A Poverty Truth Commission and Beyond – making a reality of empowering people with lived experience
As Trafford Poverty Truth Commission draws to a close, we, as the facilitation team, are reflecting on the powerful project we’ve been part of; and looking ahead to the challenge of making the Commission meaningful in the long term.
Trafford Poverty Truth Commission launched in May 2022, and since then has brought together 14 Community Commissioners from across Trafford each month with 20 Civic Commissioners. Our Community Commissioners are residents from across Trafford with lived experience of poverty. They are people who have a wealth of expertise about living in poverty and are also often doubly disenfranchised due to health problems, or not speaking English as a first language. They have been exceptionally brave and honest about their experiences, including speaking publicly at our launch event, as well as other events like the People’s Powerhouse convention. We have felt honoured to be working with our Community Commissioners, and hugely appreciate them trusting us with their stories.
IMAGE – One of our Community Commissioners sharing her story and hopes for the Poverty Truth Commission at our launch in May 2022.
Our Civic Commissioners are people from senior and decision-making positions within organisations in Trafford, including Trafford Council, GMP, TFGM, Irwell Valley, Trafford Housing Trust and Lancashire Cricket Club Foundation. Our Civic Commissioners have listened deeply to the experiences of our Community Commissioners, and we have heard wonderful feedback about the impact of the Poverty Truth Commission on them personally and professionally. We have been grateful for their engagement and commitment to the process, and to making changes locally.
IMAGE – Our Civic Commissioners at our launch event confirming their commitment to the process after hearing the stories from our Community Commissioners.
The impact and importance of listening to and engaging with people with lived experience of poverty cannot be underestimated. One strength of this approach is the length of the project, which allows for relationships to build between the Commissioners. Our Commissioners have been working equitably as one group. Although this depth of relationship cannot necessarily be replicated without a similar time commitment, the outcomes for both groups should be an ambition for future work involving people with lived experience. Our Community Commissioners have reflected on feeling respected and listened to, and that their confidence has grown. Our Civic Commissioners have shared how life- changing the Commission has been, and the new understanding they have about the importance of how people are treated.
We are coming to the end of our Poverty Truth Commission, and it’s fair to say everyone involved has gained a huge amount from their participation. We have a set of 4 recommendations that we are presenting at our closing event at Stretford Public Hall on 8th March. One of our main recommendations is to:
Continue to use the voice of people with lived experience in the development of policy and services in Trafford. The model of the PTC has given many of us a voice for the first time and given those responsible for key services an opportunity to engage with those who use their services in a meaningful way. We want to see this approach embedded across Trafford.
Although Trafford Poverty Truth Commission is coming to an end there is a commitment and determination from all the Commissioners to continue the work we have started. We know we won’t have been truly successful unless we see this longevity in working collaboratively and meaningfully with those on the receiving end of services and policies. We’ve been delighted by the genuine desire to change ways of working across Trafford and feel sure we have a group of strong and effective advocates both within our community and in our public, private and third sectors who will hold each other to account, empower each other, and make sure that people are part of the change we want to see.
Claire Vibert [left] and Kate Harding [right] are the facilitators of the Trafford Poverty Truth Commission, based at Stretford Public Hall.
