Blackpool

CITIZEN'S CONCERNS

Local Economy
Work
Healthy Living

CITIZEN’S ASPIRATIONS

To help everyone reach their potential
To end youth unemployment
To make health services more integrated

Local Economy, including Social Enterprises

Blackpool’s economy has a heavy reliance on tourism with 1 in 7 of the authority’s businesses directly involved in the hotel or restaurant industry. This leads to increased levels of dependency on seasonal and low wage employment.
The level of support offered to new businesses in Blackpool is poor with on average 14% of new businesses not making it past their first year in Blackpool - the worst rate in Lancashire.
At £19,500, the average pre-tax personal income in Blackpool is around £8,000 below the national average and is the lowest in the entire North West.
18% of Blackpool’s households are classified as being in fuel poverty, the highest rate in England and considerably above the national average of 10.9%.

Work

Even during the height of the tourism season unemployment is a big concern in Blackpool and is currently set at 9.9% - above regional (7.3%) and National (7.7%) averages.
The situation is even bleaker for young adults entering the workforce with 11.2% of individuals in Blackpool aged 20-24 currently classified as unemployed.
Blackpool also has a situation of underemployment with 1 in 4 people working part-time – above the national and regional average.
Blackpool has second lowest self-employment rate across Lancashire - suggesting there is a weak enterprise culture in the region.

Healthy Living

Levels of smoking in Blackpool are a genuine health concern with 30% of the population estimated to smoke - the highest level in Lancashire and the fourth highest level in the whole of England.
It is perhaps no surprise that levels of cancer mortality are therefore also extremely high compared to regional and national averages with Blackpool having the second highest proportion of cancer deaths in Lancashire, and well inside the worst 5% nationally.
Blackpool is also rated the worst district in Lancashire for levels of obesity, and this has knock-on effects with the authority having levels of diabetes prevalence and heart disease well above regional and national averages.
Overall, approximately 1 in 4 of Blackpool’s population are categorised as being in ‘bad health’ – the third highest rate in England and double the national average.

Arts, Culture & Heritage

4 of every 10 Blackpool residents claim to have visited a museum or gallery in the past 12 months.

Children, Young People & Families

30% of children live below the poverty line in Blackpool - considerably above the national average of 20%.

Education and Learning

31.3% of people in Blackpool hold no qualifications – significantly above the Lancashire (24.8%) and England (22.7%) averages.

Environment

More than half of Blackpool’s residents (52%) are dissatisfied with the amount of litter and refuse in public places.

Equality

Only 3.3% of people in Blackpool come from a black or ethnic minority background, considerably below the Lancashire average of 9.6% and national average of 14%.

Housing and Homelessness

Only 30% of homes in Blackpool are privately owned, the second lowest in Lancashire.

Safety

1 in 4 residents in Blackpool think the area has a problem with anti-social behaviour.

Social Isolation

27% of residents over the age of 60 live below the poverty line in Blackpool.

Strong Communities

37% of people in Blackpool think the areas suffers from people not treating others with respect.

Blackpool Carers Centre

Blackpool Carers Centre provides the only young carers’ service to the Blackpool community. Through their young carers support programme they support young carers whose parents have mental health or substance misuse problems. The majority of these young people are hidden from children’s and adults’ services and experience a chaotic home life.

Thank you

Thanks to Lancashire's Councils for Voluntary Services and Lancashire County Council for their support.

In association with