Poverty Truth Partnership

Project summary

At Carnegie UK, we know that lasting social change only happens when people who have experience of the issue participate in generating the change.

That’s why between 2023 and 2026, we worked in solidarity with members of the Poverty Truth Community across the UK. The purpose of this programme of work was to learn more about the reality and consequences of inequality in the UK, and to create a shared vision of what a society that puts collective wellbeing at the heart of decision-making could and should look like.

Built on the premise that ‘nothing about us, without us, is for us’ the Poverty Truth Network brings people with experience of living in poverty together with leaders and decision-makers. The aim of this partnership was simple: to see what change can happen when we spend time listening to each other, building empathy, sharing wisdom, and forming trusting relationships to make a more informed case for change.

The partnership model included annual residential meetings with people with experience of poverty in Swansea, Coatbridge and Manchester. It also involved quarterly online gatherings to stay connected with the group and build relationships over the three-year period.

2023

In 2023, we focused on building relationships. We learned that it’s important to take time to forge and build trust. We looked at Carnegie UK’s Life in the UK research to start thinking about what life is like for people living in poverty in the UK, and what needs to change as a result.

2024

In 2024, our conversations focused on democracy and democratic wellbeing. We came together to create a Poverty Truth manifesto, imagine a Poverty Truth parliament and write a Poverty Truth maiden speech. We sent this speech to new Members of Parliament as they gave their own maiden speeches in the House of Commons.

2025

In 2025, we looked the concept of a social contract and the role of individuals, communities, and the state in living well together. We heard case studies of how communities are doing a huge amount of relational and emotional work to support local wellbeing.

2026

In 2026, we came together to celebrate the partnership, reflect on what we had learned together, and to formally bring it to a close.

Through this work we learned that:

• Listening and building empathy and relationships over time results in better quality of understanding and evidence.
• The Poverty Truth way of working, which creates space for organisations to work differently, results in better outcomes for people. The quality of insight shared through this approach can inspire and influence decision makers to take action.

The Poverty Truth Network will take the spirit of this forward as part of the Friends Provident Foundation’s Shifting Cultural Perceptions of the Economy programme.