A major new report has revealed that the life expectancy for boys born in some parts of Barrow is only 72.
Furness: Opportunities and Challenges 2021 was commissioned by Cumbria Community Foundation to inform the area’s leaders what can be done to improve people’s lives and how to attract funding to the area.
More than 100 hours of research, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, went into the report, which also found:
- 29 per cent of people live in areas classed as among the 20 per cent most deprived in England
- Furness’ long-term illness rate is 23.5 per cent. The national rate is 17.6 per cent
- The male suicide rate is 26 per 100,000. The UK average is 17.2.
- Child poverty in some Barrow wards is 35 per cent
- Nearly one in 10 people are unemployed
- Almost one in four adults have no qualifications
However, the research showed that people in Furness are substantially happier with their area than the national average, and that Barrow is the second most affordable place to live in Britain.
Cumbira Community Foundation chief execuitve Andy Beeforth said: “We produced a similar report for West Cumbria which was the focus for funding new partnerships addressing family wellbeing, financial literacy and young people and enterprise.
“The Furness report has been created with the backing of all local councils, a number of business leaders, BAE and charitable funders, and all are committed to positive change for people of the area.”
Furness MP Simon Fell was one of around 100 people to attend an online launch event this week and praised its scope.
“The report shows poverty and prosperity rubbing together side by side,” he said, adding: “It is a tremendous piece of writing and will give me the tools I need to go into Government and speak to ministers to press for more support.”
The report looks at everything from health and unemployment to education and housing, and speaks to people in the public, private and third sectors, from local government to film making to drug treatment.
The report highlights the often extreme contrasts in Furness, from the fells of South Lakeland to the expanse of Morecambe Bay, the highly-skilled jobs at Barrow’s main employer BAE Systems to the pockets of acute deprivation just streets away.
The next generation feature too, with the views of more than 250 schoolchildren sought in a survey which asked them what they thought about the place where they lived.
One girl said: “I want to stay here when I grow up because my family are here. I want to be by the sea with my family and friends. Being with the people I love makes me happy.”
In his foreword, Tony Keen, MD of SN Group, writes: “Now we have a document which gives us focus and direction to help make the changes the area needs.”
