Peterborough Poverty Truth Celebrates!
A few weeks ago, we had the Peterborough Poverty Truth Commission’s Celebration Event at Kingsgate Community Church. It was an emotional, inspiring, and empowering evening that highlighted the incredible journey of the commission and its impact on the community. Sara, one of our Community Empowerers, has written a bit about her experiences on the night and wanted us to share it with you.
Preparing for the Big Event
James, Cheryl, and I arrived at Kingsgate Community Church around 1 PM. With a few hours before the event, we took the opportunity to rehearse our speeches and ensure we were fully prepared. As my nerves built up, I found myself resorting to telling some truly terrible jokes – ones I’m sure everyone had grown tired of by the end of the afternoon! But laughter, even at bad jokes, is a great way to ease the tension.
The Evening Begins
By 5 PM, people started arriving and enjoyed some food before the presentation officially began at 5:30 PM. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and pride—a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of both the Community Empowerers and Civic Commissioners. It was a moment of shared achievement, where we could all see the tangible impact of our efforts.
Celebrating the Journey
A video was played, showcasing the commission’s journey. As it ended, the room erupted into applause, a testament to how much this initiative has meant to so many people. It was a powerful reminder of why we started this journey in the first place.
Matt Oliver from Peterborough City Council then took to the stage to speak about how the commission has changed the way he works. His words reinforced the importance of collaboration between local authorities and the community to create real, meaningful change. Following Matt, Will Plant from Connecting Cambridgeshire spoke about their efforts to implement digital hubs across Peterborough, a crucial step towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring better access to resources for everyone. Michelle Dalliston, the Vicar of Peterborough, also spoke about the work St John the Baptist and St Lukes Church do to help people experiencing poverty, and also gave a stirring speech asking everyone in the room to recognise the role they could play in tackling poverty.
A Moment of Recognition
James and Cheryl then highlighted the incredible achievements of all the Community Empowerers. When the Empowerers were invited onto the stage, they were met with a tremendous round of applause, a well-deserved recognition of our hard work and dedication to making a difference.
Sharing My Story
Then came my turn. Cheryl introduced me to speak about my journey throughout the commission. The nerves were definitely there, but I pushed through and delivered my speech. By the end, I was shaking, but I did it. For me, this was a personal victory, a testament to my growth and confidence gained through this journey. The support from the audience was overwhelming, and I felt an immense sense of accomplishment.
A Night to Remember
The Peterborough Poverty Truth Commission’s Celebration Event was more than just an end of project event, it was a reflection of resilience, collaboration, and the power of lived experiences in driving change. The event left us all inspired and motivated to continue the work of addressing poverty and ensuring that real voices remain at the heart of decision-making.
As the night came to a close, one thing was clear: this was not the end, but a milestone in an ongoing journey toward a better, more inclusive community.
– Sara More