THE experiences of those living in poverty will be brought to the forefront as Cheshire West and Chester Council support Challenge Poverty Week.

Running from October 16 to October 22, the theme of Challenge Poverty Week England and Wales 2023 is 'Dignity for All: a more hopeful future'. The aim is to raise voices against poverty, show the work which have been done to try to ease poverty, and to end the stigma around it.

Videos will be aired throughout the week to encourage communities and businesses to consider what changes need to be made to build a better and more compassionate society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Drop in sessions will also take place across the borough, giving residents the chance to speak to Community Inspirers, individuals with life experiences of poverty or hardship, and hear about their work with different partner organisations and their achievements.

Community Inspirer events

Blacon and Ellesmere Port libraries will have sessions on Monday, October 16 from 10am to 5pm, allowing residents to find out about the Walk Further Together project between the Inspirers and the University of Chester. Information about cost of living support will be also be available. In Ellesmere Port representatives from West Cheshire Foodbank will be present and in Blacon a Citizens Advice Cheshire West, Energy Advisor will be on site from 2pm.

On Wednesday, October 18, residents can visit Winsford or Northwich Brio sites to speak with Inspirers about the Walk Further Together project. Cost of living support information will also be available, and part of the team from Motherwell CIC will be visiting the Winsford site. Representatives from a local peer support group will be on hand to chat through what they do within Northwich.

Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future, Councillor Lisa Denson said: "Since the launch of our poverty strategy A Fairer Future in 2018, we have been working with an amazing group of individuals, known as Community Inspirers. The group is helping others to thrive and lead more prosperous lives, by shaping the way our borough’s leaders make decisions about Council services. Their stories and real-life experiences are at the centre of the week’s activities.

"Through listening and understanding the challenges that our Community Inspirers have faced in the past, and still face today, we are helping to change attitudes. In the words of one of our community inspirers, 'Shame and attitudes to poverty are really shocking. Some people believe that the way out of poverty is through work, but some people are unable to work and many people in poverty are working. People living in poverty feel shame and embarrassed and what we need is empathy for people living in poverty.'"

The Council says it is continuing to work with its partners to tackle the root causes of poverty and encourages more business to sign up to the Poverty Pledge - "I pledge to treat you how you want to be treated."