Speakers

John Battle, MP

Leading campaigner on poverty

Alan Thornton

Debt and financial exclusion project worker, Church Action on Poverty

And

Sheffield people

with personal experience of poverty

Poverty is not only about the shortage of money.   It is about rights and relationships it is about how people are treated and how they regard themselves, about powerlessness, exclusion and loss of dignity.  Yes the lack of an adequate income is at its heart..  (TARA Project, fair trade crafts producer in North India)

BBC Watchdog reported on the activities of predatory lenders.  John Battle MP said: "Companies like BrightHouse may seem to be offering good cheap deals. In fact because they charge such exorbitant amounts of interest are locking the poor into debt.   "In effect I would argue that they  [predatory lenders] are really leeching off the life blood of the poor, forcing them into deep debt for the rest of their lives". 

If you like please send us your thoughts, ideas or accounts on the following:

•  Does poverty affect different areas or groups of the City in different ways?

•   What actions or events could best alleviate poverty?

• Is Church Action on Poverty in Sheffield targeting the right problems?  Are there others we should target?

• Are there things that your local group/church is doing about poverty?

•  Is there research in your area about poverty?

Please let us know if you would like us to come and listen to your stories about poverty or if you would like to know more about the work of Church Action on Poverty.  Contact:

Shaun Smith

479 Langsett Road

Sheffield S6 2LN

Tel:   0114 234 3580

Email: sacredheart@freeuk.com

Website:  www.shefinfo.org.uk