Key Areas of Concern

The Community Needs Survey has highlighted that the ‘general’ prosperity of Berkshire tends to overshadow the degree of need within the area and can lead to a lack of understanding of the problems faced by the local communities.  The key areas of concern identified by the report are: 

• Pockets of multiple deprivation contrasting with general affluence;

• An increasing proportion of elderly people and lower numbers of earners aged 25-44;

• Significant numbers of disaffected young people not in employment, education or training (NEET);

• Lack of community care for the elderly, the young, the disabled and the ethnic minorities;

• Increasing strain on public services leading to heavier demands upon the voluntary sector;

• Shortage of affordable housing for key workers;

• Basic and generic skills deficiencies;

• Very tight labour market and problems recruiting the right skills for the job.

The survey found that in Berkshire there are:

• 20 wards that are in the most deprived 20% nationally for education, skills and training;
  
  
• More than 100,000 over 65 year olds;

• An estimated 15,000 people suffering from dementia;

• Over 7,000 under 18 year olds with mental health problems;

• Over 15,600 people with learning difficulties;

• Over 110,000 people with some form of disability;

• A significant numbers of carers, including 700 who are aged under 18.