Bishop of Birmingham David Urquhart starts poverty inquiry
The Bishop of Birmingham is spearheading an inquiry into the causes of poverty in Birmingham.
Government figures suggest 35% of children in the city live in poverty, defined as households earning less than 60% of the median UK family income.
In the Nechells area, 50% of children live in poverty and NHS figures suggest people there die younger.
The Rt Revd David Urquhart said he hoped the project would generate practical ideas to combat the problem.
He said: "We've got great ambitions, great talent. A number of people are not joining in.
"These lines of inquiry are intended to come up with proposals to those in power, who have the ability to make changes, so that they dovetail with the real needs of people."
The Department of Work and Pensions, which provided the figures, said the poverty level varied depending on a number of factors including how many working adults live in a house.
Figures from primary care trust health authorities suggest the average life expectancy of a man living in the affluent Sutton Trinity ward in Birmingham is 83, compared to 71 years for a man living in inner city Nechells.
The average life expectancy for a man living in Birmingham is 76 and the UK male average is 77.