Canley place based profile - Print version

What is the Coventry Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)?

Introduction

Welcome to the Canley area profile. Coventry is divided into 18 electoral ward areas; while the JSNA areas were not specifically designed around ward boundaries, this study area is one part of the ward of the ward of Westwood. The map below illustrates the Canley area covered in the profile, alongside the other five places.

What is the Coventry Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)?

The JSNA brings together evidence about the health and wellbeing of Coventry residents, to help leaders across health and care understand and work together to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Coventry.

Health is more than the healthcare system: it is not just about NHS hospitals, doctors or nurses. Instead, health is about people’s lives. Indeed, people’s health is determined by their economic and social circumstances, such as:

• their communities - whether they have access to a good network of family and friends.
• their prospects - whether they have access to good jobs and education; and
• their environment - whether they live in a good neighbourhood with access to green spaces.

These social circumstances determine people’s health and wellbeing, and therefore, are known as social determinants of health.

This JSNA contains a full range of evidence to provide decision-makers with an understanding of local people and communities. It contains a lot of numbers and statistics, because these are essential to show the trends of how things have changed, as well as comparisons with other places. However, because health is about people, this JSNA also contains a lot of evidence from local people and local community groups.

 About this JSNA

This JSNA is one of the six places in Coventry that was profiled in 2023 and 2024 by Coventry City Council with co-operation from partners across the Coventry Health and Wellbeing Board and ideas contributed by community organisations and residents. In April 2018, the Coventry Health and Wellbeing Board authorised a move towards a place-based approach to the JSNA, with the production of a citywide JSNA profile and JSNA profiles for six local areas.

Since the production of the last JSNA, there have been huge external influences on the health and wellbeing of our residents. The COVID-19 pandemic shone a light on inequalities within our communities and has fundamentally altered our lives. There have been changes to what we value, our communities and how they function, our ways of working and to our economy. The data within this profile reflects these changes.

Each JSNA profile is structured as follows:

• Demographics and Community
• Prospects
• Environment
• Health and Wellbeing.

For each topic area covered, the JSNA explores:

• Why is this important?
• What is the local picture? How does it compare?
• What is happening? What else can be done?

In addition to the JSNA profiles, detailed statistical data and evidence is available in the citywide intelligence hub [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/citywideintelhub]. The hub provides tools to compare and contrast metrics and indicators of all kinds.

Despite every effort to ensure the information in this profile is accurate and up to date, it may become less reliable over time.

The following profile uses various data sources and statistics that cover local neighbourhoods within the city. It compares statistics to those of Coventry as a whole and other neighbourhoods, using Lower-layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) and Mid-layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs) as the geographic units. These are areas where the boundaries have been defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and used by the ONS and other bodies to publish local area statistics. LSOAs and MSOAs cover the whole of England and Wales, there are 42 MSOAs that cover all parts of Coventry and each of these are divided into LSOAs, typically 4 to 6 per MSOA. The profiles highlight key strengths and challenges of each area, though data availability at the neighbourhood level may vary. For citywide data, refer to the Coventry Citywide JSNA profile. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/facts-coventry/coventry-citywide-profile-2023]

Executive summary

Between 2011 and 2021, Canley experienced one of the fastest population growth rates among Coventry neighbourhoods, with a 37.3% increase compared to the city’s average of 8.9%. The population grew by 1,500, reaching a total of 5,600. The fastest-growing demographic was young adults, particularly students, who now make up 25.3% of the population, much higher than Coventry's average of 9.8%.

The area also has a relatively high proportion of children (20.4%), and a lower percentage of elderly residents (9.6%) compared to Coventry’s average. Households composed of students and lone parents are notably more common in Canley than in other parts of Coventry.

Canley's population has become more diverse, with 40% being a part of an ethnic minority group, slightly lower than Coventry's overall average. The ethnic minority community grew faster than the White British population, reflecting increasing diversity, partly due to international migration.

Recent surveys indicate that feelings of belonging and social cohesion in Canley are below average and have declined in recent years. This decline may be linked to the rapid demographic shifts and the large transient student population, which could impact long-term social bonds within the neighbourhood.

Prospects

Education outcomes in Canley are below the city average. Fewer children living in Canley attend good or outstanding schools, and attainment levels at age 11 and 16 are lower. The proportion of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is significantly higher in Canley (24.1%) compared to Coventry (18.2%).

Canley experiences higher levels of multiple deprivation, with all areas ranking among the most deprived 20% in England. Economic inactivity is high, especially due to the large student population, with 31% of working-age residents being full-time students. Inactivity due to long-term sickness or disability is also above average, contributing to low employment rates in the area. In 2021, only 45.1% of Canley's working-age population were employed, significantly lower than Coventry’s average of 64.2%. The unemployment rate was also higher, at 7.7% compared to the city’s 5.9%.

These economic challenges result in lower household incomes in Canley. The average household income is £32,252, below Coventry’s average of £41,552. Additionally, 38% of households earn less than £20,000 annually, much higher than the 27% average across Coventry and 22% nationally. These factors contribute to Canley's poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes.

Housing and environment

The local environment of Canley is generally better than other areas in Coventry when it comes to factors such as green space access and air quality, both of which are relatively good. However, concerns about safety are prevalent among residents, with only 34% reporting they feel safe in their local area after dark, significantly lower than the Coventry average of 45%. While Canley’s overall crime rate is not higher than the city average, violent crime rates are and anti-social behaviour (ASB), though decreasing, remains a concern.

Housing in Canley is primarily composed of semi-detached homes, and there is a notably high proportion of socially rented housing (46.7%). Although house prices are slightly above the city average, they are relatively unaffordable for many residents. Additionally, Canley has higher-than-average rates of homelessness, reflecting a broader trend of increasing homelessness across Coventry.

Fuel poverty is also higher than both the Coventry and national averages. This is influenced by rising energy costs, lower incomes, and housing condition.

Health and wellbeing

Access to healthcare services is a challenge for Canley residents. They generally live further from GP practices, pharmacies, and hospitals than most Coventry neighbourhoods, which is made worse by the low levels of car ownership in the area. With 43.3% of households lacking access to a car, compared to the city’s average of 27.6%, transportation is a significant barrier to accessing healthcare services.

Lifestyle factors also contribute to poor health outcomes in Canley. Smoking rates are significantly higher than the city average, and alcohol-related hospital admissions are disproportionately high, further impacting the health of residents.

Demographics and communities

Canley is a neighbourhood in the west of Coventry, Charter Avenue runs through the area east to west. Canley is bounded to the north with the railway line and the neighbourhood of Tile Hill South, and to the south with the Westwood Heath area. The University of Warwick is nearby. Torrington Avenue is a mainly industrial, and residential road, to the north of the area. The map below illustrates the Canley neighbourhood, the area bounded by the red line is the area used for most of the statistics described in this profile.

Population

It is important to understand how Coventry’s population and demographics is changing so that local communities and organisations can ensure that the city has the right services to meet the needs of its people.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

Canley experienced one of the fastest rates of population growth of all Coventry neighbourhoods over the 10 years between 2011 and 2021. An estimated 5,600 people live in Canley, a growth of 1,500 additional residents since 2011. This means that the population has grown by 37.3%, a much faster growth rate than the Coventry average (8.9%) and the national average (6.6%), and amongst the fastest growth rates of all neighbourhoods in Coventry. This will be partly related to housing developments in the area.

