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 Starting well

  • Higher birth rates in ethnic minority groups suggest that the profile of this area will change.
  • Compared to Kirklees as a whole, rates of smoking in pregnancy are lower and new mothers in Huddersfield have higher rates of starting and continuing breastfeeding.

 Developing well

  • The achievement of good levels of development in reception class age children is similar to Kirklees overall but there are significant inequalities. Fewer boys and children from poorer families achieve good levels of development. The same inequalities exist for GCSE attainment.
  • Fruit and vegetable consumption amongst children and young people in Huddersfield is one of the lowest of all four District Committees.
  • Only one in six 14 year olds meets recommended physical activity levels and one in five does not take part in any regular exercise.
  • Most 14 year olds in Huddersfield have not had sex. The proportion of 14 years olds drinking alcohol weekly or more has reduced from 17% in 2009 to 6% in 2014. 9% of 11-19 year olds use e-cigarettes.
  • Regular bullying rates amongst 14 year olds in Huddersfield (7%) are the lowest of all the district committees. Bullying rates in both Huddersfield and the Kirklees average have reduced from one in five in 2009.

 Living well

  • Less than half of all adults in Huddersfield are a healthy weight. One in five working age adults in Huddersfield are obese and obesity rates are highest in those aged 55 to 64 years.
  • Just over one in three adults meet recommended physical activity levels.
  • Diabetes rates are similar to the Kirklees average. However, diabetes rates are three times higher amongst the South Asian population.
  • Smoking and drinking rates in adults are similar to the Kirklees average and are highest among younger adults. Clustered unhealthy behaviours are an issue of concern for some population groups, such as young white adults and those with low motivation levels.
  • Over one in three working age adults reported having mental health problems such as depression or anxiety in 2016, an increase from one in four in 2012. These rates were highest amongst those aged 18-24 years.

 Working well

  • Around 2.5% of the working age population are claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Huddersfield. This is slightly higher than the figure across Kirklees (2%) but is at its lowest level since 2007.
  • Over half of the adult population is in employment, with a further one in four people being retired and one in 20 in education.
  • One in four working adults in Huddersfield have taken time off work due to illness in the last 12 months. For two in three of these people this absence lasted over two months.
  • Levels of volunteering in Huddersfield are similar to Kirklees overall with one in four people volunteering at least once a month.

 Ageing well

  • Life expectancy at aged 65 years was 83.0 years for men and 85.9 years for women. Male and female life expectancy at birth in Huddersfield have both increased by 2.5 years in the last 10 years.
  • More than two in five people aged 65 years or over suffer from three or more long-term health conditions, compared with one in four of those aged under 65 years.
  • Just over a third of people aged 65 years or more do 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. This is slightly less than the Kirklees average for this age group, but within this group physical activity levels decline with age.
  • One in six people aged 65 years or more requires some assistance to remain living in their own home, slightly above the Kirklees average. Of these older people requiring help, one in 13 are not currently receiving it from family, friends or professional care workers.
  • Over one in four people aged 65 years or more has fallen and hurt themselves in the last 12 months.

 People and place

  • Less than a third of working people in Huddersfield travel outside of Kirklees for work, the lowest of the four District Committees. Around half (52%) of working people work in and around Huddersfield.
  • Around two in five people report using walking as a method of travel, slightly above the Kirklees average and only one in 20 travels by bicycle.
  • Average household income and house prices are low compared to other parts of the district. Fuel poverty is lower than Kirklees overall, but higher than the national average. Almost one in four adults has frequent money worries.
  • Perceptions of respect and cohesion amongst local communities have improved in Huddersfield since 2012. Perceptions of community cohesion are most positive amongst South Asian adults and older people.

 Assets

  • Several important indicators of health and wellbeing are improving in Huddersfield, and there are large numbers of people with high levels of motivation to look after their health.
  • There are many community assets (strengths) in Huddersfield including outdoor and indoor spaces, groups and networks that bring together, motivate, support, give a voice to, and improve the quality of life of people across their life course.
  • Schools as community hubs are emerging as important community assets in Huddersfield.

 What could commissioners consider?

  • Work with communities to understand and build upon local assets, such as groups, networks and creative use of local spaces.
  • Look for opportunities to work with school as community hubs.
  • Support improved emotional health and wellbeing by promoting workplace wellbeing, and working with existing local mental health networks to reach vulnerable groups.
  • Develop strategies to tackle the roots of fuel poverty and work with local residents so they can access suitable housing and are confident managing their own money.
  • Contribute to improved air quality by developing and supporting active travel initiatives, such as walking and cycling schemes.

This District Committee summary uses a life course approach, from ‘Starting well’ (incorporating pregnancy and infancy, childhood development and educational attainment), through ‘Living well’ (adults aged 18-64) and ‘Working well’ (relating to those of working age), to ‘Ageing well’ (people aged 65 and over).

This summary also includes sections on ‘Population’ (including age and ethnicity profiles, population projections, fertility and mortality rates, and life expectancy) and ‘People and place’ (including perceptions of the local area, and wider factors such as air pollution, transport, money and housing).

Population

 

 

 

  • Huddersfield District Committee includes seven political wards: Almondbury, Ashbrow, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Dalton, Greenhead, Lindley and Newsome. These links take you to useful ward level health profiles on the ‘Local Health’ tool produced by Public Health England.
  • The population of Huddersfield has increased by 12,643 in the last ten years and now stands at 138,133. This is approximately one third of the total population of Kirklees which shows the greater population density in Huddersfield compared with the other District Committee areas.
  • Ashbrow and Crosland Moor & Netherton have larger proportions of younger age groups, whereas Almondbury and Dalton have larger proportions of older age groups. Wards close to Huddersfield town centre, Greenhead and Newsome, have large proportions of young adults – this is particularly marked in Newsome (the ward in which the majority of student accommodation is situated), where 19% of the population are aged 20-24. (1) The population density of different age groups across Kirklees is shown in more detail in the population summary.

