Leeds poverty – Councillor urges city to give up one hour’s salary to help

A leading Leeds councillor has thrown her backing behind a new campaign to help tackle the growing problem of poverty in the city.

St Vincent Support Centre will today launch the “Hour Leeds” campaign. This will encourage Leeds residents to donate one hour’s salary to help tackle some of the most underlying causes of poverty in our city. Follow the #hourleeds hashtag on Twitter for more.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon (Council Champion for the Third Sector) said:

“There is a growing problem of people living in poverty in Leeds and St Vincents already do some amazing work to help with this.

“The voluntary sector is exceptionally well placed when it comes to fightingpoverty, but they need funding to do this and the Hour Leeds campaign is a really great way for Leeds people to help tackle poverty in our own backyard.

“By donating just one hour’s salary, people in Leeds can make a real difference to tackling some of the most underlying causes of poverty in our city.”

St Vincent’s manager, Charlotte Walton, added:

“We see, first hand every day, the desperate conditions people in Leeds are living in.  Poverty doesn’t just exist abroad – it exists in our city, on our doorsteps.

“Through this campaign we are trying to bring Leeds together to improve the lives of those most in need.  We don’t give handouts; St Vincent’s gives people the tools to improve their lives and the lives of their families.  One hour’s salary for most people is affordableso please join our campaign.  If everyone gives a little, we can help a lot.”

The Hour Leeds campaign will launch at noon today at The Light in Leeds City Centre.  The campaign has two objectives – to highlight the growing problem of poverty in Leeds and to raise funds to allow St Vincent’sto do more work alleviating poverty