The population of Canley is relatively young, home to relatively high numbers of children, and young adults aged 18-24, amongst these are many full-time students. The most populous age group in Canley is people aged 20-24, an estimated 1,200 people in this age group make up 21.0% of the total population of Canley compared to 9.1% for Coventry overall. There are a few areas of the city where students concentrate that have higher percentages of young adults, but Canley is amongst the areas with the highest proportion. This is due to the University of Warwick being located here.

20.4% of the Canley population are aged 0-15 compared to 19.8% in Coventry overall. If there wasn’t as many full-time students living Canley the proportion of children would be even higher, children are a more prominent part of the population in this neighbourhood than is average for Coventry. In the last 10 years the population of children has increased, it is just that the student population has grown by more. It is particularly children aged 5-15 that are more common in Canley, in 2021 the population of infants and young children aged 0-4 was not particularly high, reflecting a reducing number of births to mothers living in Canley.

People of all ages live in Canley, but the make-up of the population by percentage is different from that of Coventry overall; there are relatively few people in older groups aged 65 and over. The population pyramid diagram below illustrates how the age profile of the Canley population differs from Coventry overall. Even after removing the effect on the age profile of having particularly high numbers of student aged people, Canley is home to relatively low numbers of older people aged 65+ compared to other neighbourhoods in the city, as well as a higher-than-average number of children. From the Census 2021, 9.6% of Canley’s population, an estimated 533 people, were aged 65 years and older, compared to 14.6% across Coventry overall.

The population of Canley has been growing significantly, the number of people from most age groups have increased, but the growth has been fastest amongst young adults, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total growth. The estimated number of Canley residents aged 16-24 increased from 750 in 2011 to 1,700 in 2021, the growth of 950 makes up nearly two-thirds (63%) of the total increase of 1,500 people. While there has been growth in this age group across Coventry overall, this age group has grown more in Canley than any other part of the city. Growth has also been faster than the Coventry average amongst other age groups. The number of children aged 5-15 living in Canley increased by 33% compared to an increase of 19% across Coventry overall (the number of 0-4s has stayed the same). The number of residents aged 25-44 increased by 29% compared to an increase of 9% across Coventry overall. The number of Canley residents aged 65 and over, stayed about the same between 2011 and 2021, at an estimated 550.

Like Coventry overall, the total number of births to mothers living in Canley has been on a falling trend. In 2021 there were 50 births, down from 66 in 2014. The general fertility rate, the number of births per 1,000 females aged 15-44 living in Canley, gives an indication as to how the number of births compare to other parts of Coventry. At 33.8 per 1,000 in 2021 compared to the rate across Coventry overall at 52.0, this indicates there are less births here than average. However, the high number of full-time students living in Canley, who are less likely to have children compared to non-students in the same age group, means that the difference between these rates likely exaggerates the picture; if there were fewer students living in Canley the fertility rate would likely be nearer average.

Student households and lone parent households are notably more common in Canley than they are across Coventry overall. Together these types make up 3 in every 10 Canley households. Households classified in the Census 2021 data as ‘Other household types, including all full-time students’ (which will be mainly all student households) make up 15.6% of Canley households compared to the Coventry average of 5.8% and lone parent households make up 14.7% of all households compared to the Coventry average of 8.3%. making up a larger proportion of Canley households than they do in most other Coventry neighbourhoods. The most common type of household is single person households, as is the case across Coventry overall and in most areas; households of one person aged 66 and over make up 12.2% of all Canley households (Coventry 11.6%) and households of one person aged 16-65 make up 19.7% of all Canley households (Coventry 18.8%).

Overall, the average household size is bigger than the Coventry average in Canley. The Census 2021 counted 5,400 people living in 2,000 households. This amounts to an average of 2.64 people per household, higher than the Coventry average of 2.48. Not every Canley resident lives in a ‘household’, about 200 live in university ‘communal establishments’ (halls of residence).

We can understand more about our communities by using Geodemographic segmentation. The Acorn geodemographic profiler data model from CACI ltd categorises all UK households into 6 main categories ranked from most to least wealthy. Canley has a higher proportion of households in the three categories with the lowest wealth levels (92%, compared to 80% for Coventry). Looking at the household types in more detail, four specific types make up more than two-thirds (69%) of all Canley households and are significantly more common here than across Coventry overall: 

• ‘Stretched Society: Socially renting households in terraces’. People living in this type of household make up 18% of the residents in Canley compared to 5% of the whole of Coventry. 
• ‘Stretched Society: Sharers and students in private rentals’. 18% of the residents in Canley compared to 6% of the whole of Coventry. 
• ‘Stretched Society: Routine occupations, social renting families in semis’. 17% of the residents in Canley compared to 3% of the whole of Coventry. 
• ‘Low income living: Young families in socially rented semis’. 16% of the residents in Canley compared to 1% of the whole of Coventry. 

Acorn Wellbeing assigns households to different health categories. In Canley a higher proportion of the population live in households assigned to the groups that have greater health challenges. The main four groups that Acorn Wellbeing uses to classify residents are: 

1. Health Challenges (highest levels of illness, often areas with higher elderly population).  People living in this type of household make up 17% of the residents in Canley compared to 12% of the whole of Coventry. 
2. At Risk - 65% of the residents in Canley compared to 39% of the whole of Coventry. 
3. Caution - 17% of the residents in Canley compared to 33% of the whole of Coventry. 
4. Healthy (more affluent neighbourhoods with low levels of illness given their age). 1% of the residents in Canley compared to 15% of the whole of Coventry. 

Diversity  

Why is this important?

It is important to understand how Coventry’s population and demographics is changing so that local communities and organisations can ensure that the city has the right services to meet the needs of its people.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

Coventry as a city is becoming increasingly diverse, Canley is no exception. 4 in every 10 Canley residents are from an ethnic minority group (39.4%), a slightly lower percentage than the Coventry average (44.7%). We use ‘ethnic minorities’ to refer to all ethnic groups except the White British group. Ethnic minorities include white minorities, such as Gypsy, Roma, and Irish Traveller groups, as well as ‘White: Other’ which typically covers people from other European countries.  

Aside from White British (60.6%), the largest populations are from the ‘White: Other’ group making up 8.5% of the total population (8.2% for Coventry overall), ‘Black: African’, making up 8.2% of the total population (7.0% for Coventry overall) and Chinese, making up 4.3% of the total population (1.3% for Coventry overall). There are also communities of a number of other ethnic groups.

The size of the growth of the ethnic minority community as a whole was larger than the growth in White British people, as such Canley’s population has become notably more diverse. In 2011 the Canley population was predominantly White British, 79.4% (with several other communities, although relatively small in size), more than so than many other neighbourhoods of Coventry. By 2021 this was 60.6%, closer to the Coventry average.

The ethnic groups that have grown by the most in Canley are, ‘Black African’, from 3.6% of the total population of the area in 2011 to 8.2% in 2021; ‘White Other, from 4.2% to 8.5% and Chinese, from 1.6% to 4.3%.

The population of school children living in Canley, as measured by the 2021 annual school census, is slightly more diverse than the population of people of all ages, this could be a factor that will make the total population of the area even more diverse in the future. 41.7% of school children living in Canley are from an ethnic minority group (compared to 39.4% of the total population), the largest group are Black African children, making up 14.8% of all Canley school children.

