Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

12 3.6 There is a high rate of hospital admissions from Tendring. 2 of the 4 practices with increases of over 100 patient emergency admissions and >20% growth rate, were from Tendring practices, one from Clacton and one from Ardleigh. 3.7 The three geographic areas in Tendring are close in proximity but demonstrate significant variation in the fortunes of residents. For example, some wards in Harwich, Walton on the Naze and Jaywick Sands are ranked high in the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and have a very high relative risk of residents experiencing social isolation and loneliness 7 . In general, rural communities and villages across Tendring have strong community networks, but people can be isolated due to lack of awareness of or inaccessibility of services. 3.7 In summary, Tendring West has the best life expectancy and the least children living in poverty. It also has higher levels of academic attainment and lower levels of unemployment. It does however, have a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease compared with the rest of Tendring. Tendring South has the most residents, the lowest level of life expectancy, the highest rate of children living in poverty and the lowest levels of academic attainment. It also has a higher level of people providing 50+ hours of unpaid care per week. Tendring East sits somewhere in the middle but does have the same level of children living in fuel poverty as Tendring South and a very slightly lower level of attainment at GSCE. This is illustrated in Appendix 2. 3.8 The above are clearly embedded complex issues that will not have a simple or quick solution but it is believed that deploying community support and resources in places where people feel welcome or already go may help ameliorate the impact of some of these issues on the communities experiencing them. Anecdotal evidence was given that people are reluctant to approach statutory services with a range of issues, especially in the early stages, and would prefer to access local community based services. This included the early stages of dementia, carer fatigue and problems with children and young people. 4 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 4.1 Good physical and mental health positively influence children and young people’s wellbeing, their educational achievements and their life chances for the future. There are approximately 26,612 children under 17 in Tendring, accounting for 18.4% of the population. This figure is projected to rise significantly to 2020. Mental and emotional wellbeing, positive learning, education and development and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are central to ensuring a strong foundation for life. 4.2 Whilst there is an abundance of groups and locations across the district where activities and services are provided, the actual range of services likely to appeal to young parents with pre-school children is relatively small with Yoga, Pilates, Parent and Toddler groups, and coffee mornings being among the most common. The high number of Parent and Toddler groups across Tendring give a platform from which to develop other services. Most have a very local flavour and are often in church halls and community halls, where people already go. There remains an issue of people with health and wellbeing needs actually being able to get to services, either due to lack of confidence, insecurity or lack of transport. Enabling access is a core issue which has become evident throughout this research. 4.3 For pre-school children and parents/carers there are forest schools which, for a relatively small fee enable children to learn to respect their environment, play outdoors in all weathers, develop practical skills, get creative and mix with their peers. These are generally 7 Age UK Loneliness Maps 2016 ageuk.org.uk/loneliness-maps/england-2016/