  • The general fertility rate (live births per 1000 women aged 15-44) is lower than the overall Kirklees rate and the national average (61.8 for Huddersfield in 2015 compared with 64.2 for Kirklees and 62.3 for England). (2) (3)
  • Although 68% of the population in Huddersfield are White British, only 46% of births are in this ethnic category. Higher birth rates in ethnic minority groups suggest that the profile of this area will change in coming years. (3) (4)
  • Infant mortality rates (deaths in infants aged under 1 year per 1,000 live births) in Huddersfield are below the Kirklees average (but not at a statistically significant level). (4)(5) The proportion of low weight live births is similar in the two areas. Despite the infant mortality rate in Huddersfield being higher in 2013-2015 than it was 2012-2014, there has been a longer term decline. In 2013-15 infant mortality was 4.6 in Huddersfield and 5.0 in Kirklees overall, neither being significantly different to the national average of 4.0. Infant mortality is linked to smoking in pregnancy, low birth weight and congenital abnormalities (defects that are present at birth).
  • Compared to Kirklees overall, male life expectancy at birth in Huddersfield is slightly lower (78.6 years vs 79.4 years for Kirklees), but female life expectancy is very similar (82.4 years vs 82.6 years for Kirklees). Life expectancy at age 65 years follows a similar pattern. Life expectancy at age 65 years was 83.0 years for men (compared to 83.4 for Kirklees) and 85.9 years for women (compared to 85.6 for Kirklees). In the last 10 years, male and female life expectancy at birth in Huddersfield have both increased by 2.5 years. (5) (6)

Starting well

We want every child to have the best start in life. Our aim is to enable all children and young people to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.

Many factors contribute to improving and maintaining the health and emotional wellbeing of a child, from their mother’s health pre-conception and through pregnancy, to their home and local environments and the support of local communities and schools. In this section, we look at some of the key ‘starting well’ indicators for Huddersfield.

  • Compared to Kirklees as a whole, new mothers in Huddersfield have higher rates of starting breastfeeding (83% vs 77% in Kirklees) and breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks after delivery (49% vs 43%). (7) (8)
  • One in nine (11%) pregnant women living in Huddersfield were recorded as smokers at the time of their delivery in 2015/16. Smoking rates amongst pregnant women in Huddersfield are lower than the Kirklees average (13%).Smoking in pregnancy is a key risk factor for low birth weight and, later, childhood asthma. (9) (10)

Developing well

  • The proportion of reception pupils achieving a good level of development (GLD) in Huddersfield (69%) is similar to Kirklees overall (68%). However, rates of achievement are lower amongst those who are ‘free school meal eligible’ in Huddersfield (56%) and in Kirklees overall (51%).There are also inequalities in Huddersfield between boys (59%) achieving a good level of development and girls (80%), a similar pattern to Kirklees overall (60% for boys, 77% for girls). In Huddersfield and across Kirklees there are inequalities between ethnic groups and between the most deprived areas (61%) and the least deprived areas (77%).(11)

Emotional health and wellbeing

  • Emotional wellbeing in 14 year olds (school years 9 and 10) does not differ significantly between District Committee areas. It is slightly higher in Huddersfield than it is in the other three District Committee areas and in Kirklees overall.(12)
  • A new baseline measure for resilience in children and young people was established in 2015 (13). This shows that on average children and young people in Kirklees have good-to-average levels of resilience. Resilience levels were the same on average in Huddersfield as they were in the other District Committees and in Kirklees overall. Whilst this is positive there is scope for improvement. (12)
  • One in 20 (5%) 14 year olds had problems getting to sleep because of being anxious or worried. This is the same as for Kirklees overall and a reduction from one in 17 (6%) in 2009. The rate was slightly higher in girls (6%) than boys (4%) and slightly higher in the most deprived areas than the least deprived areas. (12)
  • One in 33 (3%) of 14 year olds said they had anxiety or depression (similar to the Kirklees rate). (12)
  • In Huddersfield, one in 14 (7%) 14 year olds (school years 9 and 10) say they have been bullied once a week or more in the last two months. This is lower than Kirklees overall (10%) and the lowest of all the District Committees. This proportion in both Huddersfield and in Kirklees has reduced from one in five (20%) in 2009. (12)

Food, obesity and physical activity

  • The proportion of healthy weight 4-5 year old children is similar to the Kirklees average (78% vs 77% for Kirklees). Likewise, the proportion of healthy weight 10-11 year olds is similar to the Kirklees average (64% vs 65% for Kirklees). (14)
  • Around three in five (65%) young people (aged 11-18 years) in Huddersfield eat takeaway meals less than once a week or never which is similar to Kirklees overall (64%). (12)
  • Just over half (52%) of 14 year olds have breakfast every day before school, while one in seven (14%) never eat breakfast before school. (12)
  • One in four (24%) 11 year olds and one in six (16%) 14 year olds eat five or more portions of fruit or vegetables a day; these figures are the one of the lowest of all four District Committees. (12)
  • Only one in six (17%) 14 year olds meets the recommended levels of 60 minutes of physical activity a day and one in five (20%) does not take part in any regular exercise. These levels are similar to Kirklees overall (16% and 19% respectively). (12)
  • One in eight (12%) 14 year olds reports having a health problem or disability. This is lower than the other three District Committee areas and similar to Kirklees overall (13%). It is also similar to what was reported in 2009 (11%). (12)
  • One in 16 (6%) 14 year olds reports having asthma, similar to Kirklees overall (7%). This was the second lowest rate of asthma compared with the other District Committee areas although differences were not statistically significant. Asthma rates were higher in the most deprived areas and slightly higher in girls (9%) than boys (7%) overall. (12)

