Poverty in Sheffield

A Call for Community Change through Project Ignite

Yesterday, my good friend Andy Kershaw pointed me to two reports that really hit home. Both focus on a subject that has been weighing heavily on my heart: Poverty in the UK, particularly here in Sheffield.

The first report, UK Poverty 2025, by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), provides an in-depth look at the current state of poverty across the UK. The second, Foundations for a Healthy Future: Ending Poverty Together, by Gregg Fell, Sheffield’s Director of Public Health, focuses on our city specifically.

Having worked so closely with the Love Sheffield community for years, I know poverty in our city isn’t just a statistic—it’s a lived reality for too many, including those I hold dear. The figures are stark: over 21% of people in the UK live in poverty, and this includes too many in our own city. But this isn’t about the numbers—it’s about real people, real families, real children, and communities that are being left behind. It’s about the people who don’t feel like they belong, who feel forgotten.

I think about my own children, now young adults, and how they navigate a city that has, in many ways, been left to struggle. I think about my grandchildren, Noah and Ava, and what kind of future they’ll have here in Sheffield. Will they grow up in a city where they feel a sense of belonging and have opportunities to thrive, or will they face the same barriers and struggles that many generations before them have? This is a question that weighs on me every single day, especially as we see the reports and statistics that suggest the situation isn’t improving, but rather getting worse.

Yet, despite this overwhelming challenge, I still feel hope. That hope is grounded in initiatives like Project Ignite—an approach that embodies the very principles I’ve always championed: connection, empowerment, and community. And it turns out, this approach is exactly what is needed, according to the findings in these poverty reports.

A New Approach: Empowerment Through Connection

Project Ignite isn’t just another quick fix for an entrenched issue—it’s a genuine way forward, built on the things I believe matter most: community, connection, and kindness. The UK Poverty 2025 report makes it clear that poverty isn’t just about not having enough money; it’s about a lack of opportunity, fractured communities, and a breakdown of trust in the systems that should be supporting people. For far too many in Sheffield, these challenges are only getting worse.

But Project Ignite offers a fresh perspective. Instead of focusing on deficits, it looks at what we already have—our people, our skills, and our community spirit. I’ve seen firsthand through Love Sheffield that when people come together with a shared sense of purpose, incredible things happen. This asset-based approach focuses on the strengths we already have, fostering self-reliance and long-term solutions. It’s not about giving people charity—it’s about giving people the tools to help themselves.

A Future Built on Local Empowerment

Gregg Fell’s report, Foundations for a Healthy Future: Ending Poverty Together, touches on something that’s become clear to me over the years: poverty is more than just financial—it’s about the lived experience of those who wake up every day facing uncertainty and stress. For my children and grandchildren, like many in Sheffield, this means waking up in a city that too often feels divided, where opportunities are limited, and where it feels like the future is slipping further away for too many.

This is why Project Ignite’s emphasis on local agency and empowerment resonates so deeply with me. It’s not about top-down solutions or well-meaning organisations coming in to “fix” things. It’s about allowing the community to lead, to set the agenda, and to find the solutions that will work for them. Local people know their own challenges better than anyone, and Project Ignite provides the space, support, and resources to allow them to take charge of their future.

Collaboration as the Heartbeat of Change

The UK Poverty 2025 report highlights a critical truth: the situation is getting worse, and far too many people are excluded from the conversation about what should be done. But the good news is that change is possible—and collaboration is at the heart of that change. The report makes it clear that working together, with those who have lived through poverty, is key.

For me, this is more than just an abstract idea. It’s deeply personal. It’s about creating a Sheffield where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. It’s about building trust—not through top-down actions, but through kindness, compassion, and creativity. These values, which are central to the work of Love Sheffield, are also the very values at the core of Project Ignite.

A Vision for My Grandchildren

When I think about my grandchildren, I imagine them growing up in a Sheffield that is vibrant, compassionate, and connected—a place where they can feel the power of community working together for change. I want them to see the results of collective action, to feel the pulse of a city that truly cares about its people, and to grow up knowing that this city is a place for them, where opportunities are open and the future is theirs to shape. This isn’t a dream—it’s something we can build together through efforts like Project Ignite.

Moving Forward Together

Yes, the challenge we face is huge, but I truly believe that Project Ignite gives us a way forward. By shifting the focus from what we lack to what we have, by developing genuine connections, and by empowering local communities to lead, we can build a Sheffield where everyone has the chance to thrive. This isn’t just about lofty goals or abstract plans. This is about practical, everyday actions that will make a real difference.

This isn’t just a call for change. It’s a call to action. It’s a call for all of us to come together, to spark the transformation that will shape our city for generations to come. Project Ignite is our chance to make that transformation happen, and I’m committed to doing everything I can to help make it a reality.

Let’s build this future—together.

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Kind regards,
Brian Mosley
Founder, Love Sheffield & Project Ignite
Author of "Uniting Hearts, Igniting Change"