Swansea Poverty Truth Commission formally concluded with a celebration event at the end of April that showcased learning and shared recommendations arising from the project.

The event was a colourful, varied and interactive reflection of the commission process, and showcase of ongoing and future work. You can watch the recording here.

The evening highlighted the relationship-building which took place between commissioners over many months, and the importance of listening to understand the problem fully before discussing solutions.

Commissioners shared some of their experiences of taking part in Wales’s first Poverty Truth Commission and the positive impacts on themselves, both personal and professionally:

  

Being part of Swansea Poverty Truth Commission:

  

The Impact of Swansea Poverty Truth Commission:

  

At the event, the recommendations of the Commission were revealed, and enthused participants were invited to pledge support for taking this work forward.

The event concluded with the unveiling of a stunning piece of pyrography artwork produced by one of the Community Commissioners, depicting imagery and phrases resonant with the commission itself. The art will be placed on display in the workplaces of the Civic and Business Commissioners, to draw attention to the legacy of the first Poverty Truth Commission in Wales.

The team explained that as each Poverty Truth Commission is unique, shaped and directed by the shared experiences of its participants, there is great value in repeating the process and exploring different issues, if funding can be secured. SCVS will be exploring this possibility over the coming months

Watch the live recording of the evening here:

Also at the event:

A training resource created by the UK-wide Poverty Truth Network was shared, with warm acknowledgement of the contribution of Swansea’s commissioners to its development. The tool, which is being piloted by institutions training social workers and other professionals, tells animated stories of the “Double Impact” of poverty and mental health. Contact the Swansea Poverty Truth Commission team at SCVS for a copy.  

The Wales Centre for Public Policy were pleased to announce a new collaboration with Swansea Council, SCVS and some members of the Commission, examining how public bodies can tackle the stigma associated with poverty. Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, confirmed a commitment to implement the Commission’s “Charter for Rehumanising Systems & Services”, and asked, “What about a second commission?”

You can watch the individual stories of the eleven commissioners by visiting the ‘Community Commissioners’ stories section here.

---

Return to the main SPTC page