Sheffield’s Director of Public Health has set out a detailed plan of what can be done to reduce poverty in the city. 

Plans included supporting anti-poverty measures that are currently in place as well as identifying areas where further improvements can be made. 

According to the Director of Public Health report 2024, one in four people in Sheffield are currently living in poverty and an estimated 47,500 people are in “negative budgets”, where, even after help from debt advisors, they still can not afford their living costs. 

Greg Fell, Director of Public Health said: “Poverty is a very critical public health issue.

“The recommendations are broadly threefold, creating a different narrative, refusing to accept things as they are. Policy responds to poverty.” 

In a Public Health Report delivered at Sheffield City Council Mr Fell outlined three broad recommendations that could help to combat poverty in Sheffield. 

They are refusing to accept things as they are – focusing on a future with a different vision, a refresh of the city’s anti-poverty approach and he also outlines a list of shared principles to ensure this work is successful. 

As well as these recommendations Mr Fell outlined economic growth as a “route out of poverty”. 

He said: “Now is the time to flip back to some of the structural determinants of poverty…and look at the long term.” 

Councillor Angelo Argenzio spoke about the importance of challenging national government on the things that could really make a difference to the most disadvantaged people such as bedroom tax and the two-child benefit cap. 

Councillor Kurtis Crossland said: “I sincerely hope the government revisits their two-child benefit-cap limit because things are getting worse for the families that just want the best for their kids.” 

As stated in the Public Health Report, children consistently have the highest poverty rates. Child poverty levels in Sheffield are rising and it has been found that the levels in Sheffield are higher than England’s average. 

Sheffield Poverty Truth is currently underway, with a group of people with lived experience of poverty coming together with leaders within the city to collectively work to understand the nature of poverty and explore creative ways to address it. 

In response to the rising issue of poverty, a health and wellbeing sponsored event is being held on 28 March.