Teenage pregnancy

  • Teenage conception rates (in 2012-2014) (15) in Huddersfield are similar to those in Kirklees overall (27.5 vs 27.1 per 1000) and higher than the national average (25.1) but the rates have declined across the district from 36.4 (in 2011-2013)(16).
  • Most 14 year olds (school years 9 and 10) in Huddersfield have not had sex. In Kirklees as a whole, the proportion of 14 year olds who have not had sex has remained the same since 2009 (87%). In Huddersfield the proportion is 89% which is similar to the 2009 figures (90%). (12)

Tobacco, alcohol and drug misuse

  • Over half (53%) of 14 year olds (school years 9 and 10) in Huddersfield have tried alcohol, which is less than in 2009 (60%). For Kirklees overall there is a downward trend (51% in 2014 vs 66% in 2009). There was a significant difference between the proportion of 14 year olds in the least deprived areas (38%) and the most deprived areas (66%) who had tried alcohol but there was no significant difference between males (52%) and females (57%). (12)
  • In Huddersfield, the proportion of 14 year olds drinking weekly or more reduced from 17% in 2009 to 6% in 2014. This was a similar for Kirklees overall which showed a significant reduction from 22% in 2009 to 10% in 2014. (12)
  • 5% of 14 year olds in Huddersfield smoke regularly which is similar to 2009 and to Kirklees overall. One in three (34%) 14 year olds live with an adult who smokes which is a slight reduction from 45% in 2009 and is in line with Kirklees overall. A similar proportion of 14 year olds in Huddersfield (9%) report using e-cigarettes compared with Kirklees overall (10%). This indicator provides a new baseline for future analyses. (12)
  • One in 14 (7%) 14 year olds report having tried drugs, a slight reduction from 9% in 2009. This is now similar to Kirklees as a whole (9% in 2014, a reduction from 12% in 2009). There was some difference between the proportion of 14 year olds in the least deprived areas (6%) and the most deprived areas (12%) who had tried drugs, but this was not statistically significant. (12)
  • Cannabis was the most commonly used drug with 6% of 14 year olds in Huddersfield who had ever tried drugs and 7% of those in Kirklees overall having tried it.(12) In Huddersfield the vast majority (94%) of 14 year olds have never tried cannabis. This has improved since 2009 (89%) and is similar to Kirklees overall (93%). (12)

Educational attainment

  • Overall, GCSE attainment (five or more A*-C grades in GCSEs including English and maths) was slightly lower for pupils living in Huddersfield (54%) than Kirklees (57%) in 2015/16 and was slightly lower than the 2014/15 figures for Huddersfield (56%) and Kirklees (55%). There is a significant gender inequality in Huddersfield with higher levels of attainment in females (63%) than males (46%); this pattern is repeated across Kirklees. Significant inequalities also exist between pupils living in the least deprived areas (74%) and the most deprived areas (43%). (17)
  • The pupil absence rate in Huddersfield was very similar to Kirklees overall (44 vs 43 absence sessions per 1000 possible sessions). (18)
  • In 2016, the amount of NEET young people (those aged 16 to 18 not in full time education, training or employment) in Huddersfield was 2.7% which was slightly higher than Kirklees overall (2.5%) but lower than the national average (6.5%). (19)

Young carers

A young carer is a person aged between eight and 18 years who provides unpaid care to somebody because of a physical disability; mental ill health; sensory impairment; substance misuse; long-term condition; learning disability or illness.

  • In 2014, 8% of Kirklees students identified themselves as carers of a parent, relative, brother or sister. (12)
  • One in 14 (7%) 14 year olds in Huddersfield said that they were a carer for a family member. This compares with one in 13 (8%) in Kirklees overall. 2% cared for a parent with an illness; 3% for a sibling with an illness; and 2% for another relative. (12)

Living well

This stage of the life course spans the ages 18 to 64, and covers more than 60% of the population of Kirklees. Although many people are continuing to work to an older age before retiring, for convenience we are also referring to this age group as ‘working age’.

Many of the lifestyle choices and health behaviours of people in this age group will have a direct impact on their health and emotional wellbeing, potentially limiting their ability to work and live their life to the full. Enabling people to adopt a healthier lifestyle during this phase of life alongside addressing the wider determinants of health such as income, employment and housing can improve health and quality of life in older age.

Emotional health and wellbeing

  • Emotional wellbeing for the working age population (measured using the SWEMWBS tool) (20) was similar in Huddersfield to Kirklees overall in 2016. The score was slightly higher in younger age groups, although this difference was not significant. (21)
  • Over one in three (37%) adults aged between 18 and 64 years reported having mental health problems such as depression or anxiety in 2016, an increase from one in four (25%) in 2012. The rate in Huddersfield was similar to Kirklees overall (35%) and highest amongst those aged 18-24 years (50%). (21)

Food, obesity and physical health

  • Eating patterns in Huddersfield appear similar to the Kirklees average. Almost two in three (64%) of adults aged between 18 and 64 years are quite or extremely likely to consume five items of fruit and vegetables a day. This is similar to the figure across Kirklees (66%). (21)
  • Amongst working age adults, almost nine in ten (85%) people are confident to prepare a meal from simple ingredients, and a similar number (88%) do so at least once a week. For women of childbearing age, 86% were confident cooking and 92% did so at least once a week, again similar to the Kirklees average. (21)
  • Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease (such as heart attacks and stroke) and some cancers so the number of overweight and obese people across Kirklees is a key concern. Less than half of the adult population is a healthy weight. In Huddersfield, the proportion of overweight or obese people is similar to the Kirklees average amongst adults aged between 18 and 64 years (52% in Huddersfield vs 54% in Kirklees) and amongst women of childbearing age (45% vs 44%) in 2016. The proportion of people who are overweight has increased in both Huddersfield and Kirklees overall since 2012. Whilst one in five (21%) working age adults in Huddersfield are obese, obesity rates are highest amongst older adults with over one in four (28%) 55-64 year olds being obese. (21)
  • Just over one in three (37%) adults in Huddersfield meet the recommended physical activity levels. This is lowest amongst people between 35 and 44 years old (35%). (21)
  • Clusters of unhealthy behaviours are an issue of concern across Kirklees. In Huddersfield one in ten (10%) women of childbearing age had a combination of three unhealthy behaviours (relating to diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, or drug use), similar to Kirklees overall (9%). The percentage of working age adults with three or more unhealthy behaviours was highest in those aged between 45 and 54 years. This age group have a rate which was double that of the next youngest group 35 to 44 (15% vs 7%). (21)

