Charity Number: 1197493

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End Poverty Pledge
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Charity Number: 1197493

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End Poverty Pledge

How do we end poverty?

Addressing root causes as well as immediate need.

We must continue to support people in crisis by meeting their immediate needs. But we also want to address the root causes of poverty, by raising awareness and understanding of poverty in the local area. We are working to change culture and challenge the policies and practices of local organisations that keep or push people into poverty.

We are committed to working with local councils, schools, landlords and businesses, alongside people with lived experience of poverty, making them central to decisions about how to tackle it.

We refuse to accept that poverty is just a sad reality. Leading our community towards a poverty-free future is about creating hope that change is possible and refusing to succumb to the belief that poverty will always exist.

What helps me?

We have some stories of what brings us joy and we would like to share them with you.

We love to use our mind and creativity to get us outside and go for a walk with a purpose, whittle something cool from a scrap piece of wood, share things with others to show our affection (a love language called Pebbling, like how penguins show their love, how cute is that!). There are things closer to home like doing a super-clean or getting some flowers from your garden or surroundings to make a little arrangement.

We have a powerful collective of lived experience, which has helped us to develop healthy coping mechanisms to help yourself with your mental health and it takes daily practice.

Everyone is individual, be kind to yourself!

After getting my butt on the seat and facing what I need to do, I tend to get a hit of excitement that I have an idea of what I am doing, because I am demystifying the clouds of unknown from my brain and feel clearer and less anxious.

Yssy

Talking About It

Those clouds of unknown, aka fear, is what keeps us all stuck (this is a conversation I have had with myself many, many times)

  • YOU have the power to clear that path and open that letter, or email, or answer that Universal Credit task, or answer that ‘Unknown Caller’ call. As soon as that first letter is open, you know what you are dealing with and often, it is not what you thought or not as bad. If it is that bad, or worse, then now you know. Knowledge is power. You can / are allowed to sit in that discomfort but now you know more than you did and can get the help that is out there waiting for you. Other people aren’t judging you, it’s you judging yourself, so be kind to yourself. You are amazing and you have time to be your own best friend. In summary, talking about it really helps me. This could be a conversation with myself, a google, talking to a stranger, Preschool manager, therapist or a charity.

Anything crafty helps when I'm having a bit of a mental health crisis. It's my escape, it's relaxing for me - doing something creative, having something at the end of it. It makes me feel like I've achieved something."

Charmaine

Crafting

What helps me if I'm in a bad way is crafting. It takes my mind off stuff.

  • Doing something with my hands. I don't know, it's just kind of... it's freeing. I'm definitely a pebbler. Yeah, you know like penguins. Penguins hoard pebbles. They're like special trinkets to them, to attract a mate. So it's like making their nest look pretty. They have their thing of pebbles. I like to give my friends pebbles as well. Because I love them. These crafted things are metaphorical pebbles. It's for people to make them happy. So I pebble to make people happy. And then that makes me happy. It's a love language, isn't it?

We can all give back and it makes you feel worthwhile. However low one feels, you can still help others.

Beverley

Helping others

I think I am through some effects of hardship and although not financially any better off, coping well.

  • I have been accepted as a volunteer for the Community Fridge at the Leatherhead Hub, so some of my time is taken up in a caring way. Unable to do physical tasks, I can attend and record the people waiting in line for a bag of shopping to stop food waste. I record postcodes and chat to clients, giving advice if possible. On asking one lady how she was I was told: “Thank you for asking! Do you realise you are the first person to talk to me today?” (She had been waiting a long time) It made me feel kind of funny, as all I did was acknowledge her. This proves we can all give back and it makes you feel worthwhile. However low one feels, you can still help others.

Cleaning...it's like a clean slate, isn't it? It's a fresh start

Diane

Cleaning frenzy!

I go off in a world of my own and have an absolute cleaning frenzy. And chuck loads of stuff out.

  • And then once it's all gone and I've got an empty room, I'm happy. I don't know. It's just... I like having everything organised and... It's like a clean slate, isn't it? It's a fresh start. And then there's no clutter. So when you're having a sort out, you get rid of your pile of letters. Because I go through it all and get rid of all the rubbish. It's just nice when it's finished. And I can look back and I can see the room's done. And then I can totally relax. I can go and have a shower and then I sleep so well when the house is cleaned. So, so well. I think that's so true. With pyjamas and showered. Yeah. That's good.

I love my cats! They're definitely good for my mental wellbeing."

Charlotte

Being with people who care

What helps me with my mental health is surrounding myself with people who are caring and supportive, and stepping away from those who are not, even though that's been hard.

  • I know I don't have a diagnosed mental health condition, but I do have triggers, and focusing on what needs to be done helps me manage when things get on top of me. I have found that education and learning new things help me to stay positive. Volunteering at the London Canal Museum has enabled me to use my love of history and help people, which is what I like to do. Being able to help others, especially by getting involved with projects such as the Poverty Truth Commission reminds me that I can make a difference and that has a positive impact on my mental health. It makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile. And of course, I love my cats! They're definitely good for my mental wellbeing