Ferguslie Park joins thousands at Scotland Demands Better march and festival

Ferguslie Park residents and volunteers travelled to Edinburgh on Saturday 25 October 2025 to join Scotland Demands Better, a major anti-poverty march that set off from the Scottish Parliament and finished with a rally and family-friendly festival in The Meadows. Dozens from The Tannahill Centre, Ferguslie Seniors, Darkwood Crew, Community Together and Pachedu made the early start, adding their voices to calls for action on poverty, fair work, investment in essentials and a stronger social security system.

Organisers estimate around 5,000 people took part alongside more than 230 civil-society organisations, trade unions, faith groups and environmental partners, making it Scotland’s largest anti-poverty mobilisation in years. Attendance figures are organiser estimates.

“Ferguslie Park has long been expert at treating the symptoms of poverty, keeping neighbours warm, fed and connected when systems fail them,” said Terry McTernan, Volunteer Coordinator at The Tannahill Centre. “Today marks a shift. We’re moving from crisis-response to challenging the causes: pushing for fair jobs that pay the bills, investment in homes and services, and a social security safety-net that actually keeps people out of poverty. Our community is stepping forward with greater individual and collective consciousness and action.”

Why Ferguslie marched

The Scotland Demands Better campaign brings together hundreds of organisations behind three clear demands:

• Better jobs with fair conditions and wages that cover the cost of living
• Better investment in life’s essentials, including affordable homes, good public transport, a thriving natural environment and strong public services
• Better social security so everyone has a stable foundation

The day in brief

• Assemble: 9:30 to 10:15 outside the Scottish Parliament (Horse Wynd)
• Route: Royal Mile → George IV Bridge → The Meadows
• Finish: Rally and mini-festival with music, speakers, stalls and family activities

Photos

Photography by David Cameron. Images documenting Ferguslie Park’s participation are available on request. Sample captions:

1. “Ferguslie on the Move” Volunteers from Ferguslie Seniors, Darkwood Crew, Community Together, Pachedu and The Tannahill Centre gather at Horse Wynd before the march.
2. “Banners on the Mile” Ferguslie Park contingent joins thousands on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, demanding action on poverty.
3. “From Care to Change” Ferguslie residents at The Meadows rally, highlighting the shift from treating symptoms to tackling root causes.

Media contact

Terry McTernan, Volunteer Coordinator, The Tannahill Centre and Project Lead, Darkwood Crew
Phone: 07780 437 578
Email: tmcternan@fpha.org.uk