Keystone Community Profile
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Keystone A Reference Document 2nd Edition Compiled by Corah Carney April 2005 Keystone Community Profile INDEX Section Page(s) Introduction by Neil Stott, Chief Executive KDT…………………… 2 Purpose of The Keystone Profile……………………………………. 3 Executive Summary Overall………………………………........................... 4 Thetford…………………………................................ 5 Brandon………………………………………………… 5-6 Keystone Development Trust………………………………………... 7-12 Section 1 – Demographics of The Keystone Area………………… 14-31 Section 2 – Indices of Deprivation…………………………………... 32-50 Section 3 – Employment……………………………………………... 51-65 Section 4 – Education & Training…………………………………… 66-79 Section 5 – Health…………………………………………………….. 80-100 Section 6 – Housing…………………………………………………... 101-115 Section 7 – Crime & Disorder………………………………………... 116-131 Section 8 – The Keystone Community……………………………… 132-153 Section 9 – The Keystone Environment……………………………. 154-172 Section 10 – Keystone’s Culture & Heritage……………………….. 173-188 Bibliography……………………………...……………………………. 190-191 Glossary......................................................................................... 192-193 Acknowledgements........................................................................ 195 Page 1 Keystone Community Profile Introduction by Neil Stott, Chief Executive of Keystone Development Trust Welcome to the updated ‘Keystone Profile’, a compendium of data drawn from a wide variety of sources to give a holistic and ‘one stop’ view of the area. The Profile is the result of a massive effort by Corah Carney, Health Development Officer (HDO) and colleagues across many partner agencies. The first edition has proved to be an immensely popular and useful resource. At Keystone we place a high value on good quality research. Such research informs the Trust and partners on the needs and issues facing local people – as well as being a means to track change over time. The Profile is a living document’; Keystone will endeavour to keep it updated with your support – primarily as an online resource within our website. If there is demand for annual ‘hard copy’ we will publish it for a small fee to cover printing costs! Again, I hope you find the profile useful – if you do, please let us know. Neil Stott April 2005 Page 2 Keystone Community Profile Purpose of The Keystone Profile The main purpose of compiling this document of current information is to provide a single source for much of the commonly required information about the Keystone Development Trust’s 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 Office of National Statistics Web-site. There are also many individuals and organisations who have contributed information and figures. It has not been possible to compare 2001 census data with the 1991 census as the ward boundaries changed in 2001 and this would lead to inaccurate assumptions. I would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who have contributed information to this reference document. The second edition has the following figures now included or updated: Demographics of the Keystone area Now includes the ethnicity of Keystone residents. Indices of Deprivation The new Indices of Deprivation 2004 have replaced the IOD 2000. Employment Average Earnings updated. Figures now include earnings for 2003. Education, Skills & Training Updated figures now include the educational attainments in Primary, Secondary schools and Sixth forms in 2004. Health Updated figures include the star Ratings for NHS Trusts for 2004. Housing Average house prices updated for 2004. Corah Carney April 2005 Page 3 Keystone Community Profile Executive Summary The Keystone Area - Overall The Keystone area has a population of around 60,000 people. The area is made up of 17 different wards split further into of 36 Super Output Areas and extends over parts of two County Councils, three Local Councils and three Primary Care NHS Trusts. The population has grown by 5% since 1991. 50% of the population live in the towns of Thetford and Brandon and 50% live in the surrounding hinterland. The majority of Keystone residents were born in the UK and classify themselves to be of a Christian faith. Overall, the Keystone area has a higher than average number of people both less than 16 years old and older than 60 years. There is a lower than average percentage of people classified as social grades A&B (Professional and higher Managerial) and a higher than average percentage of people classified as social grades C2, D&E (semi-skilled and lowest grade workers). In the Indices of Deprivation 2004, 6/36 of the Super Output Areas are in the top quintile of most deprived wards nationally for education, skills and training deprivation. 15/36 of the Super Output Areas are in the top quintile of most deprived wards nationally for barriers to housing and services deprivation and 3/36 of the Super Output Areas are in the top quintile of most deprived wards nationally for crime deprivation The Keystone area has low unemployment rates but Thetford and parts of Suffolk have a higher than average employment in manufacturing but employment in this sector is predicted to fall by 13% by 2010. Average earnings with overtime in the Thetford Travel to Work Area for full-time employees are £400 a week compared to the average in England of £484 per week. Keystone has low levels of educational achievement, low literacy skills and lower than average qualifications and skills. 29% have no qualifications. Alongside this, adults living in Breckland are the least likely in Norfolk to access the internet, providing obstacles in accessing local services, advice and training opportunities. This is also exacerbated by rural remoteness and limited transport infrastructure. Residents in the Keystone area generally have better health than average with longer than normal life expectancy. Deaths from Cancers and Coronary Heart Disease are lower than the average but accidents are a major cause of death, especially on the roads. Keystone’s location is to be envied. Set in the heart of the Breckland countryside, it has many hectares of unspoilt forest and many SSSI and nature sites. Its intriguing history, full of ancient sites and hidden treasures, could provide an excellent centre for tourists but this has yet to be developed to its full potential. Page 4 Keystone Community Profile Thetford 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: 25% of the population are under 16 years compared to the national average of 17%. The wards of Thetford-Abbey and Thetford-Saxon have twice the Norfolk average for the percentage of households consisting of lone parents living with dependent children. One of the Thetford Abbey Super Output Areas is in the top quintile of most deprived wards nationally for income, employment and multiple deprivation. Educational standards are very low with 12% of students in 2000 obtaining no GCSE passes at all compared to the national average of 5.4%. The 2001 census shows that only 9% of people in Thetford have achieved a level 4/5 qualification (first degree and above) compared to 20% in England. Two out of four wards have over 40% of people between 16-74 with no qualifications. Only 2% in Abbey ward are employed in higher managerial posts compared to the national average of 9% whilst 39% are employed in routine or semi-routine posts compared to the national average of 21%. Child health is a major concern as it has the highest number of children on the Child Protection Register for its size of population in the whole of Norfolk. There is a high rate of teenage pregnancy and anecdotally, there are said to be large problems associated with substance misuse. Low aspirations and low self-esteem are frequently reported in reviews about Thetford. Brandon The market town of Brandon is set on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk. The town serves the rural hinterland of both Forest Heath and Breckland, some of which is classed as a rural priority area. Page 5 Keystone Community Profile Brandon was traditionally known as the crossroads where the routes between the ancient settlements of Kings Lynn, Bury St Edmunds, Swaffham and Newmarket converge. This enviable geographical position, once the source of wealth, employment and importance is today seen as the reason for decline and loss of direction. Brandon today, has its issues, some of which are unique: It has a higher than average population of people aged 60 yrs or over and is somewhat regarded as a retirement destination. 64% of residents in a recent survey live in bungalows. It has a higher than average percentage of households consisting of one pensioner living alone. Because of the elderly population, there are a higher number of deaths than average per 1,000 residents. The majority of people who are disadvantaged through poor health feel that their needs are not adequately catered for. One Brandon Super Output Area is in the top quintile of most deprived wards nationally for education and skills deprivation.