Archbishop pledges to tackle ‘hidden poverty’ amid cuts

The city’s ground-breaking Fairness Commission has drawn up a series of recommendations to ensure public sector cutbacks do not compound the plight of some of York’s poorest sections of society.

The recommendations include increasing the number of apprenticeships to tackle youth unemployment, building closer links with the voluntary sector and acting on research into the reasons for health inequalities.

The YoZone card for discounted bus fares could also be extended up to the age of 18 and public transport concessionary fares could be available all day for disabled people.

The Archbishop, Dr John Sentamu, is the sponsor of the York Fairness Commission, an independent body set up by York Council to advise on how to address deprivation, exclusion and inequality.

Dr Sentamu said: “York, as we all know, is a marvellous city, with beauty, history, culture, and many excellent facilities for those who live here. So it is not surprising that earlier this year it was voted the best and most beautiful place to live in Britain.

“But those of us who live here know that this is only part of the story. Side by side with those who are living in comfort and enjoying all the benefits of this city, many of our neighbours are experiencing poverty, poor education, unemployment, high crime levels, isolation. For them the picture is very different.

“How can these conditions exist side by side? Why are people in some of our wards struggling, while others live in comfort. And what can we do to make life better and fairer for all our citizens? Wanting to find the answer to those questions was the driving force and inspiration for the Fairness Commission’s work here in York.”

While York is widely perceived to be a middle class city, there are still significant pockets of deprivation. Eight districts are among the 20 per cent most deprived areas in the UK.

The Commission’s recommendations will be considered by the council as part of its 2012-14 budget plans and a final report is due to be published in the spring.

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