Can you help The East Lothian Poverty Commission gather the stories / experiences of those living in poverty? 

Collecting personal experiences of Poverty:

Talking about poverty and how it impacts on your life can be difficult.  People can feel embarrassed or too proud to tell you how poverty is impacting on their lives and their children’s lives. Giving them time to consider what they want to say or how they want to say it is important.

What the Commission would like to know?

The Commissioners have pulled together a number of questions that can help to lead a discussion on poverty with individuals or groups.  While these questions are a guide, general conversation and comments are also valuable. People may talk about things like the cost food, heating their home, access to employment and training, work conditions and access to education but may also talk about difficult choices that they have to make every day e.g. finding the money for a school trip or having to tell their children that they can’t have a birthday party. The may also talk about how poverty makes them feel and how poverty impacts their sense of control over their own live or their future.

The Commissioners are also keen to find out what local people feel would help to tackle poverty i.e. whatsolutions can they identify for tackling poverty in their communities. This could be for them personally or more broadly in the community.

You can complete the online submission and find more information herehttps://eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/policy-partnerships/east-lothian-poverty-commission-call-for-evidence