On Saturday 25 October 2025, hundreds of people will take to the streets of Edinburgh in support of the Scotland Demands Better March. MCR Pathways is proudly co-sponsoring this event, and is encouraging mentors, partners and supporters to get involved.
Too many young people are being cut off from life’s essentials, frightened about the future, exhausted, angry, isolated, and disillusioned. For them, and their wider families, too many go hungry, face homelessness, skip meals, dread winter because of soaring heating costs, or struggle to make ends meet on wages that simply don’t cover the basics.
But from Shetland to Selkirk, and from Argyll to Angus, we all want similar things. A warm, safe place to call home. A decent income that at least covers the essentials. Healthcare when we need it. Good schools for our children. Buses and trains that get us where we need to go. For those of us who are elderly, ill or disabled, getting the right support and care to live with dignity and respect. This is the Scotland that we all deserve.
The Scotland Demands Better campaign is co-ordinated by The Poverty Alliance – a national network made up of Scottish organisations who want a future beyond the injustice of poverty.
The campaign stands on three main demands, centred around improving the lives of everyone in Scotland:
- Better jobs for everyone who needs one, with fair conditions and wages which pay the bills.
- Better investment for life’s essentials, such as affordable homes, good public transport, a thriving natural environment and strong public services.
- Better social security so that all people across Scotland have a better foundation for the future.
The march will offer a space to make your voice heard, and to join with thousands of others in demanding a better Scotland. Beginning at the Scottish Parliament, heading down the Royal Mile and ending at the Meadows for a family-friendly rally featuring music, speeches, stalls and workshops, there are many reasons to show up and show your support for MCR Pathways and a better Scotland.
Mandy Choi, Head of Engagement and Influencing at MCR Pathways, said: “MCR Pathways are proud to support the ‘Scotland Demands Better’ march. The widespread struggles being felt across the country – including hunger, housing insecurity, and inadequate wages – are the very hardships that disproportionately affect young people and drive the poverty cycle.
“This march is fundamentally about building a safe and secure Scotland for all. We advocate for a future where people are not defined by circumstances outwith their control and are allowed to flourish. Specifically for the young people MCR Pathways supports, this means guaranteeing the presence of a trusted adult to help them thrive.”
We would like to encourage as many supporters of MCR Pathways as possible to join us on the day and take a stand for both themselves and the young people that MCR Pathways support. Demanding a better future for Scotland and its people, also means demanding a better future for our young people. A future where they do not face hardships through circumstances outwith their control, where they are supported and allowed to thrive, and where each young person has a trusted adult that they can turn to and rely on.
If you are interested in coming along on the day to support MCR Pathways and demand better futures for our young people, please reach out to policy@mcrpathways.org for more information.
