An exciting and innovative project to help tackle the issue of poverty and its many causes is being established in Trafford.
The Trafford Poverty Truth Commission (PTC), launched by Trafford Council, Trafford Housing Trust and Stretford Public Hall, gives people a chance to share their ‘lived’ experience of living in poverty.
The aim of the PTC, which is sponsored by Trafford Council and Trafford Housing Trust and led by Stretford Public Hall, is to bring together people in poverty with leaders from the private, public and voluntary sectors. The PTC will bring representatives from those groups together to explore creative ways to address poverty in Trafford.
A recent engagement event at Stretford Public Hall brought 60 people together from local businesses, public services and communities, to discuss the aims of the PTC. Speakers at the event included representatives from the Poverty Truth Network, Commissioners from the Manchester Poverty Truth Commission and Cllr Graham Whitham, Executive Member for Communities and Partnerships at Trafford Council.
Trafford Council and partners on the PTC are now looking for business leaders from Trafford to sponsor the project and be part of the commission ahead of a full launch early in 2022. To find out how to become involved and sponsor the Poverty Truth Commission, email the Poverty Truth Commission team at Stretford Public Hall on traffordptc@stretfordpublichall.org.uk.
Cllr Whitham said:
“I am delighted to have been able to support getting a Poverty Truth Commission going in Trafford. I have seen how effective they have been at identifying local responses to poverty in other parts of the country and I wanted to bring this idea to Trafford. Too many people in our communities across the borough are living in poverty and we are now saying that enough is enough. We need to have the conversation about poverty and speak directly with those struggling to make ends meet.
I believe the Trafford Poverty Truth Commission will be an extremely important vehicle in bringing groups together to discuss poverty. We are making this issue a priority for Trafford Council and its partners and we are confident the PTC will succeed with its aims. Please get involved with the PTC - you will be helping so many people.”
Zoe Taylor, VCFSE Support Manager at Trafford Housing Trust, said:
“We have always been committed to tackling poverty through our community grants programme, and this is another great opportunity to further understand and support the needs of the most vulnerable people in our neighbourhoods.”
Claire Vibert, PTC coordinator for Stretford Public Hall, said:
“This is an exciting and timely project: people in Trafford are feeling the effects of poverty and this is an opportunity to take a step back and look for long term solutions based on the experiences of those living in poverty. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who feels they can contribute to the project, and will support them throughout the process.”
Posted on Wednesday 20th October 2021