If Leeds is going to be free from poverty, then the first-hand wisdom of those struggling against it must shape decision making in the city. Our slogan is simple: “Nothing about us, without us, if for us.” Creating places where this principle could be practiced was the reason Leeds Poverty Truth began in the first place. It continues to guide us as we seek to support organisations and communities across Leeds collaborate together to find effective answers to poverty.

Since 2014, Leeds Poverty Truth has brought together people who have lived through the challenges of poverty with civic and business leaders from a wide range of organisations in the city. These commissions create a space where genuine relationships are cultivated, enabling ideas and actions taken together from a place of mutual understanding and friendship. 

The Commissions have been a place of learning. Our second commission revealed that poverty dehumanises everyone in the city. The Humanifesto that was written by commissioners and launched by them in 2018 shows some of the ways this happens and proposes easy responses that organisations and communities could adopt to overcome the dehumanising impact of poverty. The third commission recognised that poverty often feels like a web you get stuck in. However, it could be transformed into a safety net that should be there when it is needed but should never be the end of the story.

The commissions have also been a place of impact. Individuals, organisations, and wider culture have all changed because of the brilliance of the commissioners. By boosting this brilliance, the impacts continue to ripple out beyond the time of a commission.

To gain a deeper understanding of what a Commission entails, watch the video below…

Following the conclusion of our third Commission in 2021, a group of past Commissioners and facilitators took time to reflect on our collective journey and learnings. Together, we decided that alongside running further commissions, we should seek to extend our impact by helping embed our approach further in the city. This is our Resourcing the City work,and involves creating and supporting learning of individuals and organisations, and accompanying organisations to integrate the wisdom of experience into their decision making.