Inequality and life chances review

Brighton & Hove City Council is inviting residents with lived experience of poverty and inequality to become ‘Community Voice’ panel members for a new, independent review into inequality and life chances in the city.

Community Voice panel members will work alongside leaders from key city organisations to explore why inequalities persist and to shape practical solutions.

Community Voice Panel members

We’re looking for Brighton & Hove residents:

  • who were born in the city and/or are long-term residents
  • who have experienced poverty or financial hardship for example:
    • low income
    • indebtedness
    • insecure or poor‑quality housing
    • food or fuel insecurity
    • reliance on benefits or charity support

From our panel members, we would like to:

  • capture their experiences and ideas, and ways to support and listen to others
  • use their lived experience to improve services, systems and decision‑making for working people

You do not need formal qualifications or previous experience of taking part in panel discussions. Your life experience and insights are what matter most.

The role will involve:

  • attendance at regular meetings, likely evenings or afternoons over summer 2026
  • helping shape the questions looked at in the review and how to best involve people across the city.
  • working with other panel members to consider the information shared and use agree recommendations for change
  • take part in public events or conversations if they feel comfortable doing so.

We expect meetings to be held in accessible, welcoming venues and/or online, with options to take part in ways that feel safe for you.

Support, access and recognition for panel members

We are committed to making involvement as accessible and supportive as possible. Panel members will be offered:

  • in-city travel costs and childcare or carer costs where needed
  • an optional payment to recognise time taken off work
  • refreshments at meetings
  • clear information in plain language, with opportunities to ask questions
  • the option to bring a supporter or advocate to meetings
  • signposting to wellbeing and practical support, and a commitment to trauma‑informed approaches to any discussions that may be difficult or emotional 

How to get involved

If you’d like to be involved, you can contact us in whatever way works best for you:

  • a short-written note (no more than 250 words), or
  • a short voice note or video recorded on your phone (max 3 mins). or
  • a phone call or face-to-face meeting with a member of team, who can write down what you say.

Tell us:

  1. A little about you and your connection to Brighton & Hove.
  2. Any experiences of poverty or financial hardship you feel comfortable sharing in brief (you do not need to go into detail).
  3. Why would you like to be a Community Voice panel member and what you’d aim to bring?
  4. Anything that would help you take part (for example, timing of meetings, access needs, digital support, childcare, a supporter to attend with you).

Send your expression of interest or ask for an informal chat by sending an email to cabinet.office@brighton-hove.gov.uk

If you are interested but unsure whether this is right for you, we’re very happy to have informal conversation so get in touch.