Blog Posts

Phil Parkes- Expert Citizens #APLEMonth2021

My name is Phil Parkes, and I am the volunteer Co-ordinator at Expert Citizens CIC. I was initially going to write this blog about my volunteer experience and how I came to be involved in volunteer recruitment and retention at Expert Citizens. However, the pandemic altered my role and lead to changes in how we as an organisation work, not least highlighting how important collaborative working is. So instead, I’m writing about how I have been approaching network buildings over the last twelve months. As an organisation, Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Thrive Teesside #APLEMonth2021

Thrive Teesside, a grassroots organisation based in Stockton on Tees, work tirelessly to amplify the voices of people living in poverty. We vehemently advocate that it is only when lived experiences of the issues at hand are afforded the opportunity to meaningfully engage in decision making processes, that positive change will happen. We are not a group averse to difficulties and certainly never shy away from challenges, but we could never have imagined the intensification of already existing problems as Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Reflections from our participatory webinar- Phil Parkes

Hi, my name is Phil Parkes, and I am the volunteer Co Ordinator for Expert Citizens CIC. I am also part of the APLE Collective of which Expert Citizens CIC are founder members. I was asked to write this about APLE’s recent Digital Divide Webinar and I thought rather than write a run through of what happened, I would take you through my thought processes and how they have changed over time in relation to Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Single parent discrimination creates high poverty levels- Single Parents Rights

Single parent families are a core part of UK society. There were 2.9 million single parents in the UK in 2019 according to the Office of National Statistics and a study by the University of Sheffield concluded that one in three families will experience some period of single parenting.   Single parents face higher rates of poverty  The economic circumstances of single parents in the UK are challenging. Despite single parent employment rates being at record Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Inspired by INSIGHT – APLE at the INSIGHT Awards

“I need you all to help change the way the criminal justice system sees black people” Brenda Birungi AKA Lady Unchained For me, this clear call to action summed up the power of the INSIGHT Awards at the end of March, hosted by Expert Citizens CIC. The annual event brings together inspiring stories and examples of communities and people with lived experience – I was delighted to join Katy and Astrid in representing the APLE Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

APLE Collective introduces LIFE.

 A shout-out to APLE and a snapshot of LIFE… LIFE is delighted to be part of the APLE Collective and would like to say a huge thank you. A thank you for the opportunity to amplify the voices of those with lived experience. To share knowledge, experience, ideas and innovation with a Collective striving to affect change and eradicate poverty.  We are thrilled to be starting our journey with the APLE Collective and hope that we can bring some ideas and movement and to support the other members of the Collective with their missions. We are stronger together after all.   We arrived here through connection. Miles, our Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

A fair society means options for all: APLE Collective reflect on digital choice and opportunity. (Just Fair UK)

The APLE Collective have partnered with Just Fair UK on a blog post, reflecting on digital choice and opportunity and how people are being disproportionately impacted by the increasing use of technology.   “The digital divide obstructs people’s ability to access services, connect with others and realise their full potential. Online learning has increased significantly during this pandemic and no doubt reliance upon technology and being digitally connected will continue to grow. But being connected, accessing the tools and skills to utilise technology, and taking advantage of opportunities, is not the same for Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

APLE 2021, Plans and hopes for a better future.

In our final APLE meeting of 2020 we talked about some of the years work and our successes: – The Digital Divide campaign, The International day for the eradication of poverty, growing as a collective and finalising our plans for the year ahead.  Although 2020 has been tough for us all we have achieved so much as a collective, we have missed coming together but worked hard to make things happen through zoom, emails, and Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

One Year Later- Hartlepool Action Lab

A reflection on our first year as members of the Addressing Poverty with Lived Experience (APLE) collective – by Hartlepool Action Lab. It was the end of September 2019, scrolling through our social media notifications, when we found a post from a local advertising page about the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) 2019. Until then, we were unaware of the day and of the APLE collective also. We, the Hartlepool Action Lab, Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Phil Parkes- A reflection on being an APLE member in 2020. (Expert Citizens)

I thought I’d write a piece reflecting on my first year being part of the APLE collective. I knew about the group already because Expert Citizens were already involved but I had previously been busy with other ventures. I started to get involved just after we went into lockdown in March, I had been joining in on a few things, such online meetings, but found it difficult given that I only had the use of Read more…

By aplecollective, ago