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Global inequality has increased exponentially due to Covid-19, and the war in Ukraine adding to the refugee crisis which has displaced millions of vulnerable people. The º£½ÇÉçÇø has introduced measures to help those most affected. 

Research

Inequalities in healthcare provisions

A review carried out by NHS Race and Health Observatory, º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield, Manchester and Sussex, reveal stark ethnic inequalities in healthcare services. These services include mental health, maternity care, genomic medicine, digital access to healthcare and within the NHS workforce.

Within over 13,000 research papers, 178 studies were identified to highlight ethnic inequalities within NHS healthcare including poor access, experiences and outcomes for ethnic minority patients. Racist treatment amongst NHS healthcare professionals of ethnic minorities patients compared to White patients was apparent within this review in all key aspects of the healthcare services focused on within this review.

Recommendations for further research and actions to address the ethnic inequalities are spotlighted within the review.

Widening inequalities in the North

Mapping food insecurity

Research conducted by Dr Megan Blake and Dr Adam Whitworth, at the º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food, worked with Dr Angelo Moretti at Manchester Metropolitan º£½ÇÉçÇø to model data from the , and for the first time were able to identify food insecurity at a local authority scale.

The academics have mapped areas worst hit by food insecurity in the UK, identifying people who are affected by food shortages and who are struggling to access food.

Children not 'school ready'

The Government is being urged to tackle the high number of children starting school not ‘school ready’, in a new report co-authored by researchers at the º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield.

In 2022/23, a third of children were not considered school ready, with 45 per cent of children receiving Free School Meals not being ready for school. The new report sets out proposals to address the crisis in preschool provision across the country, particularly in the most disadvantaged areas, as well as improved training for professionals to boost home visits to first time low-income mothers, more parenting programmes, and better sharing of information between professionals working with families and young children

Sarah Spencer, Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy, º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield and co-author said: “The UK’s stark and increasing structural inequities are evident in families' unequal access to high quality preschool education and support. The failure to support all young children to lead happy, healthy lives has become a national crisis."

Education

º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield Centre for Equity and Inclusion

In 2022 the º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield launched the Centre for Equity and Inclusion, aiming to enhance the university experience for BAME postgraduate students through a wide range of programmes. These programmes include: professional development, reflective and creative practice, and collaborative projects with local organisations invested in racial and social justice.

This three-year project will establish an expert network of postgraduate research students, º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield academics, and local partners, and will develop a resilient and sustainable network capable of creating significant systemic and cultural change within higher education.

Supporting refugees

º£½ÇÉçÇø has pledged over £1 million to support students, scholars and other staff who are seeking sanctuary in the UK or affected by war in their home countries. The scholarships are available for students for example from Ukraine who are either able to transfer to Sheffield from a university in Ukraine or would like to join as a new student from September.

The º£½ÇÉçÇø has been offering scholarships to asylum seekers and refugees for a number of years and has previously supported students from a number of countries facing war, including Syria, Palestine and Iraq.

Race equality

In 2021 we launched new iterations to our , which aims to improve the representation, progression and success of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students and staff through the creation of an even more culturally inclusive and diverse º£½ÇÉçÇø community.

One of the key objectives is to close the ethnicity awarding gap between BAME students and white students at the º£½ÇÉçÇø, which stood at 8.5 per cent in 2018.

Other ways we are improving race equality.

Disability Inclusion

This year we have launched our new , which sets out to improve the representation, progression, retention, experience and success of disabled students and staff at the º£½ÇÉçÇø, transforming the º£½ÇÉçÇø of Sheffield into an institution of choice for disabled people.

Some of the main objectives are to attract and retain disabled staff, create an accessible campus and provide a clear pathway of equitable support for disabled students.

Other ways we are improving disability equality.

Campus

LGBTQ+

We're working hard to create an inclusive º£½ÇÉçÇø for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff and students. One example of our work is Open@TUoS, a network which aims to empower all staff to help create an open, inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ colleagues and students at the º£½ÇÉçÇø.

Supporters do this by sharing information, encouraging people to take part in LGBTQ+ events and training and by encouraging staff to actively and visibly support LGBTQ+ inclusion.