The Church Urban Fund (CUF) says ‘there is a real need for investment in our cities.’

It comes after the announcement by the government that it is going to deliver a plan to ‘level up every part of the UK.’

Minister Michael Gove unveiled a 12-mission plan to improve education, transport and broadband across the country, amongst other needs. 

Derelict urban sites in 20 towns and cities will be targeted for redevelopment intended to create more high-quality jobs, with Sheffield and Wolverhampton the first places selected.

The Director of Partnerships for CUF Liz Carnell said that Sheffield and Bradford are in need of support.

Liz told Premier: “We have a lot of inequalities in our society and it’s not just between the north and the south, it’s also between the rural areas in cities and access to broadband and transport and health inequalities.

“For example, in Bradford inner-city your life expectancy is 10 years less than if you live in the outskirts of Bradford district, somewhere leafy, like Oakley.

“There is a real need for more investment in some of our cities and towns, I actually live quite near Sheffield and that is one of the areas that the government’s actually targeted in the initial round of funding.

“If you walk through the City Centre, there are so many closed shops, I was quite surprised, even in the biggest pedestrian shopping area, Fargate, lots of closed shops, it did feel quite depressing.”

Liz said there are ways Christians can help with areas that are in need of support, and to find out who we should be praying for.

Liz said: “Find out yourself about the issues that are affecting your area, pray for them, you can also go to our website, where we have lots of information about homelessness and refugees.”