A Profile of Thetford
August 2004
Compiled by Corah Carney Keystone Development Trust
A Thetford Profile
Introduction by Neil Stott, Chief Executive of Keystone Development Trust
Welcome to the Thetford profile, a comprehensive and informative digest of local data. I hope you find the profile interesting and useful.
Thetford faces many challenges, illustrated by the data contained in the profile – but numerous organisation and local people are working hard to build on Thetford’s many assets and regenerate the town,
Thetford is changing. Since the 2001 Census there has been a significant amount of new housing built, investment in local infrastructure, major European investment in social and economic activity and new services and activities springing up – and a real will to make Thetford a better place to live, work, study and visit.
Working together we can make a real difference.
Neil Stott Chief Executive Keystone Development Trust
1 A Thetford Profile
Purpose of The Thetford Profile
The main purpose of compiling this document of current information is to provide a single source for much of the information about the Thetford area.
In addition it provides an opportunity to highlight the common links between data sets and allows the user access to a unique compilation of data relating to the area. When viewed as a whole it also provides a fascinating insight into the area. It can also support both proposals and decisions for improvements. As with any data however, it is a snapshot, limited to a point in time and by the data available.
The data is in this document has been collated from a variety of sources, the main one being the 2001 Census data from the Office of National Statistics Web-site. There are also many individuals and organisations who have contributed information and figures.
Caution should be taken however, when comparing data from the 2001 census with the 1991 census as the ward boundaries changed in 2001 and this would lead to inaccurate comparisons.
Corah Carney Health Development Officer August 2004
2 A Thetford Profile
INDEX
Section Page(s)
Executive Summary. …………………………………………………. 4 - 5
Keystone Development Trust 6 -11
Section 1 – Demographics of The Thetford Area………………… 12 - 23
Section 2 – Indices of Deprivation…………………………………... 24 - 33
Section 3 – Employment……………………………………………... 34 - 44
Section 4 – Education & Training…………………………………… 45 - 51
Section 5 – Health…………………………………………………….. 52 - 70
Section 6 – Housing…………………………………………………... 71 - 78
Section 7 – Crime & Disorder………………………………………... 79 - 90
Section 8 – The Thetford Community……………………………… 91 - 99
Section 9 – The Thetford Environment……………………………. 100 - 112
Section 10 – Thetford’s Culture & Heritage……………………….. 113 - 124
Bibliography……………………………...……………………………. 125 - 127
Glossary...... 128 - 129
Acknowledgements...... 130
3 A Thetford Profile
Executive Summary
Thetford is in many ways different from other parts of Norfolk. Significantly enlarged by migration from London, the local population increased fourfold between 1958 and 1980. This has now created a mixed identity which is quite different from its surrounding areas of Breckland. Situated some 30 miles from Cambridge and Norwich, it is said that Thetford is “an island of deprivation” which stands out starkly in its rural Norfolk setting. Its population is big enough to display some features associated with urban disadvantage but it is not big enough to have the knowledge, experience or critical mass to solve its own problems. It depends on collaboration with a host of different partners to provide a sufficient range of opportunities to meet the needs of its population.
There are a number of socio-economic issues highlighted in Thetford: