During Challenge Poverty Week (6-12 October), the Improvement Service is hosting a series of bite sized, data focused sessions to deepen understanding of how local authorities and their partners across Scotland are using data to understand and reduce poverty. From innovative tools that boost benefit uptake to strategic resources for early intervention and unmet need, each session will showcase real-world examples of how data is driving more targeted, effective support for families.
Whether you're working in policy, planning, or data and intelligence, this series offers valuable insights into how data can be harnessed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families experiencing poverty in Scotland.
Monday 6 October – The Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT)
Join Policy in Practice and Citizens Advice & Rights Fife to explore how the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) is being used to boost benefit uptake and reduce financial hardship. Learn how Fife Council has used LIFT to run targeted campaigns on Pension Credit, Council Tax arrears, and take-up. The session will feature a product overview from Tylor-Maria Johnson (LIFT) and practical insights from Audrey Whyte (Citizens Advice and Rights Fife) on using data to reach low-income households.
Tuesday 7 October – CACI Child Poverty Playbook
Discover how 23 Scottish councils are using CACI’s Acorn and Paycheck datasets to better understand local poverty and design targeted interventions. This session introduces the Child Poverty Playbook, developed with COSLA and local authorities, offering practical case studies and guidance on using data to inform policy and planning. Ideal for teams looking to make smarter, data-led decisions to tackle child poverty.
Wednesday 8 October – WLC-IS Unmet Need
Explore how West Lothian Council and the Improvement Service (funded by the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund) are using data to uncover unmet need in communities. This session will share lessons learned, practical examples, and how other councils can get involved in using data to identify where people may be missing out on support. This session is ideal for anyone keen to discover how data-driven approaches can make a real difference in supporting their local communities.
Thursday 9 October – SAVVI: Data for Early Intervention
The Improvement Service’s SAVVI team will showcase how councils can use data to identify and support vulnerable individuals before crisis hits. Learn how the SAVVI approach can help overcome barriers like fragmented data and legal uncertainty, and about the potential it has to enable ethical, proactive approaches to poverty prevention - and more - across Scotland.
Friday 10 October – Prioritise Child Poverty Tool
Public Health Scotland presents its Prioritise Child Poverty resource, including information on the new dashboard it is developing to support strategic, data-informed planning. This session will guide attendees through using the tool to understand local systems, identify priority groups, and co-design interventions. A valuable resource for anyone working to reduce child poverty at the local level.