The Association and its charitable subsidiary Thenue Communities hosted a well attended community well-being and family-focused event to coincide with Challenge Poverty Week Scotland which runs until Sunday.

It took place at the Calton Heritage and Learning Centre and was supported by regeneration agency Clyde Gateway, Glasgow City Council and The Halliday Foundation.

Challenge Poverty Week is an important event as it shines a light on the ongoing task of challenging and ultimately defeating poverty wherever and whenever it exists.

The first Challenge Poverty Week was launched by the Poverty Alliance in 2013. Its aim is to highlight the injustice of poverty in Scotland, and to show that collective action based on justice and compassion can create solutions.

Housing associations and housing co-operatives are leaders in the drive to tackle poverty in their respective communities.

Welfare rights and financial inclusion help offered by them do much to relieve financial hardship among tenants helping to relieve pressure on family budgets and ultimately assisting people to sustain their tenancies

The cost of living challenges experienced by so many currently have made the situation much worse with rising energy bills and soaring food prices.

Earlier this year, Thenue’s free Financial Inclusion Service and Energy Advice Service revealed it had put £3.4 million back into tenants’ pockets between April 2025 and March this year – a rise from £1.4m the previous year and demonstrating the real pressure people are under.

The figure was made up largely of state benefits which individuals and families are entirely entitled to and were not claiming.

Thenue was among the stalls offering advice which also included Jobs and Business Glasgow, Citizens Advice, and Changeworks, which gives impartial advice on energy and home heating. A free lunch was provided, too.

Donna Henderson, chief executive of Thenue, said: ”Housing providers like ourselves are acutely aware of the danger poverty presents and that’s why we endeavour to do everything we can to alleviate it.

“It impacts so many people and causes deep-rooted problems when it comes to affording the basics in life.

“Housing associations and housing co-operatives have been at the forefront of the fight against poverty for decades as there is a well-established link between poverty and the ability to pay your rent.

“We were pleased to host this event in Calton as it brings sharply into focus the responsibility we all have in this ever-present challenge.”

There was a strong family theme to the event with opportunities for young children accompanying their parents to enjoy face painting, arts and crafts and even meet two alpacas – Finlay and Rory - which journeyed to the east end from their home on a farm in Dumbarton.