Canley residents are overall more likely to follow no religion than the Coventry average. Nearly half (45.5%) of those who answered the question in the Census 2021 said they had no religion, notably more than the average of 31.6% for all Coventry residents. Christianity is the most common single religion, with 42.8% of the residents following it, slightly lower than the average of 46.8% for Coventry overall. Other religions followed by many Canley residents, but less commonly than across the city overall are Islam, 7.2% of residents follow (11.0% for Coventry overall) and 2.4% of residents follow Hinduism (Coventry 4.2%). 

Most Canley residents speak English as their main language. In the Census 2021, 86.1% of Canley residents indicated that English is their main language, compared to 82.5% of people across the city as a whole. In 8.9% of all Canley households there is no one whose main language is English, compared to 10.7% across Coventry. However, not speaking English as a main language does not mean that people cannot speak English: a relatively low proportion in Canley may have language barriers, only 2.3% cannot speak English well or at all, lower than the city average, 3.5%.  

While a range of languages are spoken in Canley, other than English there are three main groups of languages spoken as a main language; 'Other European' (likely mostly Romanian) (3.0% of all Canley residents aged 3+); ‘Chinese languages' (2.8%) and Polish (1.8%).

Newly arrived communities are a significant and growing part of Canley, although most residents were born in the UK. Data from the Census 2021 shows that three-quarters (74.5%) of Canley residents were born in the UK, a slightly higher proportion than Coventry overall (72.1%).  Amongst the 25.5% of the local population born outside the UK, the most common areas of origin are 'Middle East and Asia, 9.2% (Coventry overall 10.5%), EU counties, 8.3% (Coventry 10.1%) and Africa, 5.5% (Coventry 5.5%).

The census data also give a richer picture of recent migration: 15.6% of all Canley residents were born outside the UK and arrived in the UK in the previous 10 years, higher than the average for Coventry overall of 14.2%.  This underlines the change in the local population in recent years, a scale of change not seen in previous decades. Over the 10 years between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, there was growth in the UK born and non-UK born populations, as Canley’s total population expanded; but the % of the total population that were born overseas has increased, as the number of people migrating to the UK and settling in Canley increased faster; most notably amongst people born in Asian countries, EU countries and African countries (in order starting from the largest increase).

Newly arrived communities to Coventry are from diverse sources, and include people migrating for economic reasons, international students and asylum seekers and refugees, amongst other reasons. We know that there are few asylum seekers living in Canley, however, international students do form a large part of the local population.  A quarter (25.3%) of the total population were identified in the census as schoolchildren or full-time students aged 18+ (not just international students), much higher than the Coventry average of 9.8%. The ‘NINo’ data below gives some indication about other migration, like those migrating for work.

While there is uncertainty in measuring annual international migration due to challenges collecting accurate data, the number of foreign nationals living in Coventry and newly registering for a National Insurance Number (NINo) gives an indication of this and how the trends in movement have changed over recent years, particularly for people moving to the UK for work.

The data indicates that the total number of people living in Canley newly registering for a NINo has increased significantly in recent years following a dip due to pandemic restrictions, to a level in 2022 far exceeding levels in any year in the previous 10 years. The annual data showing the trends for Canley & Westwood Health (data is only available for bigger geographies, MSOAs) are illustrated in the chart below. This gives a good indication of the trends for Canley alone, although the totals will not be quite as high for just Canley.

Table: Number of NINo registrations by foreign nationals in Canley and Westwood Heath

Source: Department for Work and Pensions, https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ [https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/]

The recent increase was in line with the national trend of a big increase in 2022 and the trends broadly mirror those for Coventry overall; although the recent increase in Canley & Westwood Heath was actually a little sharper, and annually between 2011 and 2022 the numbers have increased relatively more than the average for other parts of the city. The significant increase to 2022 levels comes from increases amongst the number of people from South Asia, East Asia and African, whereas the number of people from EU countries is not significantly different from previous years.

Coventry Household Survey data indicates that overall feelings of belonging and cohesion amongst Canley residents are less than average and have reduced in recent years. A sample of all residents responded to a large questionnaire in 2022, and data can be compared by area of residence; this is available by Coventry MSOA so for a local picture we are limited to examining responses from people from a wider area, Canley & Westwood Heath. The summary of the data below is included with this caveat, the data gives an indication about Canley.

Only 46% of respondents from Canley & Westwood Heath agreed that their neighbourhood is a place where people from different backgrounds got on well together, lower than the proportion for all Coventry (63%) and a significant reduction since the survey conducted in 2018 (92%). 38% of respondents said they felt a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood, lower than the average for Coventry overall (54%) and down from 94% in 2018.

Responses to the Coventry Household Survey data indicate that levels of 'cultural participation' may be lower than average amongst Canley residents but improved in 2022.  The answers, to a series of question about culture, of 46% of Canley & Westwood Heath residents indicated that they had low levels of cultural participation, compared to 34% across Coventry. ‘Low’ participation is defined as respondents who had not engaged in any of a list of cultural activities at least three times in the previous 12 months. As it had across Coventry overall, indications are that levels of participation increased in this area between 2018 and 2022, likely influenced by the Coventry City of Culture 2021/22. 42% of local respondents said that had attended a City of Culture event in the city centre, similar to the city average of 45%. Only 10% said they attended an event based in their area, compared to 27% of all respondents across Coventry.

Community assets

The Community Information Directory [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/adult.page?adultchannel=3] is also a useful tool for knowing what groups, events and activities are happening in the area.

The Community Resilience Team has worked with a variety of groups to gain funding and support in Canley, below is a table of groups and assets known to the team in the area at the time of writing.

“Build on the success of City of Culture, a lot of the events really transformed my way of thinking and opened my eyes to different cultural experiences and by continuing to bring them to the city it will bring great economic benefit.”

The legacy of the city of culture was identified as having a positive impact on the city.  Building on the success of the City of Culture is essential, as many of the events had a profound impact, transforming perspectives and opening residents' eyes to diverse cultural experiences. These events not only enriched the lives of those who participated but also demonstrated the potential for significant economic benefits by drawing in visitors and boosting local businesses. One of the most powerful aspects of the City of Culture was the focus on telling the stories of ordinary citizens, which resonated with the community and highlighted the importance of supporting and celebrating the everyday lives of people. The events were successful in fostering a stronger sense of community and inclusivity, while also contributing to the cultural and economic vitality of the city.

Residents in Canley emphasised the importance of having their voices heard and the opportunity to engage in matters that are meaningful to them. They highlighted the need for greater inclusion of older voices, which they feel are often overlooked in community discussions. To address this, residents identified a need for better advertising and outreach to ensure broader participation and awareness of local events.

“Support voluntary organisations and youth groups particularly in areas of diversity”

“More and better publicity for Coventry's achievements and successes.”

The areas diversity is highlighted as an asset; however, more can be done to ensure community integration. Residents raised concerns about the lack of support to smaller voluntary organisations, especially those that provide youth provision. “The key is integration, tolerance and economic growth associated with pride in Coventry which is lacking.” Ensuring there is enough space to ensure community groups thrive was considered vital in creating a cohesive community.

More services in more deprived neighbourhoods. Some residents felt that it was important to “prioritise services and spending on the poorest / most disadvantaged neighbourhoods” ensuring every residents have equal opportunities and access to support and care.

Relationships were viewed as integral to community spirit. There are several projects based in Canley to promote working together and community cohesion. The University of Warwick has over 1,000 students engaging with the community in Coventry and Leamington on a variety of different projects. Due to its proximity with Canley it has based some of its projects within the local community here. Projects include helping the community church with the food bank; a pop-up café; and the upkeep of Canley green.

