The Presbytery of Hamilton has re-affirmed its commitment to highlight and tackle issues of poverty in Lanarkshire.

The Rev Derek Pope in his concluding report to Presbytery as Convener of the Priority Areas Committee spoke of the increasing financial hardship that many people were experiencing, due to the impact of Welfare reforms.

The minister at North Motherwell Parish Church also emphasised that Presbytery continues to support the Living Wage Campaign and encourages local churches to respond to food poverty.

Presbytery Clerk, the Rev. Dr. John L. McPake, minister at East Kilbride: Mossneuk, confirmed that issues around poverty will continue to be given high priority within the Presbytery.

He said: “The Presbytery’s New Connections project is actively engaged in bringing together people from local churches and communities, to share their resources and develop new initiatives to enhance community life.”

Helen Pope who has many years of experience in this field of work was appointed New Connections Project Co-ordinator in September and has already begun working with the first three parishes as part of the 2014-15 project.

These are Craigneuk and Belhaven Parish Church where work with the ‘Singing for Fun’ project will continue, Airdrie: St. Columba’s Parish Church and Coatbridge:Townhead Parish Church.