MEET OUR RAISING VOICES STEERING GROUP
The Raising Voices Steering group has come together to help make decisions, using their lived and learned experiences to inform the project from November 2021.
This page shines a spotlight on the team that has helped to shine a spotlight on poverty and hardship in Stoke-on-Trent as well as allowing peoples voices to be amplified
OUR TEAM
SIMON
I’ve been taking photos for most of my ‘adult life'. I have a few qualifications, including a BA (Honours) in photography from Manchester Metropolitan University and a lot of photography experience. I’m involved in the Raising Voices project through Expert Citizens and hopefully, we’ll highlight some of the struggles my people are facing in the city. I’ve passed on a few tips I’ve gathered over the years to help people on this project with their photography. I’m very passionate about this project as it has real intent and certainly a future.
JENNIFER
Hi, I'm Jennifer; mum, Civic fellow of Staffordshire University, community volunteer, member of the Hardship Commission and poet. I also work part-time, to supplement Universal Credit.
I joined the steering group for 'Raising Voices Changing Minds, Ending Poverty' to help amplify people's voices in a creative fashion; poetry sometimes touches places that mere prose cannot, and I hope in some way this sways perception; helps dissolve the stigma around poverty; 'as people are people' and deserve equal respect, kindness and thoughtfulness.
STEVE
I got involved through Expert Citizens, where I volunteer to try and make things better for those who are struggling as I once was.
"I am who I am, it is what it is and that's ok"
TRACY
I have experienced a lot in life, abuse, addiction, disabilities, and homelessness. I try to retain a positive attitude and am trying to use my experiences life to try and improve services and make things a little easier for others
MONIENNE
I'm Monienne, currently a Civic Fellow of Staffordshire University. I was a community researcher on Get Talking Hardship previously and also Appetite. I have previously been involved with community projects as a community group secretary.
I'm very proud to be a part of the Raising Voices project I joined the Raising Voices Steering Group because it empowers people who are experiencing hardship to share their stories, come together to find solutions and realise that they are not alone.
REBECCA
My name is Rebecca and I currently work part-time as a civil servant, I am also involved in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Forum, People Engagement Group and Annual Leave Working group raising awareness of issues and tackling social injustice.
I first started my volunteering journey at Thomas Boughey Children’s centre when I had my Son and Daughter. I helped to run the weekly make and bake group at the Mitchell arts centre for young children, as I wanted to give something back as a thank you for all the support I had received.
I believe massively in early intervention and without it, I dread to think of where I and many others like me might be. I feel strongly about raising voices, changing minds and ending poverty for those who need a helping hand to a better place.
JUSTINA
I got involved with the raising voices project through Expert Citizens and on the first day of hearing about the project I really wanted to be part of it as it sounded like a great message to be sent across in very creative ways. I've never been part of anything like this before and having to work with amazing people and collaborate work has been a wonderful experience. Having struggled with mental health, addiction, and poverty myself I really found this a good way to express my own lived experiences and hopefully contribute to some positive change in the community. I am looking forward in the future to be part of something similar again.
KORNELIJA
I have recently graduated from Human Nutrition course and was looking for ways to meet new people and expand my network. My cousin offered me to join the Raising Voices team and I was happy to accept. I had a chance not only to share my own experiences but also to absorb a lot of knowledge from others that I can apply in my daily life. The Raising Voices community was very friendly and brought me the sense of belonging. We have discovered many great ideas to make change within the community that could help tackle the hardship and that was really empowering.
STACEY
I joined the raising voices steering group as a member of Expert Citizens.
My main objective is to highlight, the health inequalities and neglect of services in Stoke-on-Trent.
I feel like the system is in a state of crisis. Things will only get worse before it gets better.
As an individual my voice is limited. But as a collective group, we have more power, to reach people in authority to ultimately save lives.
ALFIE
Hello, my name is Alfie. I am one of the podcast hosts for the Raising Voices podcast. . For a very brief context, I am an addict in recovery and was residing in a sober house in Stoke-On-Trent following my rehabilitation program.
I had been “volunteering” with the fantastic Expert Citizens charity (I say volunteering in the lightest possible terms as I only really turned up for the free biscuits at the Friday Coffee mornings they host)
The Raising Voices project has had an enormous impact on both my life and the local community. Though the opportunities I have received, I have found I possess skills I was unaware of, have had a potential career path revealed to me in media work, and have been able to develop my empathy and understanding of individuals, their problems and other socio-economic issues they face in the wider Stoke/Staffordshire area.
Being in a position where I can contribute to raising the voices of those who need to be heard and removing the stigma surrounding hardship has been a great honour.
STEVE