Action plan revealed as report finds quarter of Sheffield children live in poverty
This year’s State of Sheffield report, launched on Tuesday, highlighted the growing ‘social and economic injustices’ in the city.
It said the number of children living in poverty - receiving out-of-work benefits, or tax credits where income is less than 60 per cent of the UK median - was at 24.7 per cent in 2014.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThis was up from 22.7 per cent the year before, and the report suggested the figure was only getting worse.
The problem is particularly bad, the report said, in certain areas of Sheffield. Whereas in Ecclesall only 3.3 per cent of children live in poverty, in Firth Park the figure is at 42.9 per cent.
The report said national welfare reforms were a ‘significant driver’ of changes in levels of child poverty.
And yesterday city council cabinet members heard an early update on the authority’s new financial inclusion strategy.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCouncil officer Cat Arnold said the aim of the strategy was to help people when they were in financial crisis, but also to prevent them from falling into that situation in the first place.
Coun Jack Scott, cabinet member for community services, said: “A fifth of people in Sheffield live in poverty, and a quarter of children, and that’s growing every year.
“That’s not spread equally across the city, and it is spreading more quickly in deprived areas.”
Today’s top stories:
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad