WCPTC is a £150,000 Cheshire West & Chester Council(CWaC) funded project which matches 15 people with personal stories of difficulties who are called “Community Inspirers” who live in CWaC’s area of control with civic and business leaders.

WCPTC looks at tackling the root causes of poverty. The group of volunteers with lived experience of poverty , the Community Inspirers are at the heart of the project. This is done by creating safe spaces for community inspirers, to share their stories. It also provides opportunities for those making and influencing decisions to listen. The project deepens understanding of the emotive and difficult sides of poverty, improve perceptions, challenge stereotyping, and lead to better decision-making by the borough’s leaders across business, public and voluntary sectors. The WCPTC has agreed on three priorities including Housing and Homelessness Trap and the group agrees there is a need for better access to independent and legal advice for people in housing need.

The purpose of the project is to choose 3 things to change for the better in CWaC to be announced March 2020.

The 3 things that have been chosen this year are:

Food poverty.
Health/Mental health.
Housing & Homelessness Trap.

Learn more here: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/news-and-views/campaigns/west-cheshire-poverty-truth-commission.aspx

Reports from PTC 1 can be found here: https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/isr/i4p-poverty-truth-commission/