Allana Mackay, charity executive for MFR Cash for Kids was among those in attendance. She said: "We live in such a beautiful part of the world that often people forget that poverty does exist here.
"At MFR Cash for Kids we quite often discover that people from Merkinch can be the most considerate when it comes to helping others living in poverty.
"Last year we collected about £11,000 from collection tins located all around Inverness and we found that Merkinch donated the most."
The organisations in attendance included the Highland Council’s welfare support team, representatives of the Citizens Advice Bureau, Inverness Cathedral, MFR Cash for Kids, Advocacy Highland and Merkinch Partnership.
