York Poverty Truth Commission brought people together and is inspiring change
What if people living in poverty could work with civic leaders to tackle it?
That question is at the heart of the Poverty Truth Commission (PTC) movement, which continues to grow.
York PTC recently held a celebration and next steps event, and we caught up with some of the participants.
Here’s what they had to say:
John
“I think it’s one of the best things that has ever happened to us. It’s the icing on the cake for all the other things I do round the city. It’s been really good. I think people are listening now. The civic commissioners do listen to us.
“Everyone thought that money would end up top of the agenda, but it’s not. It’s about being treated with respect, kindness and being listened to. We have become like family, and we look out for each other.”
Kate
“I joined later than the others, but everyone was so lovely. It’s better than I expected. There are so many times we have been in tears because people have said things that moved us, and then to see that it has moved the people who have power to make decisions is incredible.
“I had gone to an event in York about poverty, and was fascinated that they were asking people to imagine what it was like to be poor. I did not know a life where there was anything else than poverty. Then Ali (one of the PTC facilitators) heard me and we got talking and I never looked back.”
Lynne
“When we first got together as a big group, I felt a bit overwhelmed and out of my depth. But it was worth it, because you get to meet some lovely people and you realise you do fit in somewhere. Regardless of all the bad things that have gone before, you are turning a new chapter now, and doing things to try to make sure that other people get the help they need.”
Karen
“At first, I thought the idea seemed quite negative, but it’s been very much the opposite. People round this table have had some very difficult experiences, but there is no judgment, nobody asking ‘why did you do that?!’.
“There is compassion here. When we had the launch event, it was so clear how much the civics really did care.”
Vicky
“Some of the civic commissioners were crying, and hugging us. People were exchanging telephone numbers. I never thought any of that would happen. Individually, we have made life-long friends and I think we have started doing something that will get bigger.”
Jamie
“I joined the PTC by chance, but I have made friends. Before we would all have walked past one another but now we have got to know each other. Some of it has tested our boundaries, but I became me when I spoke in the hall at an event. I became me through this group. Before that, I was just following along.”
Flashback: This video shows the launch of the PTC in 2023
York Poverty Truth Commission's story
PTCs are made up of equal numbers of community commissioners (local residents with personal experience of poverty) and civic commissioners (people whose professional position enables them to help make change happen). Church Action on Poverty helped in the early work to establish the York PTC, along with local organisations.
At its celebration event, the PTC launched a charter for organisational standards. Community commissioners had said their priority was to be treated with dignity and respect by the organisations they deal with. The civic commissioners publicly pledged to adopt and integrate the charter into their employers’ working practices, and challenged others to do the same.
Community commissioners have also spoken at a GP staff training event, and are speaking at council meetings, and engaging in other local decision-making processes. Through the work of the PTC, the city council is now reviewing the letters it sends to people in arrears.
If you liked this story, why not also read about the Unheard York storytelling project we took part in?….
