From Poverty to Participation in Leeds

This workshop at the Carriageworks Theatre is a collaboration between the University of Leeds and Leeds Poverty Truth and will bring together delegates from a range of organisations and sectors.

From Poverty to Participation in Leeds: Experiences, Strategies and Recommendations

The University of Leeds and Leeds Poverty Truth are working in collaboration on an ESRC-funded project: Poverty, Inequality and Welfare: Improving Civic Representation and Public Understanding. The project will bring together a range of ‘poverty experts through experience’ and civil society stakeholders from across Leeds to generate discussion and improve understandings of poverty, inequality and welfare.

The purpose of this event is to focus on the obstacles that marginalised citizens experience in their everyday interactions with public institutions and local services. Drawing on lessons learnt from the Leeds Poverty Truth initiative, this event will identify some of the barriers that inhibit civic engagement of people affected by poverty and what can be done to overcome these across Leeds and West Yorkshire.

The first part of the event will entail a presentation of recent research findings on how and why local institutions and services tend to be organised in ways that marginalise or exclude the voices of those living in poverty. Learning from Leeds Poverty Truth, the second part of the event will bring together delegates to discuss strategies for improving civic participation through a change in organisational and cultural practice.

Programme

13:30 - 13:35
Welcome and introductions

1:35 - 14:00
“Poor” and “Rich” civic engagement: implications for policy and practice
Daniel Edmiston will deliver a presentation of research findings highlighting how and why ‘poor’ and ‘rich’ citizens differ in terms of their attitudes and civic engagement with public institutions and local services.

14:00 - 14:45
Identifying barriers to civic participation and representation, learning from Leeds Poverty Truth
Drawing on their own professional experience, delegates will discuss key barriers to civic engagement for those affected by poverty.
Andrew Grinnell will offer reflections on the Leeds Poverty Truth initiative and what lessons this offers for improving the civic representation of marginalised citizens.

14:45 - 15:25
Applying lessons learning: what works and what doesn't?
Delegates will discuss options for embedding and adapting principles of the Leeds Poverty Truth initiative within their own organisational and cultural practice.

15:25 - 15:30
Break

15:30 - 16:00 
Panel discussion
A panel discussion will be held to discuss strategies for change across the public sector and civil society in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

Booking information

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact John at J.Wooldridge@leeds.ac.uk.