Church charities challenge unfair barriers in UK society

The gap between the richest and poorest in Britain is growing, and Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2012 will challenge the barriers of misunderstanding, stigma and injustice that result. The Breaking Barriers resource pack is now available online and calls on people throughout the churches to show solidarity with people who are pushed to the edge of our society.

Churches, schools and community groups will use the materials to create awareness of the problems, share ideas about how to tackle them, raise funds for local and national projects, and reflect in worship. A prayer calendar will feature different barriers on each day of Poverty & Homelessness Action Week, to encourage participants to reflect and to act for change.

Poverty & Homelessness Action Week starts on Saturday 28 January 2012, running to Sunday 5 February, and includes both Homelessness Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday. Resource materials include worship guides, materials for work with children and young people, and other materials, along with a map of events across the UK.

Scottish Churches Housing Action Alastair Cameron said: "Our society is full of barriers, and poverty creates many of them - barriers to getting on the housing ladder, or into a job, or even feeling safe in a particular part of town. False expectations set up by rampant materialism, status and acquisitiveness build barriers, too. The resource materials provide alternatives, giving ideas for how to build bridges within our communities."

Church Action on Poverty National Coordinator, Niall Cooper said: "Poverty and Homelessness Action Week will provide a timely opportunity for churches to reflect on one of the pressing topical issues of the day, namely: How can we break down the barriers between rich and poor; how can we start to break the barriers between those with wealth, money and power in society and those without."

To see the resource pack go to: www.actionweek.org.uk/