An Independent report has praised an anti-poverty initiative by the South Local Area Committee (LAC) and Gleadless Valley Green Councillors that will now be rolled out across Sheffield.
The Income Maximisation pilot was initiated by Gleadless Valley Green Councillors in 2023 as part of their work on the Sheffield South LAC.
Councillors in the South LAC worked with the council’s Cost of Living team on a pilot initiative to create dedicated advice worker posts to work in community centres and foodbanks to help address cost of living issues.
Several new advice workers were trained to provide free face-to-face advice, helping people to get reductions on bills like council tax, water bills and other financial support, and assistance with appointments and form filling. The advice workers have since been working two days a week in each of the four South LAC wards; Gleadless Valley, Nether Edge and Sharrow, Graves Park and Beauchief and Greenhill.
Green Councillors have consistently spoken about the value of free face-to-face advice.
A Green motion to full council in September 2025 got cross-party support and resulted in a council resolution to support Sheffield residents by continuing the Income Maximisation work and increasing face-to-face advice in communities.
Sheffield City Council commissioned a research report into income maximisation in Sheffield. Kada, a local independent economic development consultancy, looked in detail at what the Council and its partners are doing to help Sheffielders maximise their incomes.
718 people have received support through the Income Maximisation Pilot. A mix of Council Tenants, Housing Association Tenants and home owners received support. Nearly a quarter of people assisted had a disability. On average the pilot has increased incomes by £2,600 per year. The Council will now expand the South LAC Income Maximisation Pilot across the city.
In relation to the Income Maximisation pilot Kada said,
“In person, Council representation in local community hubs is vital for establishing trust, delivering compassionate support and decreasing loneliness amongst those experiencing poverty. Support from the Income Maximisation Pilot workers was seen to be invaluable, highlighting the importance of continuing to offer face to face support when delivering income maximisation activities.”
The report went on to recommend that the council,
“Ensure in-person support remains available, building on good practice identified through the cost of living workers delivering the Income Maximisation Pilot.”
Gleadless Valley Green Councillor Marianne Elliot said,
“It is really encouraging to see an Independent body recognising the successful work of the Income Maximisation Pilot and the value of free face-to-face advice in our communities. Good quality advice directly helps people and also brings thousands of additional pounds into the local economy as people are able to afford the food and other essentials they need to get by. With prices rising and the cost of living becoming more difficult for more households, it is really welcome that this project will be mainstreamed across the whole of Sheffield.”
