A major Trafford Council strategy to help tackle poverty and its causes is continuing to make a huge difference across the borough.
The latest meeting of the Poverty Action Group has revealed that the Council and its partners are helping more and more vulnerable residents and families through its Poverty Strategy 2022-2025.
The Poverty Action Group’s recent meeting heard updates on the latest situation regarding poverty. Presentations were given on the GM #BeeWell survey and on the support given to families through the Council’s holiday activities and food campaign. The group was also given an update on the Trafford Money Advice Referral Tool (MART) which helps people boost their household income and financial resilience as they battle through the cost of living crisis.
The Poverty Action Group, which met at Stretford Public Hall late last month, takes the lead on delivering the recommendations from the Poverty Truth Commission, one of which is the development of the Stretford Advice Hub, a one stop shop for residents needing information and advice.
Stretford Advice Hub has been set up to give face-to-face support to Trafford residents and has supported 216 residents from the beginning of March to the end of April 2024. The Stretford Advice Hub, set up by Trafford Council and Stretford Public Hall, takes place every Tuesday at Stretford Public Hall giving residents information on issues including energy bills, care support, money worries, housing support and health. For further advice and information, visit the Stretford Public Hall website or call 0161 989 1689.
The group were also updated on the legacy of the Trafford Poverty Truth Commission. The Community Commissioners continue to meet monthly as the Voice of Lived Experience Panel which has recently signed up two new members. The panel meets with service providers to share their lived experience of poverty and advise on how services can become more accessible.
Cllr James Wright, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Advice and the Poverty Lead on the Local Authority, said:
“Thank you to everyone who is working so hard to help eradicate poverty in our borough. I am delighted with the latest updates from this meeting and it certainly looks like we are beginning to make a big difference.
“Nobody in our borough should be living in poverty in 2024 and we are doing everything we can to give people the help and advice needed if they find themselves in that awful position. Trafford Council will continue to identify ways to help tackle the issue across the borough.
“To achieve our aims, we are working closely with partners on a number of initiatives including the Trafford Poverty Action Group, the Trafford Poverty Truth Commission and the Stretford Advice Hub. The cost of living crisis is making life a misery for so many and we aim to help them through the new strategy by continuing to work collaboratively with partners and other agencies.”
The Poverty Action Group is to meet again in around two months’ time.