The information below is from statistics and commentary from official local and national
Government sources regarding Central Ward here in Northwood, Kirkby; the figures are
pretty much the same for all of Kirkby and are a grim reminder of the level of social
deprivation which still exists here.
Kirkby's performance is truly disastrous
"
When we look at some of the primary causes of unemployment it is apparent that
people's skills and qualifications underpin their ability to compete in the labour market.
Although people have many skills and abilities that are not recognised formally,
qualifications provide a guide to general skill levels. On these measures,
Kirkby's performance is truly disastrous with just one student in five achieving
this modest target, compared with a current national average of 48%."
"Kirkby's performance is truly disastrous"
(
Above is From the Kirkby Pathways Delivery Plan)
National average earnings per household is £16,800
Average earnings per household in Kirkby is £11, 068 (figures from DSS average income distribution 1998/9)
87.16% of pupils in Kirkby qualify for free school meals.
Central Ward Kirkby - What are the facts? (taken from 2001 census)
The resident population of Kirkby Central, as measured in the 2001 Census, was 6,258 of which 46 per cent were male and 54 per cent were female.
Permanently sick or disabled 15.8% (National Average = 5.5%)
Economically active full-time students 5.7% (National Average = 4.4%)
Other economically inactive 6.3% (National Average = 4.1%)
Unemployed 7.6% (National Average = 3.4%)
Retired 13.2% (National Average = 13.6%)
Employed 39% (National Average = 60.6)
The number of people with no qualifications in Kirkby Central is 52.9%, in Knowsley its 43.0% and the national average is 29.1%.
Only 6.1% of people in Central Ward have been Qualified to degree level or higher - the national average is 19.2%
In Kirkby Central there were 2,548 households in 2001. 99 per cent of the resident population lived in households. The remainder of the population lived in communal establishments. The number of households in Knowsley was 60,553.
29.3% of people in Kirkby Central said they had a 'limiting long-term illness, health problem or disability which limited people's daily activities or the work they could do.' The national average is 18.2%
For the first time, the 2001 Census asked a question about any voluntary care provided to look after, or give any help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long term physical or mental ill-health or disability, or problems relating to old age. 13 % of people in Kirkby central, over 1 in 10 said they were voluntary carers.
In 2001 only 28.9% of the households in Kirkby Central were rented from the Council (now Housing Trust)
42.0% of the houses here have no central heating
17.2% of household were occupied by lone mothers with dependent children; the National average is 6.5% 14.6% of households are occupied by pensioners.
The things they said
"Kirkby has been described as a town, which benefits from a strong sense of community with a low crime rate*. (*Are they serious?) It is situated next to the Knowsley Industrial Estate, the largest in Merseyside and one of the largest in Europe; yet less than 17% of its population is in full time employment (compared with 33% nationally). From the Kirkby Pathways Delivery Plan
