GLASGOW is affected by ­poverty more than most UK cities, with too many areas categorised as suffering multiple deprivation.

There is already numerous efforts from all agencies, attempting to improve the health, education and employment prospects of tens of thousands of our citizens, with varying degrees of success.

The symptoms of poverty are easily recogniseable, but the causes are more complex and the so called 'Glasgow effect' has yet to be fully understood.

What is clear is that there needs to be a sustained effort at all levels of government to understand the problems and invest in the staff and financial resources needed to put the right policies in place that can make a difference.

The UK welfare cuts have undeniably caused even greater hardship among those who are most vulnerable and risk pushing more into poverty, however much ministers claim otherwise.

While attempting to help those people now, the goal of the future must be to break the inter generational cycle and prevent children in certain parts of the city growing up into a life of poverty.