The Poverty Alliance marks 25 years of campaigning at its annual conference this week.

The organisers have said that while many issues remain there has been progress on tackling poverty along the way.

Issues have come and gone and some successes achieved but still high levels of poverty persist.

Peter Kelly director of Poverty Alliance said despite the changes there is a renewed threat to many of the achievements and more people are at risk of being plunged into poverty.

He said: “We have seen a lot of change over the last 25 years. Much of it has been good, but unfortunately many of the issues we faced in 1992 are still around today.

“We would never have imagined that in 2017 so many people in Scotland would be living in poverty or forced to rely on foodbanks to feed their families.

Glasgow Times: campaigners call for renewed action on poverty

Pictured: Peter Kelly 

“There has been much to lament about in recent years, but we also know that anti-poverty campaigners are as strong as ever, and ready and able to fight for real change.”

Mr Kelly said new threats emerge to put more people at risk from poverty with new political realities.

He added: “The economic instability that has come about because of our impending departure from the EU, as well as continuing cuts to social protection means that poverty is likely to increase over the next five years. In this context it is more important than ever that we make the right choices about what we seek to change, and how we go about making that change.”

The conference and week of campaigning has been spreading the message of: “Challenge Poverty in Scotland? Aye, we can!”