BU Research Blog

The Poverty Truth Commission, is a new project rooted in lived experience which seeks to tackle the root causes of poverty in the BCP area.  If you would like to understand more about how a Poverty Truth Commission works there is more information and a short 4 minute video on their website that explains it really well (scroll down to find the video): Poverty Truth – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (povertytruthbcp.org)

The project so far

14 inspirational Community Commissioners (CCs) – those with lived experience of poverty locally – have agreed to become part of the Commission. They have been meeting together fortnightly since April to get to know each other, better understand the process, and tease out key themes common to their stories such as housing, mental health, rising costs, benefits. They have told the commission they already feel “less alone”, “really listened to” and “inspired”. They are now working together with the  commission to design and prepare for the public launch event (10-12 on 14 July) where similar numbers of local leaders including myself (Mel Hughes) in my role as Academic lead for the BU PIER partnership will join them as Civic/Business Commissioners (CBCs) to work together to tackle the root causes of poverty over the coming year.

To book a place at the launch please register here

If you would like to discuss, please contact me directly mhughes@bournemouth.ac.uk