A view of life in Letchworth today A Tale of a Garden City

Telling stories about ourselves can following pages a story will unfold solving some of the issues that are help us to make sense of our lives. based on our facts and figures and being told in this updated story Towns and cities are no different. statistics. It is one that is real and about Letchworth. Earlier this year we felt it was a good current. We haven’t set out to shock, The creation of Letchworth is moment in our history to take stock far from it, but there might be a few underpinned by a belief in social of how things are now. Later this surprises. Or perhaps you won’t be justice. As a town, and as a Garden year we will publish and present our surprised at all. City, we were founded on values of new strategy based on our findings. Some of the issues highlighted are compassion. In order to be true to Before completing our strategy, we familiar and easy to dismiss, for our principles we want to continue to wanted to look at ourselves and our example loneliness and isolation. nurture this compassion and social Garden City afresh. We know that there’s a loneliness justice. The Heritage Foundation is The tale of our Garden City is one that epidemic nationwide, despite our here to look after not just the physical starts at the very beginning. A town propensity to engage with social media. aspects of our town, but the social, built from scratch, designed to make emotional and cultural well-being of But we have a problem with that people’s lives better and happier. our whole community. approach. Our thinking is that things A town for everyone, designed for can and should be different for us. Thank you for reading this report. If industry and healthy living. For Why? Because Letchworth is different. certain parts of the story resonate, many years we have talked about It is completely unique. Its very reason then please get in touch. We would Letchworth being a unique place to for being is to make life better for welcome your thoughts and reactions. live, blessed with local employment people. After all, it is a town designed and good, affordable housing. for industry and healthy living. We But there is another tale to be told want to find a way to use our assets about Letchworth and in the to work towards addressing and Ethnic Diversity Letchworth White

Mixed/Multiple Ethnic A welcoming town All welcome Groups There is no doubt that Letchworth is 2016 – the proportion of 20-24 year population growth is modest, some Letchworth welcomes people. Asian/Asian British an attractive place to live. The town olds grew nationally, yet in Letchworth could argue it is stagnant. There’s Our town embraces residents of all offers good employment and is well the number of young people has an interesting argument that aligns Black/African/ connected – to the rest of Hertfordshire remained stagnant. The reason? We population growth with the ability for faiths and none. We have a thriving Caribbean/Black British think it could be because at this age Sikh community, with 4% of those in and to London and Cambridge. a town or city to flourish – what Other Ethnic Group young people tend to want to leave benefits could a thriving population the town following the religion, and If you look at the figures, Letchworth’s their home towns to go to university this is higher than the national bring to our town? Source 2011 Census population rose from 32,700 in 2011 to or to work elsewhere. It could also be average of 1%. We also have a high 34,300 by mid-2016.1 Two things stand that there isn’t the housing stock here number of residents who have no 1 Source 2011 Census and ONS Mid-Year Population out. During the same period – 2011 to that suits their needs. Indeed the wider Estimates (2016) religion, and at 31%, this is higher than across Hertfordshire and Religious Diversity England. At the time of the census, 85% of people living in Letchworth Letchworth Population Estimates (2016) Letchworth Christian North Hertfordshire were from white ethnic backgrounds, in line with the national average. Sikh 15% Hertfordshire England Hindu

10% Source 2011 Census Muslim Buddhist 5% No religion

Religion not stated 0% 0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+ Source 2011 Census A home of your own Letchworth has a high level of Most people living in Letchworth perhaps using a shared ownership social housing at Letchworth own their homes. After that, the next or community-owned model. largest group of residents live in What sets us apart from other places Letchworth social housing and the smallest group Private is that we have fewer residents living 31% rented in private rented accommodation. in private rented accommodation Hitchin The numbers of people who live in compared to other local areas and 16% social housing are relatively high: 31 per England as a whole. This could mean cent, particularly if you compare them that those younger adults who are not North Hertfordshire Social with the national figures: 18 per cent. eligible for social housing don’t have 19% Homeowners This of course is a reflection of our much to choose from in Letchworth. rented history: social housing was originally These young people might be those % Hertfordshire part of the fabric of Letchworth. But who are newly qualified which means 18 we’re wondering if there’s a gap here that they might be about to leave England too; an opportunity for those who Letchworth to work in London or 18% currently live in social housing to other bigger towns. move on to a property of their own, The private rental market is relatively small: 10% Letchworth

