Choosing to eat or be warm - what is the reality of POVERTY in Stroud today and what is being done about it?

The number of children in Stroud living in low-income families is rising. In the UK 13% of children live in food insecure households, 12% of adults living with children report skipping meals, while 4% of adults with children report going for a whole day without eating.

This Cloud Cafe, with the help of a range of inspirational speakers, will explore what we know about poverty in the UK and here in Stroud, what different organisations are doing about it and give participants a chance to discuss where the gaps may be and what more needs to be done. Poverty is a political issue - there should be no place for it in the 21st Century!

Speakers include:

JADE BASHFORD

Jade works for the Real Farming Trust on a UK wide practical and research project to address food poverty and food sovereignty. She has worked on equality and community building in the food and farming sector for thirty years, seeking practical systemic solutions to injustice with the Soil Association and Community Land Advisory Service. She presently volunteers for Trinity Food Hub in Stroud and is an owner of Stroud Brewery and is engaged in community life in Stroud;

ROBIN BURGESS

Robin has worked in the charity or public sector for over forty years, spending most of that either as a charity CEO or in policy and strategy, especially related to poverty, addictions, homelessness, problem gambling and quality improvement in the NHS.

Robin has been a volunteer and managed or worked with volunteers throughout his career. His current charity, the Northampton Hope Centre provides a wide range of services to people in poverty and homelessness and hosts the local Equalities group for this area.

LYNSEY KELLEHER

Joining Lynsey Kelleher will be a representative of a community hub in Stroud. Lynsey is a single mum to 4 children who has been on Universal Credit since 2020, when the pandemic and a set of circumstances meant she lost her business. Lynsey started the Uplands Community Hub to create a supportive network throughout  the community offering food and practical support.

Following the presentations there will be an opportunity for discussion and debate with the audience.