Long-term conditions

  • Over one in four people aged between 18 and 64 years (28%) suffer from three or more long term conditions. However, co-morbidity (the existence of more than one disorder or disease at the same time) is strongly associated with age. One in five people (23%) aged 18 to 34 years has three or more long term conditions and this doubles to two in five (41%) of those aged 55 – 64 years.(21)

  • The prevalence of all long-term conditions amongst adults is very similar to the Kirklees average. The five most common long-term conditions in people aged under 65 years in Huddersfield are shown below:

  • The five most common long-term conditions were mental health problems such as depression or anxiety (experienced by one in three (37%); backache (one in seven (14%)); high blood pressure (one in eight (13%); long term pain (one in eight (12%) and musculoskeletal issues (one in eight (12%). (21)
  • Four out of five (75%) of people aged between 18 and 64 years with a long-term condition say they feel confident that they can manage their condition, similar to the Kirklees figure (74%). This proportion is highest in Lindley (86%) and lowest in Crosland Moor and Netherton (68%). (21)
  • The self-reported diabetes rate in Huddersfield is the similar to the Kirklees average for adults aged under 65 years (5% in Huddersfield vs 7% in Kirklees) in 2016. The higher risk of developing diabetes amongst the South Asian population is reflected in the higher rates of diabetes in this group. The rate of diabetes is over three times higher amongst South Asian people in Huddersfield as it is for people of white ethnicity (14% vs 4%). (21)
  • Overall mortality rates in people aged below 75 years are not significantly different from the Kirklees average. Mortality rates were highest for cancer (145.9 per 100,000 in Huddersfield), which is slightly above the Kirklees average (140.9 per 100,000). Compared with Kirklees overall, mortality rates in Huddersfield are slightly higher for all circulatory diseases (93.5 vs 79.2 per 100,000), liver disease (23.9 vs 18.6 per 100,000) and suicide (11.1 vs 8.9 per 100,000) while slightly lower for respiratory diseases (34.3 vs 37.4 per 100,000). (5)

Tobacco and alcohol use

  • One in six (16%) working age adults regularly smoke, similar to the Kirklees average (14%), but a reduction from almost one in five (18%) in 2012. In 2016 smoking rates were highest in Ashbrow (21%) and lowest in Lindley (10%). This difference is statistically significant. Smoking prevalence is associated with deprivation with regular smoking being almost three times as common in the most deprived areas (19%) than it is in the least deprived areas (7%). (21)
  • One in thirteen (8%) of adults under 65 years use e-cigarettes and it is more common in younger adults (10% of 18-24 year olds are currently e-cigarette users). The most common reasons cited for using e-cigarettes was that they are healthier (44%), cheaper (38%) than regular cigarettes and in order to cut down on tobacco products (35%). (21)
  • A similar proportion of people drink alcohol in Huddersfield and Kirklees (73% vs 74%). These percentages have fallen slightly since 2012 (74% Huddersfield, 76% Kirklees). For those who drink alcohol, the rate of excess weekly alcohol consumption increases with age. Almost one in three (30%) adults aged 55 to 64 years drink over the recommended limit of 14 units a week compared with just one in 14 (7%) of those aged between 18 and 24 years. (21)
  • One in ten (11%) people aged between 18 to 64 years have used illegal or recreational drugs in the last 5 years. This is similar to the Kirklees average (9%). Use of illegal substances is higher amongst younger people and those from more deprived areas. The most commonly reported drugs used are cannabis (82% of self-reported users), cocaine (35%) and ecstasy (27%). (21)

Working well

Two key outcomes for Kirklees are that people have aspiration, and achieve their ambitions through education, training and lifelong learning, and that Kirklees has sustainable economic growth and provides good employment. The benefits to health and emotional wellbeing of good quality employment are well documented. This section highlights those indicators contributing to ‘working well’ in Huddersfield.

Learning, skills and work

  • Around 2 in 3 (66%) working age adults are qualified to at least level 2 (similar to the district as a whole (67%)). Both figures have fallen slightly since 2012 (72% for both Huddersfield and Kirklees). (21)
  • Around 2.5% of the working age population are claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Huddersfield. This is slightly higher than the figure across Kirklees (2%) which is at its lowest level since the end of 2015 and has remained fairly static.(23)
  • Over half (56%) of the adult population is in employment, with a further one in four people being retired (23%) and one in 20 in education (4%). The proportion of working age people in employment was around one and a half times higher for those with at least level two qualifications (78%) compared with those without (55%). (21)
  • Around a quarter of working adults (27%) in Huddersfield have experienced an illness in the last 12 months which required them to take time off work. Of those experiencing an illness, two in three (63%) reported that it resulted in a work absence of over two months. The average number of long-term conditions suffered is associated with length of absence. For those with short absences (less than a week) an average of 1.7 conditions is suffered whereas for those with longer absences (seven to 12 months) an average of 4.2 conditions is suffered. (21)
  • Levels of volunteering in Huddersfield are similar to those for Kirklees overall. In Huddersfield one in four (27%) adults give unpaid help to a group club or organisation at least once a month. Volunteering rates are lowest amongst those aged 25-34 years (one in five, 21%). The most commonly provided types of volunteering are visiting people (11%), organising events (8%) and leading a group (8%). (21)

Ageing well

The prevalence of common long-term conditions (e.g. heart disease, hypertension, stroke, respiratory disease, diabetes) all increase as people get older, along with other health issues such as visual impairment, mental ill health and physical disabilities. These factors have a significant impact on people’s independence and need for care and support. Prevention and early intervention is, therefore, vital to enable people to be as well as possible for as long as possible, live independently and have control over their lives.