16% Hitchin

Source 2011 Census In North Hertfordshire the largest job sector is Economy manufacturing followed by retail and health Our commitment to sustainability vibrant town centre. Of course, a stable and contemporary lifestyles town centre offers more employment The number of manufacturing jobs is more than twice that in the continues to thrive. for residents. A prime example of this rest of Hertfordshire and is also higher than the national average. is the Premier Inn, which opened on You don’t need to go all the way to Station Road last year. It employs 23 Shoreditch to find a vegan restaurant. full time staff, all Letchworth residents We are delighted that Vutie Beets has and all of whom were appointed opened, offering more choice for both Top 10 Employee Jobs by Industry (2015) North Hertfordshire through Letchworth’s Job Centre. vegans and flexitarians. And at a time Hertfordshire when so many towns and cities are When it comes to commuting, a large 15% trying to find alternatives to single-use majority of residents work locally, with England plastic, we are pleased to welcome the majority – 42% – travelling within our first zero waste shop. Overall, we North Herts for work; 11% heading to Source Business Register and have a high number of independent Stevenage; 10% working in London 10% Employment Survey (ONS, 2015) businesses – a cause for celebration and Westminster; and 5% of people – and we’re extremely committed to working in Welwyn and Hatfield.2 supporting them and the chain shops and restaurants that help make a 5%

0% Retail Health services services and food Business technical Education Wholesale and supportand Professional, Construction scientific and and scientific administration Manufacturing 2 Information and and Information communication Source 2011 Census Accommodation Accommodation Letchworth household net incomes are lower than both the regional and national £486 £539 £558 £496 averages after housing costs (per week) 1 in 5 Letchworth North Hertfordshire England Hertfordshire Letchworth households

Average net monthly household income Average monthly rent are trapped in poverty This is around £2440 Letchworth £993

£2612 North Hertfordshire £993 Sources ONS Small Area Income Estimates Many residents find it hard to make (2013/14) ends meet, with some feeling trapped Valuation Office Agency (2017) outside a life that others take for 2,776 Hertfordshire ONS Social housing lettings in Letchworth £2716 £1107 granted. We're not talking flash cars households England (2016) and expensive holidays; but basics like having enough food on the table Average net monthly household income and being able to buy a suitable winter for residents of housing associations Average monthly rent coat for their child.

Letchworth Source ONS Households Below £1284 £456 Average Income (2014) The number of people claiming out of work benefits in Letchworth Jobs density 3 Letchworth has high numbers of economically inactive people, 1% is higher with high levels of retirees and than North Hertfordshire, but slightly lower than the national average low numbers of students 0.75%

Out of Work Benefits Claimant Count(% Population) Economic Activity (Working Age Adults) 0.5%

Letchworth Employed (including Letchworth 2% self-employed and 0.25% North Hertfordshire part-time workers) Great Britain

