WHO'S IT FOR?
In short - EVERYONE!
The community we would be serving is one with a strong working class history. The Borough covers an area of 136sq. km and comprises of the town itself and smaller settlements such as Haydock, Newton-le-Willows and Billinge and is situated on the Lancashire plain in the heart of the northwest region. St.Helens has undergone a massive period of industrial change and restructuring. In spite of a decline in traditional industries such as glass-making and coal mining, St.Helens has shown considerable improvements in economic activity over the last 20 years.
St.Helens resident population is estimated around 176,000. St.Helens is the 81st most populous borough in England and 15th in the northwest.
The age structure of the Borough also reflects a North West trend. The numbers of young people have decreased, with a corresponding increase in the number of people of pensionable age. 1.2% of the population of St.Helens are from ethnic minorities.
According to the 2001 Census there were some 71,000 residents in work.
In April 2004, 3.0% of people in St.Helens were claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance, of whom 30.2% were aged between 18-24. Unemployment is above the national average but below that for Merseyside. However, employment opportunities are increasing in the Borough. ONS data from December 2003 show that between 1998 and 2002 St.Helens witnessed a 22.8% growth in available employment, the third highest performing local authority across Great Britain.