The Poverty Emergency
West Cheshire Poverty Truth
It all started with a question
Could people living in poverty help shape the way our borough's leaders make decisions about the support services in place? Would it make a difference to the decisions that are being made? Would it also strengthen relationships, change attitudes and create solutions to some of the difficult questions poverty creates?
Following on from the success of the very first Poverty Truth Commission in Glasgow, Scotland, the first West Cheshire Poverty Truth Commission was set up in 2017, with the aim of tackling the root causes of poverty. It was the first to be led and administered by a Local Authority, Cheshire West and Chester Council, helping to address gaps in services and inequalities across the borough.
The West Cheshire Poverty Truth Commission aimed to give a face to the facts by creating safe spaces for community inspirers, those with lived experience of poverty, to tell their stories. It also provided opportunities for those making and influencing decisions to listen and ensured that people with lived experience are at the heart of how the borough thinks and acts in tackling poverty and inequality.
The success of the first West Cheshire Poverty Truth Commission led to the launch of a second in 2019 that ran until March 2020.
- Creating a voice and empowering inspirers to contribute to a range of Council and partner agency work.
- Strengthened relationships between inspirers, civic leaders and partner agencies.
- Inspirers feel listened and able to influence change, by sharing their lived experience of poverty.
- Requests to present at events locally, regionally and nationally.
- Development of the Poverty Truth Commission Pledge with partner agencies.
- Strong, positive media coverage.
- Community Inspirers consistently reported a stronger sense of confidence, enabling them to have voice, secure employment, develop their learning, become more independent.
- Increased partnership working across a number of agencies.
- New models of working across the Council, the volunteer sector, businesses, and the wider community.
- A deeper model of partnership working with people who have lived experience of poverty.
- New support for front line staff to understand the story of the person in front of them (including their challenges, stresses and often complex problems) and the need for compassion, empathy, and making any difference they can, no matter how small. One social housing provider has reported a 75 per cent reduction in evictions since it changed their approach to managing tenancies. The organisation moved from a reprimand approach to offering a well-being service which focuses on early intervention and supporting people to sustain tenancies.
The Poverty Truth Pledge was created to promote the honest and respectful treatment of all people, encouraging the development of positive relationships rather than transactional processes. The aim was that by signing up to this, organisations and the people within them become more self-aware, and are accountable for their behaviour. Organisations across the borough are encouraged to signed up to the pledge.
I pledge to treat you how you want to be treated.
The Poverty Truth Commission recognised there is a wealth of services and support available across the borough however people don’t often know about them or how to navigate their way through systems, particularly when they are in crisis. The Poverty Truth Commission worked with the Council to develop Live Well Cheshire West - an online directory of services.
The Poverty Truth Commission also helped create a new service, led by Citizens Advice. The Community Connector service works out in the community and offers support and advice to people where and when they need it most. There are currently five Connectors across west Cheshire with a growing pool of volunteer connectors who are offered training in how to signpost or connect people to services in the local area.
The Poverty Truth Commission helped create the Homeless Strategy 2020. The following recommendations were included:
- the need for a robust independent advocacy service, for homeless people, offering someone to walk along side and help navigate through the systems.
- Stop using temporary B&B accommodation for homeless families.
- Better provision of homes for people leaving prison
Community Inspirers shared their lived experience of being made homeless, the effect it had had on them and that of their families and the time and strength it takes to recover from it. Through true listening and collaboration, members of the Commission started to reflect on how systems and process were being put before people.
How we live
It is essential to include the voice of children and young people in change, and enable them to feel valued and safe as they have their voices heard.
A group of young people from Winsford Academy and Wharton Primary School, were involved in a number of drama workshops. They developed a fictional character and story which they played out at The Poverty Truth Commission launch event at Storyhouse in Chester.
The script was then developed with support from television producer and screenwriter Phil Redmond CBE and other industry professionals to make a short film - 'How we live'. It is a powerful film which raises awareness and understanding of the issues young people face, caused by poverty and is largely shot through the eyes of a young person to remind us all, to have a person-centred approach and to look at the barriers surrounding that ideal non-judgemental practice.
Online workshops
Emotive and powerful workshops have been created around the film to help influence the change we want to see within the lives of young people. Whilst the workshops are aimed at people working with families and young people, it is open to all roles and covers:
- Self-awareness - how do our attitudes and behaviours impact others?
- The impact of the language we use.
- Increasing insight into the factors that can contribute to child poverty.
- Understanding the journey and struggles young people face by walking a mile in their shoes.
- How do we react to the challenges we face and is their room in your working day to adapt and be flexible?
- How we can support families and young people to break down barriers and achieve their goals.
As part of the workshop learners get to watch the film with the aim to raise awareness and understanding of the experiences young people in West Cheshire face, caused by poverty. Shot through the eyes of a young person to remind us all to have a person centred approach. The sessions run between one and a half to two hours in duration. Sessions are delivered via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, however can also be carried out face to face, and can be tailored to suit learning objectives.
How to book
For Cheshire West and Chester employees or foster carers please book via iLearn:
External partners and organisations - please complete the online booking form.
You will need to state the course title, date and time you wish to attend, you organisation and role. If you are unable to use the booking form, please email: trainingbookings@qwestservices.co.uk
- Wednesday, 10 July 2024 - 10am to 12pm - Online (Teams)
- Wednesday, 11 September 2024 - 10am to 12.30pm - Face to Face Wyvern House, Winsford
- Wednesday, 13 November 2024 - 10am to 12pm - Online (Teams)
- Wednesday, 12 March 2025 - 10am to 12pm - Online (Teams)
To ask any questions about the training, or find out more please complete the online enquiry form.
The next stage
Building on the learning from The Poverty Truth Commissions, it was agreed in early 2020 to mainstream this approach to inform and support all poverty work across the Council and with local partner agencies, developing a programme of work in conjunction with services that retains the poverty truth ethos.
To support this work, the Council has now set up a Poverty Truth Advisory Board (PTAB) with public, private, civic sector and community inspirer representatives to advise and support services across the Council and partner agencies.
Get involved
If you have ideas for improvement, experience, insight or skills to offer or would like to become a Community Inspirer please get in touch.