Prospects

Health visitors can help children and families make the best start in life. They visit all parents with children under the age of 5 in the city and offer health promotion and write developmental reviews during their home visits to promote childhood development. Schools, faith groups and community centres can work together to help reach socially isolated families, helping bring support to those who need it.

Community and voluntary groups are working together in the city to ensure support is in place for those who need it. The Coventry Food Network is an example of this, established as a result from the pandemic. Coventry Food Network is a food partnership which brings together several public, private, voluntary and community sector partners to address food poverty and its causes in Coventry by taking a city-wide collaborative and strategic approach towards a unified Coventry Food Network and Strategy. Since 18 March 2020, the Council has been working closely with a range of partners, to create and deliver a system of food provision. Some of the initiatives that have evolved from this partnership are:

• Established 15 social supermarkets/grub hubs throughout the city to provide nutritional food and support to those residents in greatest need.
• Support the delivery of the Household Support Fund by providing emergency food provision to vulnerable residents who needed additional support with accessing/affording food.
• Supported the delivery and developed a model to support those who were clinically extremely vulnerable (Shielding) re: food and basic support.
• Procured food and distributed food parcels to children eligible for free school meals provision during school holidays.
• Continue to support and enhance the offer of healthy, nutritious food to children and families eligible for free school meals through the HAF programme.

It is important to embed access to affordable food into policy and strategy documents when commissioning services and into the Council’s work on addressing health inequalities. For example, targeted support for low-income households supporting them into work higher paid roles; improving the knowledge households have around food through education and practical work; tackling barriers people face in terms of accessing food, understanding the reasoning behind healthy eating, how to cook, budget and how to lead a healthier lifestyle; support the Healthy weight objective to counteract childhood obesity.

"Support family from low income with childcare so they can work, meals and activities for children, support voluntary organisations so they can help the community and the children in the community.”

“Offer proper flexible working to enable mums to become economically active.”

Supporting workers and low-income families is crucial for fostering a resilient community. Residents in Canley raised a need for more support for working people, especially families on low income and working mothers. Suggestions were made for more flexible working to ensure residents maintain a work life balance and increasing the use of innovative new technology to support service improvement.  Some residents also raised a need for improved childcare provision to support working families. Supporting voluntary organisations that work within the community, particularly those focused on children, strengthens the social fabric and ensures that all members of the community have the resources they need to thrive.

“…This is a great place in which to INVEST", emphasising a young and skilful workforce and the excellent educational opportunities. Centre of the country with excellent transport links. Emphasise excellent fibre optic network.”

“Support small businesses.”

Promoting business and economic development requires a balanced approach that supports small businesses, revitalises the area, and encourages private entrepreneurship. Residents felt that to support small businesses, lowering business rates is essential, as this financial relief can enable these enterprises to grow and thrive.

Residents felt that having an area that caters to the diverse needs of its residents will be more appealing, encouraging a sense of community and well-being. Residents also highlighted the area as a prime location for investment is key, by highlighting its young, skilled workforce, university and education institutions, central location and strong transport links.

Projects based within the city can help people gain paid employment. Coventry Job Shop which helps people overcome barriers to finding paid employment provides residents with accessing learning, training, and job opportunities.

Housing and Environment

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

The overall recorded crime rate in Canley is similar to the Coventry average, and like Coventry overall, it has increased notably in recent years.  In 2022/23 the total number of crimes recorded in the area totalled 662, a rate of 118.7 per 1,000 population, similar to the city average of 124.6. The crime rate in the area has been on an increasing trend, as it has for the whole city; the total number of crimes recorded in Canley in 2022/23 was 71% higher than the 2017/18 levels, compared to the Coventry overall increase of 65%.

While levels of total crime levels are average for Coventry, violent crime rates are higher than average in Canley. In 2022/23, 334 crimes were recorded in the category ‘Violence and sexual offences’, a rate of 59.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents compared to 51.6 across Coventry overall. The main reason for the overall rise in crime in the last 5 years is that there have been more crimes recorded under this category, which has the highest number of crimes in any category. This pattern is true for Canley as well as for the whole of Coventry. 

The overall crime rates are higher in parts of Canley further to the west, compared to those in the east of the area nearer to the A45 and the University of Warwick. In the neighbourhood named ‘Canley - Charter Avenue & Robert Mountford Way’ the total recorded crime rate in 2022/23 was 142.5 per 1,000 compared to 82.8 in  'Canley - Torrington Prior Deram Walk'.

While the total recorded crime rate isn’t relatively high in Canley, the rates of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) are higher than most other Coventry areas, although reducing. A total of 92 ASB incidents in Canley were recorded for 2022/23, a rate of 16.5 per 1,000 population, much higher than the rate for Coventry overall at 7.8. This is down from 154 incidents in 2018/19.

Survey data indicates that the proportion of Canley residents who feel safe in their local area at night is low and reducing. The 2022 Coventry Household Survey gives us an indication of feelings of safety during the day and at night amongst Canley residents, although this data is only available for the wider area of ‘Canley & Westwood Heath’.  34% of respondents said they felt safe after dark in their local area, lower than the Coventry average of 45%. Like the trend across Coventry overall, a significantly lower proportion of respondents said they felt safe in the 2022 survey compared to 2018, when 91% said they felt safe at night. While the survey results and how they compare over time is only an indication of the feelings of all Canley resident because it is based on sample and the fact that this data is based on Canley & Westwood Heath, the size of the reduction in these survey responses make it clear that people here are feeling less safe than they were. 74% said they felt safe during the day compared to the Coventry average of 77%.

What else is happening? What else can be done?

A more visible police presence could act as a deterrent for crime and promote community cohesion. This would not only deter criminal activity but create a sense of security and trust within the community, enabling residents to become more engaged and feel safer.

Nationally, there is a focus on implementing a ‘public health approach’ to tackling violent crime. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of taking a public health approach to reducing violent crime is one that “seeks to improve the health and safety of all individuals by addressing underlying risk factors that increase the likelihood that an individual will become a victim or a perpetrator of violence” It focuses on primary prevention at the population level, targeting broad segments to prevent violence. By identifying early indicators and risk factors, agencies can implement interventions to reduce crime.

Crime and perceptions of crime impact people’s relationship with the area, suggestions for community led initiatives to tackle antisocial behaviour. Community led initiatives could be effective by leveraging local knowledge, fostering trust and cooperation and empowering residents to create sustainable positive change.

Reporting hate crime plays a crucial role in challenging negative attitudes and build a more cohesive community. True vision is a web-based reporting system where people can report hate crime anonymously. This makes it easier for people to log on and report their experience.

Health and Wellbeing

Why is this important?

Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy are extremely important summary measures of overall population health. The Marmot Review, Fair Society, Healthy Lives, demonstrates clear and significant links between avoidable differences in health outcomes and deprivation, where people experiencing multiple deprivation not only living shorter lives, but spend a greater portion of their shorter lives with a disability or in poor health. As a Marmot city, Coventry has adopted and embedded the principles of Marmot, tackling the social conditions that can lead to health inequalities, and working to improve the areas in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

The life expectancy at birth for residents of Canley is lower than the averages for Coventry overall. In Coventry, health inequalities are evident as areas with higher deprivation levels tend to have lower life expectancy. The table below provides information on life expectancy at birth for females and males in the MSOA area of Canley and Westwood Heath for the period 2016-2020; data is only available to this level, not for neighbourhoods smaller than this. The MSOA covers a wider area than that used for this profile in general, it includes Westwood Heath and other nearby areas, as well as Canley. These additional neighbourhoods are less deprived than Canley; as such life expectancy for the area may be even lower than shown in the tables, with a bigger gap to the city average.

