🎥 Voices from the Tackling Poverty Assembly

Part 10 – Jane Townend | UareUK

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 Jane Townend, Founder of UareUK, who reflected on the lived experiences gathered through the organisation’s work supporting refugees, asylum seekers and local communities.

Jane explained that although UareUK was founded to support people seeking sanctuary, the organisation is increasingly hearing similar concerns from across the wider community.

As she told the Assembly:

“Everyone is suffering… not just refugees.”

While celebrating the kindness and resilience shown by people across Wrexham, Jane also described the growing pressures created by rising food prices, transport costs and the increasing expense of education and training.

Her presentation highlighted a theme that has emerged repeatedly throughout the Assembly.

Many people are determined to improve their lives. They are seeking education, developing new skills and looking for opportunities to contribute to their communities.

Yet, despite that willingness and capability, many continue to encounter financial and structural barriers that make progress increasingly difficult.

The experiences gathered by UareUK contribute to the wider body of lived experience evidence being brought together through WPAC, helping shape future conversations, the community-led manifesto and practical action to tackle poverty across North East Wales.

🎥 Watch Jane Townend’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.

Every story shared brings us one step closer to creating fairer systems and stronger communities.