Blog Posts

The APLE Collective share their expertise and insight with external partners.

Living in poverty has never been a life choice. The harsh realities faced by people living in poverty are indefensible and with this in mind, the APLE Collective’s mission statement clearly articulates the need and value of creating a lived experience of poverty network across the UK to raise awareness of poverty, reduce stigma and work with others to affect positive change. The APLE Collective are visionary and forthright in the actions they take and fully appreciate the need Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Building Forward Together for IDEP 2021

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2021 is once again upon us and the APLE (Addressing Poverty with Lived Experience) is marking this day by amplifying the voice of those who often feel silenced. this year’s theme for #IDEP2021 is Building Forward Together: Ending persistent poverty, respecting all people and our planet. So what does building forward together look like? It is about being part of making decisions that impact on our lives. It Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Poverty2Solutions #APLEMonth2021

Since 2016, Poverty2Solutions (ATD Fourth World, Dole Animators and Thrive Teesside) have been working alongside a graphic designer, an academic and a policy working to ensure the voice of lived experience of poverty and socio-economic disadvantage informs the debates that will have the power to create fairer policies. Poverty2Solutions value the untapped expertise in our communities and believe that: “It is important that people with lived experience are around the table when policies are made. They are Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

My Story of Hope- Poverty Truth Community

My story of hope is one that begins with my journey from being a mum, living in poverty, and trying to heal and sustain myself through campaigning for a better world.   The Poverty Truth Community empowered me by listening to me, acting with me, and believing in me; giving me the hope, strength, and guidance I needed to eventually find a job working with communities to create sustainable food systems.   This work has been both Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Volunteer Stories- Davy (Poverty Truth Community) #VolunteersWeek

June 2021 Looking back, my time as a volunteer with the PTC (three years) was a happy and fulfilling one for me. I was part of a staff team that I valued but more importantly I felt part of a dynamic movement, which was shaped by people with lived experience of poverty, who shared a determination to bring about change. Poverty Truth Members (or Commissioners as they were then known) were crucial to everything I Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Starting Point #APLEMonth2021

It has been nearly fifteen months since the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown in the UK. In that time we have seen a brilliant collective effort across our communities that should be remembered and celebrated, including the inspiring effort of key workers and kind neighbours. Yet as we look ahead, what challenges remain for our communities, what barriers have been created or have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and how much of that collective effort will Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

APLE and the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

For the month of June, The APLE Collective are highlighting and celebrating all of the organisations, charities and individuals who have lived experience of poverty or use their voice to campaign against poverty and inequality. ATD Fourth World UK has been part of the APLE Collective since its inception in 2018. It was important for ATD to be part of APLE as one of their main projects revolves around 17th October, the United Nations International Day for the Eradication Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Phil Parkes- Expert Citizens #APLEMonth2021

My name is Phil Parkes, and I am the volunteer Co-ordinator at Expert Citizens CIC. I was initially going to write this blog about my volunteer experience and how I came to be involved in volunteer recruitment and retention at Expert Citizens. However, the pandemic altered my role and lead to changes in how we as an organisation work, not least highlighting how important collaborative working is. So instead, I’m writing about how I have been approaching network buildings over the last twelve months. As an organisation, Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Thrive Teesside #APLEMonth2021

Thrive Teesside, a grassroots organisation based in Stockton on Tees, work tirelessly to amplify the voices of people living in poverty. We vehemently advocate that it is only when lived experiences of the issues at hand are afforded the opportunity to meaningfully engage in decision making processes, that positive change will happen. We are not a group averse to difficulties and certainly never shy away from challenges, but we could never have imagined the intensification of already existing problems as Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Reflections from our participatory webinar- Phil Parkes

Hi, my name is Phil Parkes, and I am the volunteer Co Ordinator for Expert Citizens CIC. I am also part of the APLE Collective of which Expert Citizens CIC are founder members. I was asked to write this about APLE’s recent Digital Divide Webinar and I thought rather than write a run through of what happened, I would take you through my thought processes and how they have changed over time in relation to Read more…

By aplecollective, ago