Unemployed Letchworth North Hertfordshire Hertfordshire England 1.5% 0% Source Department for Work Students and Pensions (2018) Retired 1% The number of jobs available per resident in Long-term sick Letchworth is low when compared with the or disabled county and national averages. Hertfordshire overall has a high concentration of jobs but 0.5% Other North Hertfordshire is below the national average. Source 2011 Census 0% 3 Source ONS (2018) Jobs density is the numbers of jobs per resident aged 16-64. For example, a job density of 1.0 would mean that there is one job for Jul-17 Jul-16 Apr-17 Jan-17 Oct-17 Jun-17 Apr-18 Mar-17 Jan-18 Oct-16 Jun-16 Mar-18 Feb-17 Dec-17 Sep-17 Nov-17 Feb-18 Aug-17 May-17 Dec-16 Sep-16 Nov-16 Aug-16 May-18 every resident of working age. Increasing skills At the time of the 2011 census A large number of our town’s working-age residents have no or low skills and qualifications. 13% of Letchworth working age residents In the previous pages we saw that the majority of Letchworth residents had no qualifications work in North Hertfordshire (42%). Given that the main industry in this North region is manufacturing and Hertfordshire production followed by retail, high qualifications are not always Letchworth 38% necessary for this. However, there are many other jobs in the town – 32% and an obvious example is in technology – where high levels of skills are not only desirable, but essential. We know that the key to Letchworth North empowering our population is to Hertfordshire increase people’s skills to a point 13% where they can choose which jobs 10% and opportunities to aim for. This need to increase skills will also help to increase resilience and enable people to share in economic growth. No qualifications Level 4 and above Growing up in Letchworth 1 in 4 We have a challenge. Letchworth These are things that can start to This represents over 1800 children has the second highest rate of child erode confidence at a young age. in Letchworth living in poverty. The poverty in the county and this isn’t These seemingly innocent social children in Letchworth acceptable. deprivations can lead to young levels of child poverty in Letchworth people sensing that life will be limited There are so many disadvantages for are high, with fewer than 1 in 5 for them, with opportunities closed are locked in poverty children growing up in low-income children in poverty in Hertfordshire. off early on, rather than opening up families, often small or overlooked into a positive and optimistic future. Source End Child Poverty (2017) things that can have a massive social We aim to explore what we can do to and long term negative impact. For alleviate this in order to offer every example, children from low-income child in Letchworth better prospects. families often forgo events that most We already work closely with various of us would take for granted. They partners and groups across the town. miss school trips; they can’t invite Our aim is to work even more closely friends round for tea; and they don’t to make services cohesive and Number of secondary school pupils in enjoy the luxury of a basic one-week more powerful in order to transform holiday away from home. the day-to-day experiences and Letchworth eligible for free school meals expectations of our children. at any time in the last six years is 5.5 percentage points higher than the national average for state funded schools Source Department of Education (2016/17) Our schools are not performing as well as the national average. Only 52.9% Only 1 in 3 At primary school level in Development at this age affects Letchworth 57% of pupils reach Letchworth secondary school pupils the expected standard, compared of Letchworth children are children’s life chances. Getting a with 61% nationwide. We are good start in life helps children to achieved grade 5 or above in their extremely concerned about this. developing well at age 5 gain the tools they need to thrive A programme to improve skills to English and Maths GCSEs open up opportunities in later life for the rest of their lives. Source Department of Education (2017) needs to start from an early age. Source Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (2013/14) Low levels of development at this age can affect children adversely for the rest of their lives. There is also a challenge for our young people at secondary school level. Performance here is also below the national average. We 52.9% 60.4% 65.4% 65.9% have high rates of school absence and persistent absence in particular: 18% of secondary school children are persistently absent, compared Letchworth National North Hertfordshire Letchworth Hertfordshire to 14% across England. average Hertfordshire Letchworth Growing old in Letchworth Life is for living in the way that childhood, older residents also makes us feel most alive, regardless deserve to make the most of their of our age. lives. As a Foundation, we feel Just as we believe that every single strongly that we want life as an child in our town should be able to older adult in Letchworth to be have a fulfilling and socially active something that is celebrated. Half of Letchworth neighbourhoods have older adults who are at high or very high risk of loneliness Source Age UK (2016) Population by age group At 65 Aged under 16 the life expectancy North Hertfordshire male life Aged 16-24

of women in North expectancy at 65 is 19.3 years, Aged 25-64

Hertfordshire is which is significantly better than Aged 65-84

21.1 years the national average of 18.1 years Aged 85 and over Source Public Health England (ONS 2014-16) Source ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates (2016) As we said in our introduction, it’s trips or invite other children to their Emergency hospital admissions due to falls sometimes easy to tell ourselves a homes, we feel that for our older story about how things are and residents who want to have more in people 65+ in North Hertfordshire are that story isn’t always accurate. contact with others, we want to support them to make this possible. There is a story about living as an significantly worse older adult in Letchworth that is a We want quality of life to be good example of this. It’s easy to associated with every stage of life than the Hertfordshire and national average believe that growing old in Letchworth for people living in Letchworth. (and has been worse than county for the last 3 years) means that life becomes even busier. Source Public Health England (ONS 2015/16) We are lucky to have so many clubs and groups in our town that are thriving and full of older residents, some of whom run the activities. But this isn’t the whole story. Sadly, not all of our older adults are living this life of engagement and social participation. Levels of fuel poverty in North Hertfordshire The reality is that there are many older people in Letchworth who are better than the national average, but have become extremely isolated, and not from choice. There are several reasons: health; circumstance; or significantly worse than Hertfordshire lack of resources. Again, as with the Source Department of Energy and Climate Change (2014) children who are not able to go on Foundation House Icknield Way Letchworth Garden City SG6 1GD 01462 476007 www.letchworth.com With thanks to Public Health Hertfordshire