Voicebox
Case studies and stories from people experiencing poverty and exclusion. We are always looking for more stories to illustrate the realities of poverty and exclusion, to support our work and make people's voices heard. If you have a story to share, please take part in our survey at www.church-poverty.org.uk/news/crisisstories
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Participatory budgeting: a voice to people in poverty
- A series of short videos, demonstrating the impact our participatory budgeting work can have in disadvantaged communities.
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Church responses to the recession
- CAP is currently working across the UK to explore how churches can best respond to the recession and stand alongside those worst affected. These are some examples of what churches are already doing in their communities.
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The impact of the recession
- Since early 2009, CAP has been asking people how the recession is affecting them, their family and friends. These are some of the stories we've heard.
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Incapacity benefit: a letter to the Welfare Reform Minister
- Summer 2009: one claimant lists the problems and mistreatment he has encountered in his dealings with the benefits system.
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The Destitution Trap
- May 2009: people who have been refused asylum share their stories of destitution in a powerful short film from the Refugee Council.
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Poverty Truth Commission video highlights
- Selected highlights from the Poverty Truth Commission at Glasgow City Chambers on 21 March 2009 - people share their experiences of living in poverty.
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Voices from the Edge
- Video clips from a performance of the play 'Voices from the Edge' in Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2009.
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Barnsley's homeless people speak out
- Video interviews recorded by Barnsley CAP for an event in Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2009.
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Thrive interviews on child poverty
- February 2009: Thrive, a project of CAP, helped to produce this special feature about child poverty for Channel 4 News.
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Credit crunch case studies
- 2008: stories gathered from the media, showing the impact of the economic crisis on people living with poverty.
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Unemployment: life on a 38p packet of biscuits...
- 2008: a story of life on the dole, from a person helped by CAP's Thrive project in Stockton-on-Tees.
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Asylum Podcasts
- Summer 2007: a series of audio interviews carried out for CAP with destitute asylum-seekers.
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Asylum Stories
- A website gathering stories of asylum-seekers experiencing destitution and other problems in the UK.
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Poverty Podcasts
- Podcasts from the Development Trust Association, telling the stories of practitioners and local people in community-led organisations tackling UK poverty.
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GET FAIR Testimonials
- Testimonials from people living with poverty, gathered by the GET FAIR campaign.
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Oxfam videos: Hard Times, Real Lives
- A selection of videos about UK poverty from Oxfam's UK Poverty Programme.
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BBC interviews about fuel poverty in Scotland
- February 2009: BBC interviews with a grandmother and a disabled single father about their struggles with fuel poverty. In video and text formats.
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The Testimony Project
- A voice for refugee women and the organisations that support them. Includes video and written testimonies of people's experiences.
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BBC interview about lack of work
- December 2008: a BBC interview, exploring how lack of work has affected one family. Available in audio and text format.
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Working Alongside
- August 2009: A report from discussions with people who have long-term experience of poverty about their experiences of the benefits system, and ideas for changes to the system. The report was produced by Community Links and ATD Fourth World.
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Below the breadline: A year in the life of families in poverty
- Summer 2009: a report from Barnardo's recounting a year in the life of 16 families from across the UK living below the poverty line.
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Videos from the Need Not Greed campaign
- Includes several people talking about their experiences of cash-in-hand work and the informal economy.
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Born Free
- November 2009: the story of Sofia, who came to the UK from Zimbabwe seeking sanctuary. Her asylum claim was rejected and she is now living in Manchester.
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Wee Shots
- September 2009: a film from Save The Children exploring child poverty, made by young people for themselves.
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Christmas as a failed asylum-seeker
- December 2009: a video exploring what Christmas is like for people who have been refused sanctuary in the UK.