Life expectancy at birth for females is 80.6 years, which is lower than the average for Coventry (82.1 years), and life expectancy at birth for males is 77.5 years, also lower than the average for Coventry (78.1 years). While like for all areas, female life expectancy is longer than for males, the data indicates that life expectancy for females in Canley is relatively low, with a bigger gap with the city average than there is for males.

Table: Life expectancy at birth 2016-2020 by MSOA, the most up to date figures available at local level 

Source: The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities 2022, Crown Copyright

Life expectancy is a statistic giving a high-level picture of the health of Coventry residents and should be used with care in understanding likely life spans for people; excess deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have a negative impact on life expectancy statistics but this may not have a permanent impact. Whilst this data includes 2020 and the pandemic will have undoubtedly affected mortality statistics, life expectancy increases had already stalled before 2020.

Health inequalities across the city mean that people in more deprived parts of the city not only live shorter lives, but also spend a greater proportion of their shorter lives in poor health. The table presents data on healthy life expectancy at birth, life expectancy at birth, and the window of need for the period 2009-2013 in Canley and Westwood Heath. This is the most recent data available for healthy life expectancy.

Healthy life expectancy is the average number of years people live in good health. For Canley and Westwood Heath residents, females have a healthy life expectancy at birth of 61.7 years, while males have a healthy life expectancy at birth of 60.1 years. These figures are similar to the average for Coventry; if we had a measure just for Canley it would likely be lower.  

The gap between healthy life expectancy and life expectancy is referred to as the ‘window of need’. It is the average number of years that a person can expect to live with poor health, during which they will be likely to need support from the health and care system. The window of need is 20.5 years for females and 16.0 years for males in Canley, compared to Coventry's 20.3 years for females and 16.7 years for males. The fact that healthy life expectancy is similar for males and females, but overall life expectancy is longer for females, means that, on average, females live longer in poor health.

Table: Life expectancy (LE) at birth & healthy life expectancy (HLE) at birth 2009-2013 by MSOA*.

Source:  The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Crown Copyright.

*The most up to date figures available at local level for healthy life expectancy, data for LE is presented for the same period to accurately calculate the ‘window of need’. The data for 2016-20 LE in the table above is the best to use to understand LE alone. This is the most up to date data at MSOA level, for more up to date information for Coventry City as a whole please see our Citywide profile [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/facts-coventry/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna/4]

Premature mortality (deaths amongst residents aged under 75 years) rates are higher in Canley than the city overall and national average. The table below provides data on premature mortality, specifically the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) for various causes of death for individuals under 75 years old in Canley & Westwood Heath, and Coventry, for the period 2016-2020. The SMR compares the observed number of deaths in a population to the expected number of deaths based on age-specific rates of a standard population, allowing us to compare areas that have different age profiles.  An SMR of 100 indicates the observed deaths are the same as the national average after adjusting for the age profile of the local population. The SMR for deaths from all causes under 75 years is 134.8, indicating deaths are 34.8% higher than the national average and higher than Coventry's SMR of 116.9. Looking at specific causes, premature mortality rates are higher than the city average for all. For deaths from all cancers to amongst people aged under 75 years, the SMR is 137.4, for deaths from circulatory diseases it is 129.1, and for deaths from causes considered preventable it is 147.4.

Table: Premature mortality rates (deaths aged under 75) by major causes 2016-2020, by MSOA

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, produced from Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. 

*SMRs are age standardised death rates that allow mortality rates for areas with different age structures to be compared. ** Deaths which could be avoided by public health or primary care interventions

What else is happening? What else can be done?

Preventable deaths can be avoided by addressing the social conditions that lead to poor health, such as people’s prospects and opportunities; housing and environment; as well as behavioural and lifestyle changes. These are explored throughout this JSNA.

Health protection

 Why is this important?

Health Protection is a term used to cover a set of activities within public health. It is defined as protecting individual, groups and populations from single cases of infectious disease, incidents and outbreaks, and non-infectious environmental hazards such as chemicals and radiation. Monitoring health protection coverage helps to identify possible drops in immunity before levels of disease rise. 

Before the introduction of widespread immunisation and vaccinations, infectious and communicable diseases (that is, diseases that can spread from one person or living organism to another) were a major and widespread cause of death and permanent disability, especially among children. 

To stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases and ensure herd immunity, it is important to maintain 95% vaccination coverage. Monitoring health protection coverage helps to identify possible drops in immunity before levels of disease rise. The Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of health protection and vaccination. Data on Covid-19 for this area was not yet available at time of writing this profile. 

What is the local picture? How does it compare? 

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted lives globally, affecting health directly and various other aspects indirectly. Many residents from Canley, like all other areas, were infected with COVID-19, with a total of 1,678 cases recorded between March 2020 and May 31, 2022. This figure represents a case rate of 300.9 per 1,000 residents, based on the 2021 Census population of 5,577, which is comparable to the overall city rate of 324.8 for the same period. We should be mindful when comparing the area’s case rate to other areas, these official cases do not represent all cases of course, not all people who had COVID-19 in this period will have taken a test or reported its result and some people were asymptomatic so were unaware they had the virus. Therefore, these figures do not count total prevalence, and it is difficult to conclude from differing case rates, it may be a result of different testing and reporting rates.   

Many people suffer from ongoing symptoms, from ‘long COVID’; while we don’t know how many Canley residents suffer from this and if it higher or lower than average, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated the prevalence of self-reported long COVID at 2.92% of all people living in private households in the UK in March 2023.

COVID-19 death rates amongst Canley residents were higher than the national average, Canley was amongst the higher-ranking areas of Coventry. Across Canley and Westwood Heath, 24 residents died with COVID-19 as the underlying cause between 2020 and 2022, out of a total number of 238 deaths from all causes. This translates to a death rate, the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR), of 145.3 - an SMR above 100 indicates that this mortality rate is 45.3% higher than the national average after the age structure of the local population has been adjusted for.

Coventry delivered hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines that protected many from severe illness or death and protected the health service. However, many remain unvaccinated, and vaccination rates are lower than the city average in Canley.  By December 2023, vaccine coverage for Canley residents aged 12 and older was 64.3% for the first dose and 57.5% for the second dose, compared to 68.1% and 63.3% respectively for Coventry as a whole. For those aged 65 and older, 89.5% had received the first dose and 88.8% the second dose, while in Coventry overall the coverage was 93.1% and 92.4% respectively.

The pandemic had many impacts, not all directly on residents’ physical health. The restrictions due to the pandemic and the lockdowns may have had an impact on different aspects of health and life. The ONS conduct an annual survey where they ask people about their personal wellbeing, it indicates increased levels of anxiety amongst Coventry’s population during the pandemic. The % who gave a score indicating high levels of anxiety increased from 20.6% in 2019/20 to 26.9% in 2020/21. Data on this for Canley residents can be read below.

Responses to questions in the Coventry Household Survey 2022 give indications as to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on people’s lives. People were asked how worried they were about the impact of COVID-19 on their financial situation, their diet, their mental health, their physical health, and their feeling of loneliness; on a scale of 0-10, those scoring 7 or higher are classed as ‘worried’ in the statistics quoted below.   The Household Survey data is only available by ‘MSOAs’, therefore the data in the paragraph below is based on a wider area ‘Canley & Westwood Heath’, and so is only an indication of feelings amongst Canley residents.

