Key findings in a new report into the state of York include a ‘worryingly high’ number of hate crimes, a wide gender pay gap, and poverty levels.
The York Human Rights City Network has just released its eighth annual report.
“As with previous years, there have been areas in which the city has struggled and others in which it has done well,” the report says.
“The number of hate crimes committed in the city remains worryingly high. A substantial number of such crimes are race related and connected to the night- time economy.
“They involve the abuse of staff in bars and nightclubs, sometimes by visitors from outside of the city.
“2023 also saw an increase in the number of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes committed in the city.”
Another key finding this year relates to workplace inequalities. Although 2023 saw a reduction in the gender pay gap in York, it remains well above regional and national averages.
The report states: “When considering those engaging in full-time work, the gap increased from 18.8% in 2021 to 21.3% in 2022.
“Looking at the figures for full-time work and part-time work combined, we also see that there was an increase, from 22.5% in 2021 to 24% in 2022.
“However, 2023 showed a welcome narrowing of the gender pay gap. In terms of full-time work, the gap has fallen back to 18.8%. For full-time and part-time work combined, the gap narrowed to 20.3%.
“However, despite these decreases, the gender pay gap in York is still well above regional and national averages. For example, the gender pay gap for full-time work is 10.5% in Yorkshire and the Humber. It is 9% for England.”
Foodbank use rises
The cost of living crisis has highlighted “the very real poverty that exists in the city,” the report says.
Figures show a decrease in the number of children in York living in poverty. According to the statistics provided by the End Child Poverty Coalition, 19.3% of the city’s children were considered to be living in poverty in 2021/22. That’s down from 23.3% the previous year.
But the number of children eligible for free school meals in York has gone up.
Given that, and without more up-to-date figures, the report says the the situation regarding child poverty in York is “far from clear”.
The number of people having to use food banks in York has increased again. The foodbank run by the Trussell Trust fulfilled 2,820 vouchers in 2023, a 17.4% increase.
The total number of people served by the foodbank rose by 15%.
The report is co-written by academics from the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York and other members of the human rights network.
It makes recommendations for building on previous successes, and for remedying past failures.
Read the full report
These include continued work being carried out to identify and tackle the causes of workplace disparities; greater efforts to tackle the crisis in mental health care provision in the city; and for greater links between York and other UK cities that follow human rights principles.
Stephen Pittam, chair of York Human Rights City Network said: “We look forward to working, alongside the City Council and other organisations, towards ensuring the protection of human rights in York, through the relaunched Human Rights and Equalities Board.
“There is much work to be done.”