What is WPAC?
Wrexham Poverty Action Collaboration (WPAC) brings together Together Creating Communities (TCC), Citizens Advice Wrexham, Wrexham Foodbank, and 19 other local community groups who work directly with people affected by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.
Funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, the collaboration aims to influence key decision-makers to drive meaningful change. WPAC calls for:
A strategic approach to the creation of a tackling poverty strategy rooted in lived experience
Better-informed funding decisions based on frontline insights
A focus on financial injustice and crisis support
Stronger connections between communities and those in power
We recognise that many of the levers for change lie with the Welsh Government and the UK Government and are therefore beyond the direct control of local decision-makers. However, a robust and locally driven poverty strategy is essential to address the systemic issues that perpetuate poverty. Such a strategy will not only improve support systems and access to resources but also promote social inclusion and strengthen community resilience. Through collaborative efforts and a person-centred approach, we believe it is possible to develop a strategy that effectively supports our communities. This need is underscored by recent figures: in 2023/24, 7,000 adults and 3,616 children were supported by Wrexham Foodbank, and in 2024, 3,848 people sought debt advice from Wrexham Citizens Advice.
Wrexham Cost of Living Summit: A Community-Driven Call to Action
The Tackling Poverty Summit, organised by the Wrexham Poverty Action Collaboration and funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, brought together a wide range of voices from across Wrexham to address the urgent challenges of poverty and financial hardship.
Purpose and Participation
The summit aimed to:
- Amplify lived experiences of those affected by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.
- Engage decision-makers in meaningful dialogue with community groups.
- Influence policy at both local and national levels.
Attendees included
- Local councillors and Wrexham Council officers
- Andrew Ranger MP
- Representatives from the Wrexham & Flintshire Public Service Board
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Local Health Board
- Community organisations and residents
Key Themes and Outcomes
- Community engagement was highlighted as essential to shaping effective policy.
- WPAC received pledges of support from key stakeholders.
- Wrexham Council committed to providing an official response to the summit’s findings.
- WPAC and FJWG will now develop an action plan based on the insights gathered, focusing on:
- Capturing more lived experiences
- Proposing targeted strategies to tackle financial injustice
- Presenting recommendations to power holders
Voices from the Summit
Quotes from participants underscored the summit’s impact:
David Hughes (TCC): “The strength of community collaboration was clear. We look forward to continuing this work to push for a tackling poverty strategy and increased crisis support.”
Suzanne Nantcurvis (Wrexham Foodbank): “The summit was a powerful starting point to address food poverty and heating insecurity.”
Omonigho Idegun (Wrexham African Community): “Real change begins when we recognise these are not distant stories but the lives of people close to us.”
Hajer Newman (Ethnic Youth Support Team): “This was a vital moment of unity and a clear call to action.”
Amy Jones (AVOW): “Bringing diverse voices together helped us understand the issue from multiple perspectives and move toward positive change.”
Reports from the Summit
If you would like to read more about the summit click the links below:
Tackling Poverty Summit Report Spring 2025
Tackling Poverty Report (Summary)- Spring 2025
Get Involved
If you’d like to join the Wrexham Poverty Action Collaboration, please, contact:
office@tcc-wales.org.uk
David Hughes at (01978) 262588
