Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty Explained

Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty also known as ECAP, is a left-wing organisation which aims to be a solidarity network for working-class people particularly the unemployed and disabled. It is independent from government and operates by direct democracy.[1]

It is one of many similar claimants groups set up with similar political purposes.[2]

ECAP's website hosts benefit advice and articles about the group's activities.

The group has frequently been involved in opposition to benefit sanctions, opposition to workfare[3] [4] and fighting for the right to be accompanied at jobcentres[5] [6] ECAP has drawn inspiration from the advocacy of the Scottish Unemployed Workers Network and supported their member Tony Cox during his trial.[7] [8]

ECAP have held presentations alongside speakers like Lynne Friedli and the IWW.[9]

Its affiliate, Edinburgh Claimants has been acting as an independent advocacy group and claimants union since the 1980s as part of the Edinburgh Unemployed Workers Centre. It has been based at the autonomous centre of Edinburgh since 1997.[10]

ECAP is a member of the Action Against Austerity network[11] and signatory to "From Yes to Action"[12]

The group is featured in the end credits of Ken Loach's film I Daniel Blake due to its role in helping script writer Paul Laverty with researching the film.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty - About Us Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty. edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk. 2016-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20170212063049/http://www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/node/30. 2017-02-12. dead.
  2. Web site: Reclaiming welfare Corporate Watch. corporatewatch.org. 2016-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220152126/https://corporatewatch.org/magazine/45/winter-2009-2010/reclaiming-welfare. 2016-12-20. dead.
  3. News: Salvation Army shop blockaded over workfare complicity. Society. Peoples Printing Press. 2016-12-18.
  4. News: Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty protests against workfare exploitation at LearnDirect offices. Society. Peoples Printing Press. 2016-12-18.
  5. Web site: Advocacy is STILL NOT a crime -Solidarity with Tony Cox June 9th. Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty. edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk. 2016-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220174210/http://edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/node/200. 2016-12-20. dead.
  6. News: Workfare protesters besiege jobcentre. Third Force News. 2016-12-16.
  7. Web site: Fighting State-Sponsored Starvation in ‘Red Yes City’. 2016-08-02. Bella Caledonia. 2016-12-16.
  8. Web site: Dozens turn up for Arbroath Jobcentre protest. Lyon. Will. 2015-02-05. Evening Telegraph. 2016-12-18.
  9. Web site: Edinburgh IWW presentation.. scottf321. 2016-03-22. IWW Scotland. 2016-12-16.
  10. Web site: The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh. 2008-04-29. 2016-12-16.
  11. Web site: Action Against Austerity. Action Against Austerity. en-US. 2016-12-16.
  12. News: From Yes to Action - Joint statement on post-referendum organising - The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh. 2014-11-21. The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh. en-US. 2016-12-16.
  13. News: Ken Loach film on brutal benefits system headlines film festival. Third Force News. 2016-12-16.

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