Central and Falinge and Balderstone and Kirkholt areas of extreme poverty

The Strand, Kirkholt

Central and Falinge, and Balderstone and Kirkholt, in Rochdale are one of six areas identified as having concentrated areas of severe deprivation.

Special measures are needed for more than 600,000 Greater Manchester residents - more than one in five - living in extreme poverty, says a new report.

The Greater Manchester Poverty Commission (GMPC) report lists 16 recommendations to prevent 1.6m more from sliding into deeper poverty.

They include a £7.45 an hour living wage.

The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, said extra help should be given to those in need or those on the verge of poverty. 

He said: "A society that forgets its poor is a poor society.

"If we are not careful another 1.6m will slide into that and not be able to manage.

"The reality is people are unable to keep warm in the winter or are without enough food to eat or have to make a choice between the two." 

Six areas were identified in the report as having concentrated areas of severe deprivation including  Central and Falinge and Balderstone.

Bishop McCulloch said those classed in the report as in extreme poverty were those on an income of £12,000 or less, which is 60% of Greater Manchester's median income of £26,000.

"One of the things that quite surprised us is the number of people we met who were experiencing really quite serious poverty but are also in part-time work," said Bishop McCulloch.

"Because they are earning they unable to get benefits they otherwise might have and it becomes a vicious spiral."

The commission is made up of 10 cross-party MPs and representatives from the voluntary, community and faith sector.