Our work on SDG Goal 1: No Poverty
Learn about our recent progress and updates on how we're contributing to SDG 1: No Poverty.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 by all United Nations member states. It provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
Find out more about our work across all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
About No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Research
Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness
In 2024, the University of Stirling received funding for the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness, a five-year project supported by the Economic and Social Research Council and Local Trust with a £1million investment. Professors Peter Matthews and Alasdair Rutherford lead work on the Clackmannanshire “Community Catapult,” a place-based partnership that tests innovative ways to strengthen social ties and local resources.
Their research focuses on how connected communities - where people trust each other, have strong relationships, and access opportunities - can reduce poverty and improve resilience. By co-designing solutions with local organisations and policy makers, they aim to create evidence and tools that help scale up successful approaches. This work addresses the root causes of poverty by improving social capital, enabling communities to respond to challenges like unemployment and health inequalities, and building fairer opportunities for all.
Find about more about the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness.
Voices from the Periphery
Stirling plays a leading role in the VOICES project, which examines how post-industrial communities across Europe experience marginalisation and economic disadvantage.
This research challenges stigma and informs policies that promote social inclusion and equality. Professor James Morrison’s work adds depth to this mission by exploring tensions between media and political narratives around ‘economic inactivity’ and the lived experiences of disadvantaged individuals and communities.
His research addresses harmful stereotypes and policy gaps through engagement with media regulators, contributions to national debates on welfare reform, and initiatives like training journalists in sensitive reporting on inequality. Recent activity includes participation in public forums on the demonisation of disabled people, co-authoring responses to government welfare proposals, and publishing widely to advocate for fairer, more inclusive coverage. Together, these efforts aim to dismantle structural barriers, influence policy, and empower communities to shape fairer futures.
Explore the latest Voices from the Periphery outputs.
Learning and teaching
PhD Student Cluster Net Zero Communities
Formed in October 2024, the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) brings together a dynamic cluster of PhD researchers tackling issues at the heart of poverty reduction. Their projects focus on community-led food production as a way to improve local economies, health, and wellbeing. By pworking directly with communities, they explore how growing food locally can strengthen social resilience and create fairer access to resources.
The group also investigates links between food systems, renewable energy, and infrastructure - building knowledge that supports sustainable livelihoods and reduces vulnerability to economic shocks. This research aligns with SDG 1 by addressing the root causes of poverty and empowering communities to develop solutions that combine environmental sustainability with social and economic benefits.
Learning for tackling poverty and inequality
A range of courses are offered that equip graduates to tackle poverty and inequality. Our Social Work courses combine practical experience with theory and give students the professional qualification they need to practice social work and help change people’s lives. Social workers are often involved in complex and difficult situations, as well as meaningful work, with families that need extra support around living with poverty, substance use, violence and other complexities. Our course content draws on the latest knowledge and experience of people working in social work today.
Our Policy degrees prepare students to address social challenges and improve community wellbeing with postgraduate courses such as Public Policy, Applied Social Research, and Housing Studies enabling graduates to develop expertise in designing evidence-based solutions to reduce disadvantage and homelessness. Courses in Substance Use and Criminology explore the links between poverty, health, and justice, while Sociology provides a deeper understanding of social structures and inequality. Together, these courses empower students to create fairer opportunities and drive positive change in society.
Undergraduate courses
Postgraduate courses
University operations
The Living Wage
The University values the skills, experience and the involvement of its employees and is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive culture and working environment.
We remain committed to Fair Work principles through providing a healthy work-life balance and through a commitment to paying the Real Living Wage to employees since 2015. We continue to apply supplements on the grading structure in line with the Real Living Wage published rates.
Student internships
Student Skills and Employability employ students as interns each academic year to support with activities such as events management, social media content, comms and marketing support.
Students are paid the Scottish Living Wage, which is in keeping with our own Vacancy Handling policy and matches what is expected from employers whose job vacancies we promote to students and graduates. This provides students with flexible roles which can work around their studies whilst allowing them to work for a reputable organisation and develop skills and experience all of which can be transferred into graduate roles.
We showcase the use of paid student internships to employers via our LinkedIn so they can understand how employing a student on a part time basis can support their organisation.
Supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds
We are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of background. Our Access to Degree Studies course supports mature learners without traditional qualifications, offering pathways in nursing, social sciences, and science, with guaranteed progression to undergraduate study.
To tackle digital poverty, we provide free laptop loans for short or long-term use. Sanctuary Scholarships remove barriers for students seeking asylum, refugees, or those on humanitarian grounds.
As a corporate parent, we offer tailored support for care experienced students, including application guidance, pre-entry visits, guaranteed year-round accommodation, and financial assistance. Together, these initiatives help create an inclusive environment where disadvantaged students can thrive.
Civic engagement
Staff Charities Fund
Our Staff Charities Fund supports a range of causes which aim to alleviate human suffering of people in our local community and across Scotland, the UK and worldwide. All the individual charities are nominated by the Fund’s membership and are a result of the Staff Giving Scheme and annual fundraising events.
Each year around £15,000 is given to emergency appeals and humanitarian organisations such as the Strathcarron Hospice, Alzheimer Scotland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Oxfam, UNICEF, Woman’s Aid, StartUp Stirling and many more.
The Fund also provides financial aid for relief and assistance to people in need around the world, usually via the Disasters Emergency Committee. Some recent examples include Conflict in the Middle East (2024), Turkey/Syria Earthquake (2023), Pakistan Floods (2022), Ukraine Appeal (2022) and Afghanistan Appeal (2022).
Exploring global challenges through open seminars
Since October 2024, the Centre for Environment, Heritage and Policy (CEHP) has hosted free public seminars that bring together researchers, students, and partners and members of the public to share ideas and explore solutions to global challenges.
Recent sessions linked to SDG 1: No Poverty include Refugee Housing, Asylum Politics, and Barking Madness: Lessons from Germany, which examined housing policies for displaced communities, and Working Together to Improve Air Quality: Case Studies from the UK and Kenya, highlighting how environmental health impacts vulnerable populations.
These informal lunchtime events encourage collaboration, test new ideas, and strengthen networks, helping to shape policies that reduce inequality and improve community resilience.
Upcoming seminars can be found on the CEHP seminar series page.