At max20, our Charity Champions initiative supports colleagues and partners who are improving lives in NHS communities. This month, we’re proud to donate £500 to the Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission (MBPTC) – a local organisation bringing people with lived experience of poverty together with decision-makers to co-design real, lasting change.
Who MBPTC are, and why their work matters
Since 2016, MBPTC has asked a simple question with big consequences: what if people who struggle against poverty helped shape the solutions?
Through ongoing conversations and practical projects, the Commission unites community voices and local leaders to tackle issues like the true cost of living, mental health and wellbeing, the housing crisis, food insecurity, and barriers to work and education.
MBPTC was also the first Poverty Truth Commission to work with young people as equal partners – a model that keeps lived experience at the centre of design and delivery.
What our £500 contribution supports
Our donation will match-fund one of MBPTC’s current projects: The Morecambe Digital Corridor. In parts of the West End of Morecambe, up to 30% of residents cannot afford a stable internet connection. That digital exclusion makes everything harder – from accessing GP services and NHS information, to job applications, benefits, education and day-to-day community life.
Working with the local council and Morecambe Business Improvement District, MBPTC is helping to deliver a totally free public Wi-Fi zone along the promenade and across the West End.
Our contribution helps MBPTC cover on-the-ground costs and support their service experts (people with lived experience who advise and shape the project) so the work is done with the community, not just for it.
Why this is a Charity Champions pick
We deliver digital services for the NHS every day. Helping remove barriers to digital access in a community served by the NHS is a natural fit for Charity Champions: it supports prevention, inclusion and better access to care.
- Health impact: easier access to NHS services, advice and support
- Economic impact: job searches, training and benefits services become reachable
- Community impact: connection reduces isolation and supports local initiatives
Learn more about MBPTC at https://www.morecambebaypovertytruthcommission.org.uk/