The number and proportion of people aged 65 and over in Kirklees is projected to rise, from around one in seven people (16%) in 2015 to one in five people (21%) by 2030 (an increase of around 34,000 people).

Emotional health and wellbeing

  • Older people appear to have higher emotional wellbeing than those of younger age groups. In Huddersfield those aged 65 years and over have higher emotional wellbeing than adults aged 18-64 years (based on SWEMWBS scores), although this difference is not statistically significant. Emotional wellbeing scores are similar between Huddersfield and Kirklees for those aged 65 years and over. (21)

Long-term conditions

  • The prevalence of long-term conditions increases with age and co-morbidity (the existence of more than one disorder or disease at the same time) is most common amongst the older age groups. In Huddersfield, more than four in ten (43%) people aged 65 years or over suffer from three or more long-term health conditions, compared with one in four (28%) of those aged 18-64 years. Problems with mobility and self-care also increase with age. (21)
  • The most common long-term conditions reported by those aged 65 years or over are shown below:

  • The five most common conditions are high blood pressure (almost two in five, 41%); musculoskeletal issues (one in three, 30%); back ache (one in five, 21%); mental health conditions (one in five, 19%); and long term pain (one in five, 19%). The prevalence of self-reported chronic disease also increases with age – comparing those aged 65 years or over with those aged 18-64 years, heart disease is five times more likely (16% vs 3%); Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is over four times more likely (9% vs 2%) and stroke four times more likely (4% vs 1%). (21)
  • One in seven people (15%) aged 65 years or over report having some health condition which affects their memory. (21)

Tobacco, alcohol and drug use

  • Around one in seventeen (6%) of those aged 65 years or over are regular smokers, compared with one in six (16%) of those aged 18-64 years. Those aged 65-74 years have more than double the smoking rate of those aged 75 or over (8% vs 4%). (21)
  • Only 4% of people aged 65 years or over currently use e-cigarettes in Huddersfield, which is half the rate for those aged 18-64 years (8%). (21)
  • The proportion of people aged 65 years or over who drink (74%) is similar to the proportion of those aged under 65 years (73%). The proportion drinking above the recommended limit (14 units per week) is much higher in those aged 65-74 years than in those aged 75 years or over (27% vs 18%, respectively). (21)
  • Use of illegal substances is very low in the over 65 year old population, with fewer than one in 100 (>1%) saying they had used drugs in the last five years. (21)

Remaining healthy, active and independent

  • Almost two in three (62%) people aged 65 years and over are above their healthy weight, with one in five (20%) being obese. These are similar to the corresponding rates across Kirklees. (21)
  • Just over a third (37%) of people aged 65 years or more undertake 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. This is slightly less than the Kirklees average for this age group (39%) and within this group physical activity levels decline with age. (21)
  • One in three (33%) people in Huddersfield aged 65 years and over has moderate to extreme problems with mobility and one in ten (10%) has moderate to extreme problems with self-care. Both of these values are slightly above the Kirklees average (31% and 8%, respectively). (21)
  • One in six people (16%) aged 65 years and over report that they require some assistance to remain living within their own home, slightly above the Kirklees average (14%). Of those requiring help, one in 13 (8%) are not currently receiving it from family, friends or professional care workers. (21)
  • Half of people aged 65 years or over (61%) report feeling lonely some, most or all of the time, reducing to around one in 20 (5%) feel lonely all or most of the time. These values are lower than for those under 65 years in Huddersfield (53% of those aged 18-64 years feel lonely at least some of the time and 9% all or most of the time). Nine in ten people (92%) of people aged 65 years or over in Huddersfield have good ‘social connectedness’ (they have someone they count on to comfort them when they are upset or they have someone they can count on to help them out in a crisis). This is similar to the Kirklees average. (21)
  • Over one in four people aged 65 years or over (28%) has fallen and hurt themselves in the last 12 months, with a third of these falls resulting in a broken bone.(21)

People and place

An individual’s health, emotional wellbeing and quality of life may be improved or adversely affected by their perceptions of, and interactions with, their local area, as well as wider factors such as transport, air quality, finances and housing.

Kirklees partner organisations, therefore, want people in Kirklees to live in cohesive communities, feel safe, be safe and protected from harm. They also want people to experience a high quality, clean, sustainable and green environment and for Kirklees to have sustainable economic growth and provide good employment.

Adult carers

  • One in six (16%) adults in Huddersfield provides some sort of care for family, friends or neighbours in a voluntary capacity. This is similar across age groups, although a higher proportion of older people provide round-the-clock care (4% of those aged 65 years or over vs 1% of those aged 18-64 years). (21)
  • Carers providing high levels of care are twice as likely to suffer from ill health as non-carers (22).

The local area

  • More than nine in ten (93%) people have access to green spaces within a mile of their home although utilisation of green spaces in Huddersfield is slightly lower than in Kirklees overall (63% vs 66%, respectively, have access to and utilise green spaces at least once a month). This usage reduces with age, from around two in three (66%) in those under 65 years to slightly over half (54%) for those aged over 65. (21)
  • The proportion of people satisfied with their local area as a place to live is similar in Huddersfield (78%) to Kirklees overall (79%). Satisfaction is lowest amongst those aged 35 to 44 years (75%). (21)

Transport

  • Less than a third (30%) of working people in Huddersfield travel outside of Kirklees for work, the lowest proportion of the four District Committees. Around half (52%) of working people work in and around Huddersfield. (21)
  • Around two in five (43%) people report using walking as a method of travel, slightly above the Kirklees average (39%). One in 20 use bicycles for travel (4%), similar to Kirklees overall. Walking and cycling are more popular as a recreational or leisure activities (53% walking for leisure and 7% cycling for leisure). (21)

Air quality

Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts. It is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer and is linked to asthma, stroke, diabetes, low birth weight and dementia. Additionally, air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society: children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions. There is also an important inequality dimension, because areas with poor air quality are often also the less affluent areas

The annual health cost to society of the impacts of particulate matter alone in the UK is estimated to be around £16 billion (24).

