Swansea Poverty Truth Commission Bringing together those living at the sharp end of poverty with key decision makers to work together towards tackling and overcoming poverty in the area. Swansea Poverty Truth Commission (SPTC) places those affected by poverty at the heart of decision-making about poverty. PTC’s give a face to the facts, by creating safe spaces for people with lived experience of poverty to tell their stories, build relationships with each other, and with influential decision makers in the local area. After overcoming the unique challenges associated with the Covid 19 pandemic, Swansea Poverty Truth Commission launched in October 2022 at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea University. The speakers were absolutely fantastic - powerful, insightful, articulate. A huge well done to everyone involved in organising, promoting and speaking at the event. Very worthwhile. Diolch o galon. During the evening event, eleven Community Commissioners shared their lived experiences of poverty to an audience of invited guests, including Civic and Business Commissioners from the public, private and third sectors who had been invited to join the Commission. Excellent event. Very important that people learn, understand and appreciate the value of those with lived experience. They truly are experts by experience and should be given kudos for being courageous enough to share their views on what can be a traumatic subject-matter. Through poetry, rap, story-telling and live performances, the complex challenges and daily struggle of living and being trapped in poverty were laid bare. Recurring themes included insecure and unfit for purpose housing, food and fuel poverty, poverty of opportunity and identity, barriers to support, isolation and the enduring impact of poverty on physical and mental health. Watch the live recording of the launch event below. You can also watch the individual stories of the eleven commissioners by visiting the ‘Community Commissioners’ stories section here. Our Community Commissioners stories At the launch event, eleven Community Commissioners living in the city shared their experiences of poverty with an invited audience. These are their stories... Swansea - the journey so far Read more about how Swansea became the first City in Wales to host a Poverty Truth Commission. Exploring experiences creatively The Community Commissioners took part in a series of to explore how to communicate the feelings, thoughts and experiences associated with poverty in a range of different ways. See the creative results here. Who makes up SPTC? Swansea Poverty Truth Commission has a total of 28 Civic, Business and Community Commissioners. Find out more... What is a PTC? Poverty Truth Commissions (PTCs) bring together those living at the sharp end of poverty with key decision makers. Find out more... The history of PTCs in the UK The first Poverty Truth Commission (PTC) took place in Glasgow in 2009 and since then, there have been over a dozen successful commissions across Scotland and England. Find out more... Contact the Swansea Poverty Truth Commission Team at: [email protected] We take privacy seriously - click here to read the Swansea Poverty Truth Commission Privacy Notice Manage Cookie Preferences