Place St.Helens is one of the five Districts of Merseyside, enjoying a position at the heart of the Northwest, placed almost centrally between the core cities of Manchester, fifteen miles to the east, and Liverpool, twelve miles to the west. This location is a huge advantage both for business location and also travel to work opportunities for local residents. The Borough covers an area of 136 square kilometres, about half of which is designated greenbelt or open space. It includes the town of St.Helens itself and a number of smaller settlements each with their own distinct identity. St.Helens history is linked to the industrial revolution, it was the location of the world’s first commercial canal and its first passenger railway. Coal mining and glass manufacture once employed around 50,000 people, well over half the local workforce. However, the industries that built the town have now declined in importance, with over 30,000 jobs lost in the late 1980’s. This shift in employment has been at the heart of the challenges faced ever since, and it continues to shape community priorities and ambition. |
PeopleSt Helens accounts for 13.1% of the total population of Merseyside and 2.6% of the North West region with a total population of 177,400, at mid-year 2007. The proportion of people from black or minority ethnic (BME) groups is estimated to be 2.1% for 2006 which is lower than both the regional and national average (7.4% and 11.3% respectively). Following national trends, in recent years there has been an increase in migrant workers. 595 overseas nationals registered for a National Insurance Number during 2005/06, principally from Eastern Europe and this is beginning to have some impact on service provision. The Travelling communities are the largest ethnic minority population in St.Helens. | |
The age structure of residents in St.Helens mirrors the national picture of an ageing population. Between 2001 and 2007, the number of people in St.Helens aged 15 or under decreased by 6.4% (to 19.2%) and the number of people aged 65 and over increased by 6.72% (to 19.7%). This ageing is the result of declines both in the numbers of children born and in mortality rates. This has led to a declining proportionof the population aged under 15 and an increasing proportion aged 65 and over. People of St.Helens see themselves as tough, northern, industrial, resilient, reliable, proud of the past, proud of “Saints”, on the up and with a strong sense of local identity and a strong affinity to the Northwest. |
Partnership In 2002 one of the first public/private regeneration partnerships in the country was widened to include partnerships improving community safety, services for children and young people and, most recently, addressing health, social care and health inequalities issues, to become the St.Helens Local Strategic Partnership. |
The Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) is chaired by the Council Leader and includes representation from St.Helens Chamber, the PCT, Merseyside Police, the Council for Voluntary Services, the Community Empowerment Network, St.Helens College, Helena Partnership, Citizens Advice Bureau, Greater Merseyside Connexions, Jobcentre Plus, Learning and Skills Council, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Merseytravel and community faith representatives. The Local Strategic Partnership continues to play a key role in regional and sub regional affairs through, amongst others, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the Mersey Partnership, the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, Regional Leaders Forum and the Greater Merseyside Leaders and Chief Executive’s Group. The LSP was restructured in 2007 and remains under review within the new Performance Framework. Since 2002 St.Helens Local Strategic Partnership has delivered programmes targeted at specific areas of the Borough and communities at greatest risk. |
