Funding Calls

Reducing Health Inequalities in Sheffield

Health Inequalities are avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people. Health inequalities can involve differences in life expectancy, access to care, quality and experience of care, lifestyle choices and wider socio-economic factors, such as income/quality of housing. In Sheffield, despite the progress made in improving the health of the population, there are several health issues and health inequality markers where there is room for improvement, especially when compared to the National average.

As a result, we know that those in parts of Sheffield where those living there have lower average income live shorter lives, and have worse health, than those in more affluent areas. This was demonstrated in the well-known documentary ‘Fairness on the 83’, which showed how increasing poverty has a profound impact on health. Using the 83-bus route, the film showed that from Millhouses to Ecclesfield, life expectancy dropped by 10 years in the poorer areas, and healthy life expectancy dropped by 20 years. There is also a body of evidence which shows significant disparities affecting groups with specific shared characteristics, such as people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and refugee backgrounds, or people with learning disabilities.

As principal charity for both Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Hospitals Charity is uniquely placed to identify, fund and set in motion initiatives which could significantly contribute to addressing health inequalities in Sheffield. Every great idea must start somewhere, start yours with us.

For more information, email our team grants@shct.nhs.uk or, once the funding call opens on June 5th 2025, you can Start an application