Leeds council to put grassroots at the heart of tackling poverty

In Leeds, some neighborhoods rank among the most deprived 1% in England, where poverty shapes daily lives.

As the city launches its ambitious road map to tackle inequality, much of the responsibility rests not only with the council but with grassroots organisations, weather that be in schools or across community spaces.

These people working on the front line, often deemed ‘hidden heroes,’ hold communities together and create opportunities for change.

“Schools are often the first place poverty shows. From children who arrive hungry, children who struggle to wear a full school uniform. There is a direct link between a child’s well being and their engagement within the classroom” Jessica Ellis, a primary school teacher in Halton Moor.

Source: Philippa Platt | All Rights Reserved

For Leeds City Council their plans outline that progress depends on “shared responsibility,” with these community spaces being seen as vital partners in lifting neighborhoods out of deep rooted deprivation.

From the teachers who see the effects of poverty in the classroom, to volunteers providing safe spaces for young people, these community voices are central to turning the road maps ambitions into reality.

Miss Ellis teaches reception, she describes how children who turn up to school without the basics they need to learn begin to fall behind “quicker than you realise.”

For Miss Ellis, her responsibilities extend well beyond the classroom. Ellis explained how staff often bring in extra food from home to create emergency packages for pupils whose families are struggling. “We do it quietly, like asking a child to hang back after class or they’ll come to us during dinner. That way it doesn’t become a big deal, its become part of my week now.”

Source: Philippa Platt | All Rights Reserved

These small victories are proof that grass root involvement can change lives. Weather that’s as simple as a child thriving with extra support or a teenager finding purpose through structured activities.

“A child with limited opportunities outside of the classroom door will impact on their overall confidence and future prospects. We need the support of external spaces to help these young people.”

Source: Philippa Platt | All Rights Reserved

Alternatively those volunteering in youth services the pressure looks different but is no less urgent. Luca Whiteley a cadet leader in Seacroft describes how their sessions often provide more than just training and discipline. They’re a safe space where young people can escape challenges at home or on the street.

“Some of our cadets come in lacking confidence or feeling they don’t have many options,” Whiteley say, “Here they find routine and support. Something that really steers them away from trouble.”

Whiteley discussed how for many young people, the cadets’ support is more than their weekly sessions.

“Those who qualify for free school meals are also provided with food during training camps”

“We work really hard to ensure that no child misses out because of financial hardship. We work really hard to break the barrier that if a child wants to attend a training camp or residential money shouldn’t be a factor which stops them from going.”

Stories like these show why Leeds’ new road map leans heavily on grassroots involvement.

For the council, “shared responsibility” means recognising that teachers and community groups alike often see the effects of deprivation sooner and are able to respond faster than official services can.

But while their work offers hope, the question still remains on weather these efforts will be matched with the long term funding and support needed to truly uplift neighborhoods out of the bottom 1%.