Thrive (a member of ChangeMakers Stockton) is a local organisation working to make the voices of people in poverty heard by key decision makers and therefore make important changes in the community.

The initiative has been working hard on issues which have a severe impact on some of the most vulnerable people in Stockton, such as debt, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. Thrive is not a talking shop – it is a power organisation with marginalised people at the heart of its actions, supported by people in faith and community organisations and the values they bring to this important work.

News from Thrive/Teesside ChangeMakers

Events:

Other News

In June we were fortunate enough to run a three-day training for our grassroots leaders in partnership with The Gamaliel Foundation from Chicago. Participants included people with direct experience of poverty, partners from Durham University, local Church Action on Poverty members and representatives from local faith groups.

We have also recently held an Assembly, over 100 people turned out to support a panel of 15 participants (from Thrive’s Sustainable Livelihoods programme) who held powerful decision-makers to account on important issues. These key players acknowledged publicly the work of the grassroots members of Thrive and agreed to make changes to their services as a direct result of their work and testimony.

The agenda covered three main issues:

• Job Centre Plus

• Buy As You View

• Community Safety

See www.thrive-stockton.org.uk for more information