Community Advocates Chloe, Paul and Matt joined a team of community researchers at Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent to deliver ‘Get Talking Hardship’, a research project commissioned by the local Hardship Commission.

The aim of the research was to listen and capture stories of what living with hardship means to people in our city.

With support from Asist our Community Researchers visited people with disabilities in local day services to hear people’s stories of living with hardship.

Our team helped to share people’s stories over 80 people representing organisations including the Hardship Commission in Stoke-on-Trent.

We shared the stories of people with learning disabilities who had experienced hardship as a result of changes in their benefits, some had little or no control over their everyday finances and some were experiencing poor mental health and wellbeing as a result.

We were shocked to hear how devastating this felt for people experiencing hardship, often fighting for equality in their lives.

After reading the report on Get Talking Hardship our local Member of Parliament asked Teresa May, during Prime Ministers Question Time about the causes of Poverty in Stoke-on Trent as Stoke-on-Trent is the 16^th most deprived area in the country.

Our Community Advocates made sure people with disabilities voices were included in the Get Talking Hardship research work.

Community Advocates are helping to push for greater inclusion and equality in our city together.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hardship Report PDF final

Thank you to all Reach Members and our Partners over the years for helping us to reach more people, working together in the community to hear more people speak up and see people’s confidence grow.

Thanks to local film maker Baily Hill, Staffordshire University.