43% said they were worried about the impact on their physical health (Coventry overall 31%), 38% said they were worried about the impact the pandemic had on their financial situation (Coventry 40%), 23% said they were worried about the impact the on their mental health (Coventry 38%), 18% said they were worried about the impact on their feelings of loneliness (Coventry 28%) and 15% said they were worried about the impact the pandemic had on their diet (Coventry 22%).

Vaccination rates for key cohorts of people eligible to receive the annual seasonal flu vaccine are lower than the national average across Coventry overall. Indications are that in Canley rates across different cohorts are overall similar to the Coventry average, or very slightly lower. Seasonal flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu virus circulating and are offered to a range at risk groups of people including children, people aged 65 and over and pregnant women. Flu vaccination rates in most groups that are eligible in Canley are lower than national average rates and some of them lower than the Coventry average and others higher.

Finding evidence for Canley residents is restricted to observing uptake rates amongst locally based GP practices, amongst the people registered there, so this data is just an indication of the picture for Canley residents. The vaccine uptake rates for this area’s GPs, for Coventry overall and England for 2022/23 can be seen in the table below.

Table: Flu vaccine uptake rates 2022/23 by cohort amongst people registered at local GP practices - % of eligible population receiving the vaccine

Source: ImmForm, UK Health Security Agency

In Canley, uptake rates for various childhood vaccinations remain below the desired 95% threshold and are mostly below the average for Coventry. Finding evidence for children living in Canley is restricted to observing uptake rates amongst locally based GP practices, amongst the children registered there, so this data is just an indication of the picture for Canley residents.

• DTaP/IPV/Hib Vaccination: For one-year-olds, the uptake of the DTaP/IPV/Hib vaccination, which guards against five serious childhood diseases, is 85.3%. These rates are below the city average of 90.3% and do not meet the 95% target.
• Rotavirus Vaccine: The uptake of the rotavirus vaccine, which protects against gastroenteritis in one-year-olds, is 87.2%. This is lower than both the Coventry city average of 88.5% and the national rate of 89.9%.
• MMR Vaccination for 2-Year-Olds: The MMR vaccination uptake for 2-year-olds is 87.0%, lower than Coventry's overall uptake rate of 88.5% and the national rate of 89.2%
• First Dose of MMR for 5-Year-Olds: The first dose MMR uptake for 5-year-olds is 91.3%, lower than both the city's average of 92.9% and the national rate of 93.4%.
• Second Dose of MMR for 5-Year-Olds: The uptake rate for the second dose of MMR in 5-year-olds are 82.0%, lower than those for the first dose. These rates are still lower than the city average of 84.6% and the national rate of 85.7%.
• -DTaP/IPV/Hib Vaccination for 5-Year-Olds: The uptake rate is 93.3%, which is above the city level 83.3% but still does not meet the 95% target.

Despite a declining trend, teenage conception rates in Coventry remain higher than the national average, and indications are that this is the case in Canley. In 2021, there were 18.6 conceptions per 1,000 people under the age of 18 for Coventry overall, higher than the England average at 13.1. Data for geographies smaller than Coventry overall are only available at ward level, not specifically for Canley. However, the ward in which most of Canley is located, Westwood, the red area in the south-west of Coventry shown in the map below, is one of the seven Coventry wards (out of 18 in total) with a rate significantly higher than the national average. However, the rate for Westwood ward is not significantly higher than the Coventry average.

Map: Under-18s conception in Coventry by ward, compared to England: three-year period between 2018 - 20

Source: Fingertips, [https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/static-reports/sexualhealth-reports/2023/E08000026.html?area-name=Coventry#reproductive-health] data sourced from Conception Statistics, England and Wales, ONS

What else is happening? What else can be done?

Ensuring communities understand and trust public health messages, and that they are accessible and culturally appropriate is vital. Coventry has a very diverse and active voluntary and community sector with many small and well-connected groups, it also has many community leaders and “go to” people in local neighbourhoods. During the pandemic the Community Resilience Team created Community Messengers who consisted of existing faith, voluntary and community networks in the city. The number of messengers has now grown to 320. The messengers perform two main functions: -

• they help to disseminate into their community the “stay safe” messages.
• they collect and feedback community intelligence which is then used to influence a number of things such as improving our communication materials, focusing our interventions and deploying our local
  teams of COVID-19 advisors.

Young people were included through a partnership with The Positive Youth Foundation, a charity that supports young people in the Coventry area (and who chair the Coventry Youth Partnership), and a series of focus groups held with young people and the council’s communications team helped the development of
specific messaging for young people, including several videos.

Community members now have a platform and a chance to participate directly in shaping how the council and communities engage with each other. This helps to facilitate a community-led response to communications and messaging surrounding several topics.

There is increasing recognition of the key role that places and communities play in our health. Community groups are best placed to address health challenges, because they are trusted and have the networks understanding and legitimacy to do so. Health and care providers need to shift to an ‘enabling’ leadership style, supporting communities to maintain their health and wellbeing by pooling engagement resources and helping to build capacity by sharing skills and facilities with the communities we serve. The One Coventry Plan is designed to work with our communities to ensure that they are able to address their health needs and to reduce inequalities.

Since 2021, Coventry was successfully awarded funding to deliver the Healthy Communities Together (HCT) programme.  This programme is funded by the National Lottery and aims to support local areas to develop effective and sustainable partnerships between the voluntary and community sector, the NHS and local authorities to improve health and wellbeing, reduce health inequalities and empower communities. 

Building on existing health and wellbeing infrastructures having a collaborative partnership approach, bringing together residents’ experience and partners’ skills and assets, should be taken to strengthen health and wellbeing in communities. An example of this is Vaccinating Coventry – a partnership group with membership from a range of council teams with a focus on improving vaccine uptake inequality across the city. While vaccine uptake across Coventry and Warwickshire has been good, early in the vaccination programme data started to reveal areas of Coventry with much lower uptake, particularly among minority ethnic groups and those living in more deprived areas. The work of the group is linked tightly with wider COVID-19 prevention inequality work, focused upon access to testing, understanding of and adherence to national guidelines.

Demand and access

Why is this important?

The demand for health and care services is expected to increase as the city’s population grows and ages. To manage this growth there is a need to shift the emphasis to proactive and preventative care. This means ensuring people have better general health regardless of where they live, requiring fewer visits to hospital and shorter stays if they need inpatient care; and remodelling urgent and emergency and planned care so that it can cater to the expected increase in demand.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

Canley residents have less good access to primary care than people living in many other Coventry neighbourhoods, in that many don’t live as nearby to a GP practice, although the ratio of staff to patients at local practices is relatively good.   The maps below illustrate the Canley area and then wider Coventry, with locations of GP practices marked. In Canley there is one main GP practice, in addition one further GP branch practice; both located in the west of the area, near the edge of Canley. The darkest green areas on the map indicate locations within a three-minute walk from each GP, while the lightest yellow areas represent a 15-minute walk. Poorer than average access is illustrated; with large parts of Canley coloured in white, indicating that the people in these areas live more than a 15-minute walk away from their nearest GP, whereas the majority of Coventry neighbourhoods are less than a 15-minute walk away.  On the other hand, access to a GP is possible within a five-minute journey by car or public transport for most of the area, although this may rely on access to a car.  

