Tuesday October 6th 2026
West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston, where the council is based. Almost £2.5m in additional income was secured for households in the Broxburn, Uphall, Winchburgh and Dechmont ward through the council’s anti-poverty service.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
Almost £2.5m has been raised for householders in the Broxburn area who have been helped by West Lothian’s Anti-Poverty Service.
Local Councillor and opposition SNP group leader Councillor Janet Campbell said staff worked: “relentlessly to address poverty at the grass roots level.”
She added: “I am very grateful for the support they have provided for my constituents.”
A report to the Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Local Area Committee highlighted the successes of the work of the service in the ward.
In total, 9% of Advice Shop customers in West Lothian came from the ward area.
Successful outcomes secured for these customers in the last year include: Total financial gains of £2,438,151 million by maximising income from social security benefits.
Energy efficiency savings of £57,964 were achieved through access to financial support and advice.
Households received support to deal with £671,733 of problem debt, resulting in reduction in debt repayments of £430,065.
The council issued 223 emergency food vouchers and 195 fuel vouchers for households at risk of disconnection.
Across West Lothian, the Advice Shop has supported 13,848 unique customers with advice and support with income maximisation, energy, debt and housing advice, leading to:- £31,547,311 financial gains through entitlement to social security benefits and
£529,595 savings secured through energy efficiency advice and access to financial support with energy costs.
Councillor Campbell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I would like to congratulate the anti-poverty service for the work they do for the people of Broxburn, Uphall, Winchburgh and Dechmont. They work relentlessly to address poverty at the grass roots level and I am very grateful for the support they have provided for my constituents.”
She added: “In energy rich Scotland 515 households in this ward alone were helped by the fuel grant. Before they use a single unit of electricity a family in West Lothian has to pay £55 more in standing charges than a family in London. This Labour Government came to power promising to reduce energy bills – instead they have risen by 18%.”
The committee heard that a dedicated team provides support across educational settings, including schools and early years establishments, with targeted assistance for priority groups such as people experiencing domestic abuse, care-experienced young people, and kinship carers.
The Anti-Poverty service team, during 2025/26, received over 1,200 referrals and secured £2,254,796 in additional income for families across West Lothian. Through the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, the team has also captured a range of non-financial outcomes that demonstrate the wider impact of the service.
In the last financial year, support provided contributed to improved wellbeing for 109 families, reduced the need for crisis intervention for 100 families, and enabled 72 families to access wider support through referrals to partner organisations.
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