Knowsley

• Knowsley


  A Borough of Merseyside
• Knowsley has an ageing population with more people over 65 than the UK average
• In 2011-2013, there were 767 premature deaths per 100,000 population in Knowsley, compared to 794 in England as a whole
• The main causes of premature deaths in Knowsley are cancer, especially lung cancer, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
• Health is related to the physical and built environment

  • 40% of Knowsley is designated as green space
  • Open spaces are important for physical activity and as places where people can meet and interact
  • They can have a positive effect on mental well-being
• Only 10% of adults in Knowsley use outdoor space for exercise or health reasons, compared to 12.1% in England as a whole
• 69% of adults in Knowsley are overweight or obese, compared to 64% in England
• Knowsley Health and Wellbeing Board aims to improve health by encouraging healthier lifestyles, such as exercise and healthy diets


  1. Manage healthier lifestyles

  2. Encourage exercise and healthy diets
• In 2011, 37% of properties in Knowsley failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard, meaning they had issues such as leaking roofs, inadequate heating or insufficient insulation
• Damp and cold homes can increase the risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma and pneumonia
• In 2011-2013, the rate of premature deaths in Knowsley was 53 per 100,000 population, compared to 33.2 in England as a whole
• Knowsley Council has introduced schemes to improve housing, such as the Healthy Homes Assistance programme which provides grants to help people improve their homes


  1. Introduce schemes to improve housing

  2. Provide grants to help people improve their homes
• Air pollution is associated with health conditions such as respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, as well as premature births and low birth weight
• Steps have been taken to reduce air pollution in Knowsley in recent years, such as by improving roads and introducing new tests
• In 2015, 7.7% of working-age people in Knowsley were unemployed, compared to a national average of around 5.3%
• Unemployment is linked to unhealthy lifestyles, such as people who are unemployed being twice as likely to smoke as those who are employed
• Approximately 30% of adults in Knowsley smoke, compared to 20% nationally, and 24% of deaths for people aged over 33 in Knowsley are due to smoking-related illness, compared to 18% nationally
• Knowsley Council is working to increase the number of jobs available in the area and improve public transport to make jobs more accessible


  1. Encourage businesses to locate in the area

  2. Improve public transport
• Unemployment rates in Knowsley have decreased since 2011
• 25% of people aged 16-64 in Knowsley have a qualification at NVQ level 4 or above, compared to 38% in England and Wales
• Education is linked to income


  People with more education are more likely to have higher incomes
• Generally, people with lower levels of education have a lower life expectancy and higher morbidity rates for many common diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer
• The Knowsley Education Commission aims to improve education in the area, such as by attracting outstanding teachers and improving school facilities


  1. Attract outstanding teachers

  2. Improve school facilities
• More than half of the residents of Knowsley think it is too hard to achieve a healthy lifestyle
• The average consumption of fruit and vegetables is higher in Knowsley (3.9 portions a day) than in England (3.6 portions a day), suggesting a positive attitude towards diet
• Living in a lively, safe place with a strong sense of community is more likely to make people feel happy and encourage healthier lifestyles
• Knowsley's crime rate is higher than the average for England, and fear of crime has a negative effect on people's quality of life
• Crime rates in Knowsley are decreasing and instances of violent crime are lower in Knowsley than in England as a whole
• Knowsley has a number of community centres and leisure centres, as well as two art galleries, to build a sense of community
• Knowsley Council organises heritage walks to encourage people to engage with the local area and promote physical activity, and has set up Healthy Knowsley to help people develop healthier lifestyles


  1. Organise heritage walks

  2. Set up Healthy Knowsley to help people develop healthier lifestyles