The number of staff at locally based practices can also give some indication as to quality of access to primary care services. The ratio of GPs per 10,000 of the population is relatively good compared with other areas and the city in general, with 15.1 direct patient care staff per 10,000 patient’s and 11.4 full time equivalent staff (FTE) per 10,000. There are 11.0 direct patient care staff and 8.3 FTEs per 10,000 of the population for the city overall.

Maps: Locations of GP practices around the area of Canley, with walking distances highlighted

Data Source: Shape Place tool. Department of Health & Social Care

Overall, indications are that satisfaction with local GPs is relatively good compared with the city as a whole and nationally. Although, as in generally the case in many areas, there are indications that satisfaction with local GPs has reduced in recent years.  Using the latest GP survey data, we can establish patient satisfaction based on three key questions around overall experience, obtaining an appointment via telephone and satisfaction with appointment lead times. Trying to understand satisfaction amongst people living in Canley is restricted to observing survey responses amongst people registered at locally based GP practices, so this data is just an indication of the picture for Canley residents.

When asked ‘Overall, how would you describe your experience of your GP practice?’, 78% of respondents indicated that their experience was good or very good. This is slightly higher than Coventry overall and England (71%). However, like the general trend across Coventry and England, indications are that satisfaction has fallen in Canley, from 97% in the survey responses in 2019.

When asked ‘Generally, how easy is it to get through to someone at your GP practice on the phone?’, 60% of respondents indicated that it was easy or very easy. This is similar to the city average (59%) and above the national figure (50%), suggesting that it is easier to get through to their GP in this area than the national average.

When asked ‘How satisfied are you with the general practice appointment times that are available to you?’, 57% of respondents indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied, again similar to the city average (58%) and better than the national average (53%).

Pharmacy coverage in Canley, similar to GP services, in not as good in Canley compared to most other Coventry neighbourhoods. Access to pharmacies in Canley is challenging by walking, but they can be reached more conveniently by car or public transport. There is only one pharmacy located in Canley, and this is not located centrally in the area. The darkest green areas on the maps below indicate locations within a three-minute walk from each GP, while the lightest yellow areas represent a 15-minute walk. Poorer than average access is illustrated; with large parts of Canley coloured in white, indicating that the people in these areas live more than a 15-minute walk away from their nearest pharmacy, whereas the majority of Coventry neighbourhoods are less than a 15-minute walk away from a pharmacy. 

Maps: Locations of pharmacies around the area of Canley, with walking distances highlighted

Access to the local hospital is also less easy for Canley residents compared to other parts of Coventry. Canley being in the west of Coventry compared to The University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire in the east of Coventry at Walsgrave, means local residents live further away from a hospital than most other residents of the city. The DHSC Shape Place tool, used for the maps above, illustrates that people living in Canley live about one hour away from the hospital by public transport.

Low levels of car ownership amongst Canley residents makes the distances to health services more of a barrier. A significant proportion of households in Canley have no access to a car or van, 43.3%, notably higher than the Coventry average of 27.6% and one of the lowest rates of car ownership out of all Coventry neighbourhoods.

What else is happening? What else can be done?

A social gradient approach focusing on people’s prospects and opportunities, housing and environment and lifestyle factors can help improve outcomes, reduce inequality and reducing premature mortality.

The citywide JSNA identified that a culturally competent approach that recognises and makes best use of the assets of the city’s diverse communities is essential. This includes working with local community and religious groups to encourage take-up of vaccination, diagnosis and screening programmes

​As part of the Adult Social Care Service, the council are working more closely with other organisations to improve the outcomes for adults. The Improving Lives programme is a partnership programme, led by Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System, bringing together University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust and the Council to work as one service. It aims to enhance patient experiences, prevent hospital admissions, and improve hospital discharge processes. The program focuses on effective care through three sub-programs: Interfaces, Hospital Processes at UHCW, and One Coventry Integrated Team. Its key goals are to promote independent living and simplify care delivery through partner collaboration.

Working together in partnership is vital to delivering services to residents. The Working Together Group; an alliance of CWPT, VSCE, and Primary Care in Coventry and Warwickshire, aims to strengthen partnership working within the voluntary, community, faith and not for profit social enterprise sector.

Healthcare pressures, particularly in rapidly growing areas, are a concern to residents in the area. As populations increase, local health services often struggle to keep up with rising demand. This leads to longer wait times, reduced access to primary care, and overburdened facilities, which disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as the elderly, low-income families, and people with chronic health conditions. Addressing these pressures requires a multifaceted approach, including investment in healthcare infrastructure, hiring more medical professionals, and improving access to preventive care, especially in areas experiencing rapid population growth.

Lifestyles

Why is this important? 

Individual behaviours, such as eating enough fruits and vegetables, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity can affect health. These lifestyle behaviours are strongly influenced by the environment in which people live. For example, people living in a ‘food desert’, with limited access to affordable and healthy food, are more likely to eat unhealthily; an unsafe environment is likely to discourage people from walking or cycling; and social and cultural influences, including friendship groups, advertising and media, play an important role in determining people’s lifestyles. 

These lifestyle risk factors – poor diet, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking – are all linked to ill health and premature death. Having a combination of risk factors contributes to greater ill health. People facing poorer social circumstances are more at risk of having multiple risk factors, exacerbating avoidable differences in health. 

What is the local picture? How does it compare? 

The statistics in this section rely on MSOA level data, meaning figures are not available specifically just for the Canley area, rather data for a slightly wider area of Canley and Westwood Heath is used. As such the messages should be interpreted as only indicative of the picture in Canley.

The prevalence of smoking among Canley residents is substantially higher than Coventry as a whole.  26% of local respondents to the 2022 Household Survey said they are current smokers of tobacco products and 11% use e-cigarettes, compared to 11% and 7% for Coventry as a whole. This indicates one of the highest smoking rates of all Coventry neighbourhoods.

While survey data indicates that overall levels alcohol consumption is similar to average for Coventry, it causes disproportionate impact on health with high levels of alcohol related hospital admissions amongst residents. In the 2022 Household Survey, 31% of respondents indicated that they drink alcohol more than once a week, and of those who do drink, 30% consume more than 2 units at least twice per week. The city averages for the same indicators in 2022 are 25% and 24% respectively.

Alcohol consumption is a contributing factor to hospital admissions and deaths from a diverse range of conditions. The Hospital Standardised Admission Ratios (SARs) for alcohol-attributable conditions reveal that Canley has significantly higher hospital admissions compared to Coventry.  The table below shows rates of hospital admission due to alcohol related admissions, amongst Canley & Westwood Heath residents and for all Coventry residents, between 2016/17 and 2020/21, presented as Standardised Admission Ratios (SARs) (calculated to adjust for different age structure of populations). It shows SARs for numbers of admissions due to conditions that are ‘broadly’ alcohol attributable, including any health issue that can be partially or fully attributed to alcohol use, either directly or indirectly, and admissions due to conditions that are ‘narrowly’ alcohol attributable, a more specific subset of health conditions and diseases that are directly and primarily caused by alcohol consumption.

The SAR for hospital admissions due to alcohol-attributable conditions using the broad definition is 178.2 in Canley, compared to 134.9 in Coventry. For the narrow definition, the SAR is 185.4 in Canley, versus 132.8 in Coventry. These elevated ratios indicate that Canley's hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions are substantially higher than expected, reflecting a public health concern.

