York Council is to launch a pilot project giving aid ranging from free school meals to financial advice coupled with efforts to boost employment to more than 800 properties. It is hoped the trial, which will also involve North Yorkshire Police and the county's primary care trust, could be used to tackle deprivation across the whole city.

While York is often perceived as a middle-class city steeped in history and culture there are pockets of significant deprivation. The pilot scheme will run in the Westfield ward, which is the city's most deprived district and among one of the poorest communities nationally.

It is expected to cost £32,000 and run initially for 12 months, specifically targeting the Kingsway neighbourhood of the ward, where there are about 800 households which fall within the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country.

Council leader Andrew Waller, who represents Westfield ward, said: "York is often perceived to be a wealthy city although there are problems away from the picture postcard centre.

"While deprivation might not be as prevalent as in other cities there are still significant issues which need to be addressed. We want to improve the economic prosperity, lifestyle and skills of residents in York and increase the opportunities of the most disadvantaged.

"This pilot is intended to help us do this by tackling inequalities in the Westfield ward and using this template to improve residents' quality of life across the city."

Council efforts to tackle deprivation in York, with investment in schools and community facilities, have had some success.

The official ranking system, the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), which uses crime statistics, unemployment figures and a lack of access to health and housing services, has noted that the number of deprived areas in York has fallen since 2004.

The city had 11 areas ranked among the 20 per cent most deprived in England three years ago, falling to eight by 2007. The council was 219th of 354 local authorities in 2004 but this had improved to 242th by last year.

Deprived areas in the city are in the Clifton, Heworth and Acomb districts although Westfield ward is the most serious.

One of the pilot project's key aims is to bolster job chances for Westfield's community. There are between 4,000 and 5,000 people "under-employed" throughout the city, according to Coun Waller. An independent review of the city's economy published last summer in the Future York report warned of the danger of a two-tier structure emerging over jobs. Fears have been expressed that a shift from a traditional manufacturing base to a boom in technology and science-based industries is leaving many of York's workers not adequately trained.

The project in Westfield, which has 6,500 households, will offer financial advice for people in debt as well as tackling crime with increased police patrols and boosting the environment with clean-up operations. It will also promote a healthy lifestyle, such as improving diet while cooking on a limited budget.

The council's executive member for city strategy, Coun Steve Galloway, who represents Westfield, stressed that the IMD rankings did not take into account the most recent efforts to tackle deprivation. But he added: "It is important to recognise that, whilst York is generally a relatively affluent city, there are areas with problems which it is important we tackle."

The authority's executive will consider the plans for the pilot project next Tuesday. The public will be able to talk to councillors, council officers and other organisations involved in the proposed scheme at the Acomb Hotel next Thursday between 11am and 2pm.