Gateshead Poverty Truth Commission
Nothing about us without us is for us
What if people living in poverty could take the lead on tackling poverty in Gateshead? Would it make a difference to the decisions that are being made? Would new solutions to poverty be discovered? Would people listen and, if they did, would they better understand the challenges that poverty brings?
Gateshead Poverty Truth Commission ran from 2020 - April 2022 to ensure that people who have experienced poverty first-hand are at the heart of how Gateshead thinks and acts in tackling poverty and inequality.
We were made up of ‘experts by experience’ of poverty, and people who make decisions around poverty in Gateshead.
Together we built relationships, listened to one another and worked together to tackle the causes and effects of poverty in Gateshead.
Image of angel: By David Wilson Clarke [CC BY 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
What We Are Up To
Final report and Poverty Truth Charter
Final Report
Growing Change in Gateshead
During the course of Gateshead PTC we listened deeply and worked together to begin building a better system for everyone. This report outlines some of what we’ve been doing and learning.
Poverty Truth Charter
Are you a Gateshead-based organisation? Join us.
On 7th April 2022 we launched the Poverty Truth Charter, a new way for Gateshead-based organisations to get involved in making change for the better. To speak with us about joining the charter, email deacontraceyhume@gmail.com
Find out more
Poverty Truth Commissions
We are part of a family of Truth Commissions across the UK, all working together so that the voices of experts by experience are heard and can influence how people in poverty are treated. Find out more about the Poverty Truth Commission network here:
Get involved
Are you someone with a story to tell about your experience of poverty? Or perhaps you are a business or civic leader who is open to listening to experts by experience? Maybe you simply live in Gateshead and want to support the work of the commission. Drop us an email and let us know.