Table: Rates of admissions to hospital due to alcohol related conditions (defined in two ways, broadly and narrowly due to alcohol) by place of residence, 2016/17 to 2020/21

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) NHS Digital

While the importance of eating healthy food is recognised by the majority residents, survey data indicates there is room for improvement in aspects of the diet of Canley residents. Regarding the importance of healthy eating, 95% of Canley respondents agreed that it is important to eat healthily, similar to the city average of 93%. The percentage of residents who reported eating takeaways at least once or twice a week or more was 21%, lower than the Coventry average of 28%.

Survey respondents were also asked other questions about factors related to or impacting diet. When it comes to breakfast consumption, 54% of residents indicated that they eat breakfast every day which is lower than the Coventry average (78%). In terms of home cooking, 77% of Canley respondents indicated that they have everything they need in their kitchen to cook a meal, similar to the Coventry average of 81%. When it comes to the price of food as a factor in food purchase, 54% of Canley respondents agreed that it was the most important factor; this is lower than the Coventry average, 64%.

Survey data indicates that the proportion of Canley residents who don’t regularly engage in physical activity is similar to the Coventry average. The Coventry Household Survey 2022 asked residents about how often they take part in three different levels of intensity of physical activity, from the lowest intensive ‘everyday activity’ (such as active travel or gardening) to ‘active recreation’ (such as recreational walking or cycling), to the most intensive activity, sport participation. The following statistics are for responses from Canley & Westwood Heath.

8% indicated that they do not partake in any everyday physical activity, compared to the city average of 11%. 27% indicated they do not participate in active recreation, compared to the city average of 24%. 44% of respondents indicated that they partook in no sporting activity, compared to 41% for Coventry as a whole.

According to the latest National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) data for the three years covering 2019/20 to 2021/22, children in Canley, like those in the broader Coventry area, are becoming increasingly obese as they age. 9.3% of reception-aged children (4-5 years) in Canley are classified as obese, compared to 10.8% for Coventry overall. The data indicates that the rate of obesity in Canley increases in line with that of the city as children get older, perhaps even increasing by more. The latest data shows that 27.3% of children measured in school year 6 (aged 10-11 years) in Canley are obese, higher than the city average of 24.8%.

What else is happening? What else can be done?

Services in the area work well together to provide support and projects for vulnerable groups. Coventry Citizen’s Advice deliver projects to support people affected by Cancer. The Macmillan project delivers essential benefits advice services to people affected by cancer through a new model of integrated support, the Major Trauma project supports those in hospital who have suffered major trauma and the TB/HIV project is directed at individuals who have TB/HIV.

To address health inequalities and establish an environment that promotes and preserves good health, it is important to acknowledge that lifestyle factors are rooted in socioeconomic conditions. Canley has an abundance of groups working in the area to provide support to residents. It is important to continue to address access to affordable; lowering risky behaviours by changing social norms and connecting people to peer support groups, such as encouraging them to use health check services, sexual health check services, stop smoking services and improving their access to drop-in sessions for psychological therapy and child clinics in the neighbourhood.

Key messages

Demographics and communities 

Canley has experienced a significant population increase over the decade between 2011 and 2021, growing by 37.3%, which is considerably faster than both Coventry’s and the national averages. The most notable demographic change in Canley is the increase in young adults, especially students. A quarter (25.3%) of the total population were identified in the census as schoolchildren or full-time students aged 18+, much higher than the Coventry average of 9.8%. This has resulted in a youthful community where students, many of whom live in the houses in Canley, play a major role in shaping the area's character. Additionally, the number of children in Canley is relatively high, while the proportion of elderly residents is much lower compared to Coventry as a whole. 

Canley has also become more diverse, with the ethnic minority population growing faster than the White British population. While 40% of residents are from ethnic minority groups, this remains slightly lower than Coventry's overall diversity levels. However, the increasing presence of international migrants and other minority groups reflects a broader trend of diversification within the area. This growing diversity suggests that Canley is becoming a more multicultural community, though not at the same pace as other parts of the city. 

Canley faces challenges regarding social cohesion with the Household Survey 2022 indicating that feelings of belonging and community integration among residents have declined in recent years, falling below the Coventry average. This decline may be linked to the rapid demographic shifts and the large transient student population, which could impact long-term social bonds within the neighbourhood. Initiatives to foster good community relations, could be helpful in making people feel less isolated and more cohesive.  

Prospects 

Children in Canley face early childhood developmental challenges, with a lower percentage of children reaching a good level of development by age five compared to both Coventry and national averages Additionally, the higher levels of child poverty in the area exacerbate these outcomes, suggesting that socio-economic conditions play a significant role in the early health and development of children in Canley, highlighting a need for continued targeted interventions in maternal and childhood health to improve early development outcomes for children. 

Educational outcomes in Canley are also below average, with lower attainment levels at both key stages 2 and 4. A notable proportion of children attend schools that are not rated as good or outstanding, and the area has a higher-than-average percentage of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). These educational disparities indicate that children in Canley face barriers that hinder their academic progress, which can have long-term consequences for their health, employment prospects, and overall quality of life. 

Economic challenges are a significant factor influencing health outcomes in Canley. The area experiences high levels of economic inactivity, primarily due to a large student population, but also from residents facing long-term illness or disability. Employment rates in Canley are notably low, with fewer than half of working-age residents in employment. This, combined with higher-than-average unemployment rates, contributes to low household incomes, with a substantial proportion of households earning below £20,000 annually. The prevalence of low-income households further highlights economic insecurity faced by the community, which directly affect both health and quality of life. 

Housing and environment 

While Canley's local environment fares relatively well compared to other areas of Coventry, with good access to green spaces and better-than-average air quality, however, accessibility to the Family Hub itself and ability to travel between parts of the area are highlighted as concerns. There are notable issues related to safety and community well-being with a significant proportion of residents not feeling safe in their local area. This suggests that despite overall crime rates being similar to the city average, the higher incidence of violent crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) is contributing to residents’ growing sense of insecurity. Addressing these safety concerns will be crucial for improving the overall quality of life in Canley. 

Housing is an area that could be explored further, house prices are slightly higher than the city average, and for many residents, affordability remains a significant challenge. Canley has higher rates of fuel poverty exceeding both the Coventry and national averages. This is driven by a combination of high energy costs, lower household incomes, and housing quality. The prevalence of fuel poverty exacerbates the financial strain already faced by many Canley residents, limiting their ability to maintain comfortable living conditions.  

Health and wellbeing 

Life expectancy in Canley is significantly lower than the Coventry average, reflecting broader health disparities within the community. High rates of premature mortality, with many residents dying before the age of 75, indicate the persistent and deep-rooted health inequalities in the area.  

The relatively low vaccination uptake for both COVID-19 and other routine vaccinations, such as seasonal flu and childhood vaccines, suggests that public health outreach and access to healthcare services in Canley could be improved. These lower vaccination rates, compared to both city and national averages, point to potential barriers in healthcare access, education, or trust in health services.  

Residents in Canley have a more limited access to healthcare services, with greater distances to GP practices, pharmacies, and hospitals, coupled with low car ownership rates, create significant barriers to healthcare access. With nearly half of households lacking access to a car, residents are more reliant on public transport, which may be insufficient or unreliable.  

Lifestyle factors such as high smoking rates and elevated levels of alcohol-related hospital admissions also contribute to Canley’s poor health outcomes. Interventions that focus on increasing healthcare access, improving vaccination uptake, and promoting healthier lifestyles are essential, but must be supported by efforts to address the root causes of deprivation and inequality in Canley.