Voices from the Tackling Poverty Assembly

Part 12 – Gary Brown | Caia Park Partnership

As part of our continuing coverage of the Wrexham Poverty Action Collaboration (WPAC) Tackling Poverty Assembly, we’re sharing the voices, experiences and ideas that are helping shape community-led action to tackle poverty across North East Wales.

Every presentation adds another piece to the picture, helping ensure lived experience informs future action and accountability.

The latest speaker in our series is Gary Brown from Caia Park Partnership, who reflected on over three decades of working alongside communities affected by poverty.

Caia Park Partnership was founded more than thirty years ago with the ambition of improving the conditions that create poverty and disadvantage.

Looking back on that journey, Gary shared a thoughtful reflection with the Assembly.

Despite decades of commitment from community organisations, volunteers and residents, many of the same challenges remain—and in some cases have intensified.

As he observed:

“It feels that the structures we work with seemingly make poverty a bigger issue rather than a smaller issue.”

His comments resonated with many of the themes emerging throughout the Assembly.

Community organisations continue to provide vital support every day, helping people navigate rising living costs, housing insecurity, food poverty and financial hardship.

Yet Gary challenged those present to think beyond responding to immediate need.

His presentation highlighted the importance of creating systems that reduce poverty over the long term, enabling community organisations to focus less on crisis response and more on helping people and places thrive.

The lived experiences gathered through WPAC will continue to shape a community-led manifesto and future conversations with decision-makers across North East Wales.

🎥 Watch Gary Brown’s presentation here:

Over the coming weeks we’ll continue sharing presentations from community leaders, organisations and people with lived experience who contributed to the Assembly.

Together these voices are helping build a clearer understanding of poverty across North East Wales and shaping practical, community-led action for the future.