The air quality issues within Kirklees are focussed around the road network connecting the towns, and traffic which passes between the West Yorkshire conurbation along the M62 and Greater Manchester. Kirklees Council have conducted monitoring across the district where these primary roads are in close proximity to relevant human activity. To date Kirklees has identified two primary pollutants of concern. They are Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM). Current trends indicate that the levels of these pollutants have fallen over the last 5 years, UK Air Quality Objectives (AQO) are still exceeded within some areas within Kirklees.

In 2015, NO2 levels at 14 out of 25 air quality monitoring sites in Huddersfield exceeded the AQO, compared to 30 exceedance sites in 2010 and 23 sites in 2014.  Kirklees Council continues to conduct air quality improvement projects across the district. The table here lists improvement projects relevant to the Huddersfield area.

Money

  • The average gross household income in 2016 in Huddersfield was £31,890, compared with £35,072 in Kirklees. Gross income in Newsome was £26,164, compared with £39,496 in Lindley. (25)
  • Almost one in four (25%) adults in Huddersfield has worried about money all or almost all of the time in the past few weeks. Frequent money worries are more common in deprived areas, younger adults and households with children, especially single parents. (21)
  • The proportion of people who were confident in their ability to budget and pay bills on time was slightly lower in Huddersfield than Kirklees (85% vs 87%). Confidence increases with age and household income. (21)
  • In 2014 there were 130 per 1000 households in fuel poverty in Huddersfield, compared with 116 per 1000 in Kirklees overall and 106 per 1000 nationally. In Huddersfield, fuel poverty rates were highest in Newsome (154 per 1000) and lowest in Lindley (100 per 1000). (26)

Housing

  • The median [1] house price in Huddersfield in 2015 was £122,500, which is lower than the Kirklees median of £130,000. Crosland Moor and Netherton were identified in our Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) as having one of the lowest house prices of the sub-areas in Kirklees. (27)

[1] The median is the middle value in a series of values arranged from smallest to largest

  • The majority of adults in Huddersfield consider their house to be suitable for their needs. However, one in nine (11 %) householders overall; one in seven (14%) South Asian householders; and one in five (19%) 18 to 24 year old householders consider their housing unsuitable for their needs. These figures have improved since 2012. (21)
  • The prevalence of overcrowded housing is slightly higher than the Kirklees average. Approximately one in 11 households (9%) were overcrowded in Huddersfield compared to one in fourteen (7%) in Kirklees. This figure is much higher for South Asian households in Huddersfield (one in three households (31%). (21)

Community cohesion

  •  A summary of reported crime statistics for Huddersfield can be found in this Kirklees Observatory profile: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=132
  • Most (87%) 14 year olds feel safe when at school; similar to the Kirklees average (85%) and similar to other parts of Kirklees. In Huddersfield this has gone down slightly from 89% in 2009 (88% in Kirklees overall) [10].  Most (76%) 14 year olds also feel safe when they are in the community. This was slightly lower than 2009 (80%) and Kirklees overall (78%). Most (72%) 14 year olds said that they felt safe when they were on public transport. This was slightly higher than the Kirklees average (70%) but lower than in 2009 (76%). (12)
  • In 2014, just over half (55%) of 14 year olds in Huddersfield said that people of different ages get on well together in their local area. This is similar to Kirklees overall (56%) [10]. However, this has reduced significantly since 2009 (86%). (12)
  • Three in five (62%) of adults in Huddersfield agree their local area is a place where people treat each other with respect and consideration, similar to Kirklees overall (63%). This increases to 73% amongst those of South Asian ethnicity. The rate is highest in Lindley (73%) and lowest in Newsome (54%), with this difference being statistically significant. (21)
  • Four in five (81%) South Asian adults agree their local area is a place where people from different ethnic backgrounds get on well together, compared with to three in five (61%) white adults. Both figures have increased since 2012. (21)
  • The proportion of people who agree their local area is a place where people pull together to improve things is lower in Huddersfield (32%) than in Kirklees as a whole (39%), and is higher in those aged between 35 and 44 years. (21)
  • Four in five people (84%) aged 65 years and over are satisfied with their local area as a place to live, compared to over three in four of those aged between 18 and 64 years (77%). Older people are also more likely to agree that their local area is a place where people treat each other with respect (73% for those aged 65 and over vs 59% for those aged 18 to 64 years) and trust one another (61% vs 48%). (21)
  • Almost three in four (72%) of older people in Huddersfield agree that their local area is a place where people of different ages get on well. The same percentage of younger adults also agreed with this statement. (21)

Assets

Health assets are those things that enhance the ability of individuals, communities and populations to maintain and sustain health and well-being. These include things like skills, capacity, knowledge, networks and connections, the effectiveness of groups and organisations and local physical and economic resources.

Assets are hugely important to how we feel about ourselves, the strength of our social and community connections and how these shape our health and wellbeing.

As part of our KJSA development we are piloting a range of methods to capture and understand the assets that are active in Kirklees. Please see the assets overview section for more information about our approach. We want to understand more about how these assets improve health and wellbeing directly or indirectly by, for example, providing space, support, companionship or guidance around a common interest or need such as mental or emotional health problems. This knowledge will help us understand where the gaps in assets might be and where additional support or investment would benefit local communities.

The community assets in Huddersfield summarised here were identified during a ‘Connecting Colleagues’ event in winter 2016. The assets relate to just a few of the key issues identified in the KJSA and are not the whole picture of assets in Huddersfield. This information will be reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis.

Groups, events and activities

Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is an approach used by community engagement officers to encourage greater connections between people in communities and an opportunity for people to be more aware of their local assets. It focuses on raising awareness of the talents and skills people already have. It encourages people to recognise what is good about where they live, think more positively about what is around them and what can be achieved by working collectively together. This approach is developed to encourage sustained community activity which is community led and lasts beyond the engagement officer’s input.

