Sheffield A Divided City? Alan McGauley Sheffield Hallam University April 2005.

Sheffield is a city with stark social and economic contrasts, with large areas of deprivation in the north and east. According to the Governments Index of Multiple Deprivation, one third of Sheffield’s electoral wards ranked in the 10% most deprived in the country.

Problems have been both economic e.g. high unemployment and skills mismatch following significant numbers of jobs lost in the steel and engineering industries; and social e.g. falling demand for social rented housing, unpopular housing estates with high turnover and vacancy rates.

While the regeneration of Sheffield is happening apace, the people living in a number of communities are not benefiting from the success of the City.

Full Employment in Sheffield ?

The standardised mortality ratio for is twice as high in Darnall and Netherthorpe as it is in Hallam

6 of the 9 worst achieving secondary schools are situated in the north east of the city

Between 40% and 50% of children in Southey Green, live in households with no earners; compared to less than 5% in Hallam and Ecclesall

The absence of work does not only create poverty. It also feeds a variety of other social problems such as crime, poor health and low educational attainment. Once these inter-related problems have begun, a vicious dynamic can take hold. Property prices fall. Shops close. Those who can move out, do so.The area attracts a bad reputation, meaning that only the most vulnerable people will agree to live there, and some housing becomes difficult to let or vacant’

In Sheffield 10 wards fall below the Governments indicators of the worst 10% in the country. This affects the residents who live there. In addition to this, three wards feature in the Governments worst 1%.

Conclusions.