'More needs to be done to tackle poverty' warns council leader
A new report has looked at the impacts of the pandemic - on top of the high levels of local poverty in Torbay
Last updated 13th Jul 2022
Today we’re starting a series of reports looking at work to tackle poverty in some of the poorest areas of Devon.
It comes as last night Torbay Council voted to keep their focus on the issue - after a report to the council's cabinet highlighted an eight year gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest residents.
It showed one in three school age children in Torbay are not ‘ready to start school’ and looked at the impacts of the pandemic - on top of the high levels of local poverty in the bay.
It also found: "Torbay has the highest suicide rate in England and high rates of self-harm in children and young people" - and that: "8.7% of Torbay households are classed as “workless”, and wages are below national and regional averages. Higher earning residents tend to work outside of Torbay."
On the housing market, the Turning The Tide On Poverty report found: "Torbay has an above-average proportion of households in private rented accommodation (25%), with 60% of these in receipt of Housing Benefit."
The report warned: "We are facing a “perfect storm” of poverty, with a worsening economic picture leading to rising demand, support services being overwhelmed across sectors. Many people simply cannot reduce their essential expenditure any further, nor increase their income; no matter what they do."
To read the report, which was noted by Torbay Council's cabinet last night, click here