Some local community groups and residents from different parts of Huddersfield have been supported by community engagement officers, Community Partnerships, Communities Who Can and Comoodle to utilise and build on community assets (buildings, places, groups, people’s skills and time) to improve individual and community wellbeing and resilience.

For example, the Community Engagement Team supported Ashbrow with a Health and Wellbeing Project: A wide range of agencies/partners were invited (including Care Navigation, Community Partnerships, Ontrack, Lifeline, Smoking, Rowlands Pharmacy, Locala, Infection Prevention, Sport and Physical Activity Team, Age UK, Brass, Sexual Health, ‘Plant it, grow it, eat it’ project and Kirklees College); people were able to access health and wellbeing information (including blood pressure and BMI checks and Zumba sessions); and there were fun activities for the whole family. Outcomes of the event included good partnership working, feelings of connectivity in the community, increased health awareness and future events being planned.

An example of Community Partnerships support is a Sudanese Community in the Birkby area. The project brings people together so that they can help each other, give advice and welcome new arrivals. This is only possible because Birkby and Fartown Community Centre provided a room for them to meet. Speakers were regularly invited to help with problem solving and eventually the group formed their own football team and arranged a programme with other community groups. You can find more examples here.

Comoodle enables a strong culture of sharing in Kirklees, so that people can help each other to do good things in communities. This means making the best use of stuff, space and skills by lending things to each other and by sharing knowledge. An example of this is when Comoodle supported Huddersfield Community Trust by donating a surplus desk from their office and by loaning a van from helpful colleagues at Fleet Services to move it in. This demonstrates making use of what’s available when it’s needed.  There are many more stories like this that demonstrate how community assets can be used and shared here.

Schools as community hubs

Schools engage with families and children every day and they have a valuable position within our communities. It is therefore critical that the council, schools and their partners work more closely together as we begin to shape future services.

In Huddersfield there are several schools developing partnership arrangements which support health improvement. Each partnership is committed to working to a collective vision of: Strong partnerships of schools (hubs) as the vehicle for delivering a range of services for children, families and the wider community.

Emerging outcomes for the partnerships include improving health and social care outcomes for children and families, making the most of local insight and intelligence to respond to local need and statutory responsibilities, making the most of resources and assets (including their school), supporting locally delivered services and community based solutions where relationships with children and families are key, wrap around family care and universal, prevention interventions.

Men’s health

Yorkshire Children’s centre run a men’s shed project called ‘Men Friday,’ which takes place every Friday at Brian Jackson house in Huddersfield between 10.30 and 12.30pm. Men’s Shed is a place of skill-sharing and informal learning, of individual pursuits and community projects, of purpose, achievement and social interaction. It’s a place of leisure and fun where men come together to work on something they are interested in.

Active travel

Huddersfield has a higher proportion of people reporting that they use walking as a method of transport in a typical week (45% vs 39% for Kirklees). This may be associated with the fact that almost two thirds (64%) of people living in Huddersfield also work in Huddersfield, meaning short journeys to and from work.

The Kirklees Cycling and Walking Strategic Framework and its associated Delivery Plan will help make cycling and walking more attractive for local journeys, benefiting all sectors of the Huddersfield community and helping to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of active travel.  These documents will also influence decision-makers in the allocation of resources.  An example of this is the City Connect 2 Project.  The City Connect 2 funding is providing high quality, segregated cycle links in Huddersfield Town Centre.  This will be supported by additional cycle parking.

It is planned that this new cycling infrastructure will be connected to the Strategic Employment Area of Cooper Bridge and on the Upper Calder Valley towpath to Todmorden through towns and communities such as Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Sowerby Bridge, Elland, and Brighouse. To the south of the Town Centre, the infrastructure will also be connected to Golcar on the Huddersfield to Marsden towpath. This provides a continuous 35km segregated cycle route through Huddersfield Town Centre, supporting the communities in south west Huddersfield and providing a direct route into Huddersfield Town Centre for commuter trips.

Already in existence is the extensive Greenway network, some of which is accessible from within the Huddersfield District.  The Greenways enable people to walk and cycle to their destination for business or pleasure, using an off-road, traffic-free environment, putting them in touch with the natural environment which benefits both physical and mental well-being.

What could commissioners/ service planners/ Councillors consider?

Build on existing community assets

 It is important that commissioners, service planners and Councillors understand and consider the community assets outlined above so that they can support and build on local strengths, and also understand where there are gaps and unmet needs in particular places or amongst particular communities.

Work with Schools as Community hubs and other partnerships/ services

  • Look for opportunities to support the development of schools as community hubs as described above. There are opportunities to use the hubs as a new context for existing work and also to develop new ideas directly with hubs. The hubs are increasingly becoming a focus for the recommissioning of a range of existing services, and provide an infrastructure for sharing intelligence, identifying and responding to local needs.
  • All service providers – such as schools, GPs, pharmacies, youth services – whose work has an influence on emotional wellbeing and/or sexual health, are encouraged to work alongside the new sexual health services in Kirklees. These have recently been redesigned with an increased focus on prevention of poor sexual health including, closer working with schools and more outreach work in communities.

Support improved health and wellbeing:

  • Support the implementation of the Diabetes Prevention Programme by increasing awareness of Health Checks. Work with communities to raise the programme’s profile and ensure relevant information is disseminated.
  • Improve links between all existing services and improve referral pathways to smokefree services and drug and alcohol services.
  • Create more smokefree environments to protect young people from starting smoking and contribute to de-normalisation of smoking (there are two play areas in North Kirklees but none so far in Huddersfield).
  • Make all council buildings completely smokefree, including entrances
  • Support CHFT to go smokefree and support patients to get smokefree whilst in treatment.
  • Work with and support local groups and initiatives that are tackling social isolation and improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of vulnerable groups.

For general recommendations around mental health and emotional wellbeing, read this section of the KJSA.

