Aphra Brandreth MP has met with key representatives from the Cheshire West and Chester Council's (CWaC) Poverty Truth Advisory Board, alongside members of the Council and local community leaders, to strengthen collaborative efforts in tackling poverty and its root causes in the region.
The Poverty Truth Advisory Board was established in 2020 and prides itself on engaging with individuals who have a lived experience of poverty and financial hardship in the Borough.
The MP met with the CWaC Tackling Poverty Team, including 'Community Inspirers' focussed on tackling food insecurity and homelessness, and Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future, Poverty, Mental Health, and Public Health, and Councillor for the Westminster Ward in Ellesmere Port.
At the meeting, CWaC's Poverty Truth Advisory Board shared an update with the MP on the work they are doing across the Borough to support people in financial hardship.
Aphra Brandreth MP shared her thoughts after the meeting:
“I am deeply committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has the support they need to live with dignity and financial security.
This meeting was a wonderful opportunity to listen to the voices of those working on the frontlines of tackling poverty and those with lived experience of its challenges.
By working collaboratively, we can make meaningful progress in addressing the root causes of poverty and building a stronger, fairer future for Cheshire West and Chester.
I look forward to building relationships with the dedicated Tackling Poverty Team and exploring ways we can work together more closely.
I'd like to thank the Co-Chairs for their kind invitation and for all of the attendees for arranging a thoughtful and productive discussion."
Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester, said:
"I am pleased that the co-chairs have been able to meet with the Borough’s cross-party MPs. By working together locally and at a national level, these conversations will help build relationships and share common hopes for our residents as we continue our mission of tackling poverty and financial hardship."
Co-Chair Councillor Lisa Denson, Cheshire West and Chester Council's Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health, and Mental Health), said:
"It has been wonderful to meet all the new and re-elected MPs from across the Borough. The pressures of the rising cost of living is an issue affecting many local residents and tackling inequalities within the Borough remains a focus of all of our work. We discussed our achievements since launching the poverty strategy, 'A Fairer Future,' and our priorities for the year ahead. "
Co-chair Rachel, a community inspirer, added:
"These informal chats with our MPs mean that real people are just meeting for a cuppa and discussing the real experiences which are central to decisions that affect our lives. It’s an opportunity for people to get involved in shaping future policies in government. We are very confident about the impact these conversations can have.”
More information on CWaC's Poverty Truth Advisory Board can be found here: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-and-committees/the-poverty-emergency/poverty-truth-advisory-board
