Updates from Warrington Poverty Truth Commission

As Warrington Poverty Truth Commission begins to take shape, potential Civic Commissioners recently came together for a series of workshops designed to offer a first taste of what Poverty Truth is all about.

Rather than focusing on presentations or processes, the workshops invited participants to experience some of the values that sit at the heart of Poverty Truth: building relationships, listening deeply and learning together.

Workshop layout

Facilitated by Ben and Tyra from the Commission, the workshops included a range of activities designed to introduce people to the Poverty Truth approach and encourage reflection, including:

• A relational check-in – Participants worked in pairs, sharing their favourite singer or band and something they enjoy doing outside of work before introducing one another back to the group. This encouraged active listening and helped people connect beyond their professional roles.
• A deep listening exercise – Working in groups of three as speaker, listener and asker, participants reflected on a time they had felt truly listened to, exploring what helped create that experience and how it made them feel.
• The Poverty Truth Gameshow – Participants shared one word they associated with Poverty Truth before discussing a series of statements, ranking how closely they aligned with Poverty Truth principles and exploring the purpose of a Poverty Truth Commission together.
• Questions and conversation – The workshop concluded with time for participants to ask questions about the role of a Civic Commissioner and what the next steps in Warrington’s journey might look like.

Key takeaways

The key takeaways from people were that it gave them the space to be able to build relationships, reflect and listen. Particularly when in their roles where there is limited time/capacity and increased pressures. The deep listening exercise was a highlight and people have shared that it made them think about what being listened to feels like and how they can take this forward within the Commission after the launch event.

Reflecting on the workshops, Tyra, Facilitator for the Commission, said: “What struck me was everyone’s openness, honesty and commitment to being part of the Poverty Truth Commission particularly at a time where there are constant pressures, limited resources (time and capacity) and more people sadly needing to access services.

“For me, that’s one of the beauty’s of Poverty Truth is creating a safe space for people to be open, build relationships and start to share understanding. I look forward to the next steps of the Poverty Truth journey… for the Community Commissioners (people with first-hand experience of hardship) to share their truths in the way they want to at the launch event and to start bringing both Community and Civic Commissioners (local decision makers) together to learn from one another and start influencing positive change across Warrington.”

Debbie Watson, Director of Public Health at Warrington Borough Council, who attended one of the sessions, shared a reflection on social media saying: “It was a powerful reminder that some of the most important conversations happen when we create the space to listen. What struck me was the honesty, insight and commitment in the room. Tackling poverty is complex, and there are no simple solutions. But initiatives like the Poverty Truth Commission help ensure that lived experience is at the heart of the conversation, shaping how we think about services, systems and support.

“I’m proud that Warrington is supporting this work and grateful to everyone who shared their experiences so openly. I look forward to seeing how these conversations continue to influence positive change across the borough.”

Next steps

The workshops were held for potential Civic Commissioners. Community Commissioners will now decide who will be invited to join the Commission. Once that decision has been made, Warrington Poverty Truth Commission hopes to hold a further workshop, inviting Civic Commissioners from another area to share their experiences and offer tips from their own Poverty Truth journey.