 Support healthy ageing:

  • Develop peer support programmes for older people to address social isolation.
  • Promote and support local community activities that aim to improve mood and social connectedness amongst older people.
  • Promote dementia-friendly communities.
  • Promote a positive representation of ageing and older age.

Support initiatives that improve quality of life and of local places and communities

Housing and money

  • Work with communities to ensure they are confident and able to manage their own money effectively. Proportionate universalism should be applied to any approach but planners/commissioners need to consider areas in Huddersfield which have higher rates of worklessness and adults with money worries (Crosland Moor and Netherton).  Consideration should also be given to the Poverty section of the Joint Strategic Assessment.
  • Develop strategies to tackle the roots of fuel poverty, specifically boosting household income, improving energy efficiency and reducing energy costs. Further details of this can be found in the Poverty section of the Joint Strategic Assessment.
  • Work to ensure that local residents can access suitable housing, manage their own housing needs effectively and live in homes that are suitable for their needs. Planners/commissioners should refer to the Kirklees Strategic Housing Market Assessment which details Housing need within Kirklees and Huddersfield more specifically.
  • Help individuals to connect to their communities, improve community capital and reduce social isolation across the social gradient.
  • Improve the access and promote the use of quality lifelong learning across the social gradient.

Air quality and active travel

  • Work to address the concerns of pedestrians and cyclists by tackling the perceived and real fears associated with cycling and walking, including reducing traffic volume and speed in line with current evidence.
  • Create coherent, safe, high quality cycling and walking networks both on and off road – ensuring that the recommended hierarchy of consideration is applied, i.e. 1) Pedestrians 2) Cyclists before other road users; ensuring that maintenance of these routes is accommodated for.
  • Endeavour to increase the amount of cycle parking across the District.
  • Promote the use of local green spaces for cycling, walking and other activities to increase physical activity levels and improve emotional wellbeing.
  • Work to ensure that Greenstreets principles are applied where appropriate in order to increase the amount of green infrastructure and to mitigate the effects of air pollution.

References and additional resources/links 

References

  1. Office for National Statistics. Ward-level mid-year population estimates [Internet]. 2016. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/wardlevelmidyearpopulationestimatesexperimental
  2. Office for National Statistics. Birth Summary by District Committee. 2015;
  3. Office for National Statistics. Birth Summary Table 2015 [Internet]. 2015. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/birthsummarytables
  4. Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust & Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals Trust. Maternity Indicators 2014-15. 2015.
  5. Office for National Statistics. Primary Care Mortality Database 2012-14. 2014.
  6. West Yorkshire Central Services Agency. Local resident population (GP registrations). 2013;
  7. Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust & Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals Trust. Breastfeeding at delivery by ward. 2016.
  8. Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust & Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals Trust. Breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks
  9. Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust & Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals Trust. Smoking at delivery 2016.
  10. Sharma S, Dubinett S, Salgia R. Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy and Its Effect on Childhood Asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012;186(10):940–1.
  11. Kirklees Council. Good level of development. 2015.
  12. Kirklees Council. Children and Young People’s Survey 2014. 2014.
  13. von Soest T, Mossige S, Stefansen K, Hjemdal O. A Validation Study of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ). J Psychopathol Behav Assess [Internet]. 2010;32(2):215–25. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10862-009-9149-x
  14. Health and Social Care Information Centre. National Child Measurement Programme 2015-16. 2016.
  15. Office for National Statistics. Teenage conception data 2012-14. 2014.
  16. Office for National Statistics. Teenage conceptions 2011-13. 2013.
  17. Department for Education. GCSE results 2015-16. 2016.
  18. Kirklees Council. School census. 2014.
  19. Kirklees Council. NEET people age 16 to 19. 2015. Available from: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/Custom/jsna-template.aspx/../dataviews/tabular?viewId=532&geoId=145&subsetId=
  20. Tennant R, Hiller L, Fishwick R, Platt S, Joseph S, Weich S, et al. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS): development and UK validation. Health Qual Life Outcomes [Internet]. 2007;5:63. Available from: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2222612&tool=pmcentrez&rendertype=abstract
  21. Kirklees Council;, NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG;, NHS North Kirklees CCG. Current Living in Kirklees Survey 2016. 2016.
  22. Department of Health. Our Health and Wellbeing Today. 2010.
  23. NOMIS. Official labour market statistics. 2015.
  24. Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Air Quality: Economic Analysis [Internet]. Gov.uk – Guidance. 2015. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/air-quality-economic-analysis
  25. Kirklees Council. Mean gross household income. 2016.
  26. Department of Energy & Climate Change. 2014 sub-regional fuel poverty data: low income high costs indicator [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2016 Sep 30]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/2014-sub-regional-fuel-poverty-data-low-income-high-costs-indicator
  27. Kirklees Council. Kirklees Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2015. 2015;(6205180). Available from: http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/planning-policy/pdf/strategic-housing-market-assessment.pdf

Further details

An overview profile for the Huddersfield district committee is available on the Kirklees Observatory. This profile provides key statistics in the form of tables and charts covering the following themes; population, housing, employment, deprivation, crime, education and the economy.

Ward level profiles can be found on the Local Health web site (requires Flash Player):
Almondbury | Ashbrow | Crosland Moor and Netherton |Dalton|Greenhead|Lindley|Newsome

Further information about the local housing market can be found in the following documents:
The Private Rented Market in Kirklees | Kirklees Strategic Housing Market Assessment

Community assets identified at ‘Connected Colleagues’ event (Winter 2016): http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/Custom/Resources/Assets_in_Huddersfield_030217.pdf

Additional web resources

Community Directory (support groups, etc): http://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/

Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) Indicator Portal now NHS Digital: https://digital.nhs.uk/

Kirklees Observatory: http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk

Nomis labour official market statistics: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/

Office for National Statistics: http://www.ons.gov.uk

Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF): https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/public-health-outcomes-framework

Date this section was last reviewed 

06/02/2017 HB