The Poverty Forum was set up in September 2005 and is made up of representatives from the various churches, local councillors and Falmouth’s Community Police Officer. We have a wide range of expertise and liaise with other groups and organisations. We meet every two months, two weeks before the FCT meeting. In November 2006 a subgroup was created called the Homeless Action Forum.
“The Forum in its continuing work is developing awareness of human
rights issues, where Christian action is needed.”
Poverty Forum Chairperson
The main issues that the Poverty Forum looks at are:
In September 2006 we ran an Affordable Housing Conference at National Maritime Museum Cornwall. There were over 100 participants and we had national speakers. We welcomed homeless people, who shared their stories.
The Homeless Action Forum recognised that the voucher system for the homeless had collapsed and decided to start a small, manageable project to help the sixteen or so homeless people who live in Falmouth. Once a week the group run a breakfast club where the homeless can have breakfast. The Homeless Action Forum board is made up of members of the Poverty Forum, people who have helped serve the homeless in Truro, a retired Citizens Advice Bureau worker, the Falmouth Community Police Officer and an outreach worker from Saint Petroc’s Society, the Cornwall-wide homeless people’s support organisation.
The Skills Bank was set up to provide practical care, support and skills to families who have difficulties coping; due to a lack of money, support and time to transform their own circumstances.
We work with social services, health visitors, pastoral support at school, the Beacon Resource Centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
We do things like teaching people how to bake cakes, deal with a damp patch on a ceiling, tidy up a garden… We can also help with the filling out of forms. It’s not charity and participants give a small donation. There’s even a free telephone number that people can ring if in need of help.
The Salvation Army have been pivotal in setting up the Skills Bank.
We have looked at urban living, the loss of local community resources and climate change. We have come up with three small ways we can all make a big difference:
We have discussed the social inequalities, low wages and accommodation problems faced by immigrants. We want to challenge the ‘they’re taking our jobs’ attitude.
Falmouth is officially a Fair Trade town. The Lent lecture this year was on trade justice and was given by the Director of Christian Aid. Promoting trade justice and Fair Trade is something we’ll continue to focus on.
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