Key Messages
Demographics and Communities
Hillfields has undergone substantial population growth of 14.4% over the past decade, exceeding city and national averages, largely due to international migration. This growth has led to a notably young demographic with a median age of 24, driven by the presence of students and young adults.
Hillfields is also one of Coventry’s most diverse neighbourhoods, with 79.6% of residents from ethnic minority backgrounds and nearly half of the population born outside the UK. This diversity, while a strength, also presents challenges, particularly around language barriers.
Despite these challenges, the area shows signs of resilience, with a relatively high level of community involvement. However, the low sense of belonging among some residents, likely exacerbated by frequent turnover and socioeconomic pressures, remains an area of concern that local policymakers may need to address.
Prospects
It is important to address disparities in child development, improve educational opportunities, and address economic and social issues through collaborative community-driven approaches.
In Hillfields, there are notable discrepancies in child development compared to Coventry and national averages. Targeted interventions, focusing on neighbourhoods with lower rates, can enhance early childhood development. Increasing awareness and access to funded early years childcare can ensure more children benefit from early education programs.
The number of children living in relative poverty is also higher than citywide and national averages.
While educational attainment at Key Stages 2 and 4 is below the city average, Hillfields is not the worst-performing area in Coventry. However, the gap in achievement, coupled with widespread poverty, suggests that local children face significant barriers to success.
Economic challenges are also prominent, with high unemployment and economic inactivity contributing to lower household incomes and increased financial stress, necessitating efforts to create job opportunities and boost economic development. The cost-of-living crisis exacerbates these issues, as indicated by high levels of financial concern and food insecurity among residents.
Despite good internet availability, digital exclusion remains a concern. Community organisations are crucial in addressing these challenges, offering vital support to marginalised groups and helping to combat digital exclusion.
Housing and Environment
Residents' satisfaction with Hillfields has notably decreased since 2018, with only 39% expressing satisfaction in 2022 and 42% perceiving that the area has worsened, a figure surpassing the Coventry average. Compounding this issue is a lack of green space, with residents in Hillfields having access to about half the average green space provision per ward, which could negatively affect residents' quality of life and recreational opportunities.
Housing in Hillfields presents challenges, with notably lower homeownership rates compared to the city average, a higher proportion of privately rented or rent-free households, and increasing house prices despite them still being lower than the city average. Overcrowding is more prevalent, with a greater number of households containing four or more people and fewer having three or more bedrooms than the city average. This highlights the need for improved social housing initiatives, which organisations like Citizen Housing and Coventry City Council are actively addressing through neighbourhood plans.
Health and wellbeing are threatened by higher levels of fuel poverty, exacerbated by increased heating costs and potential energy shortages during colder months, posing risks to both physical and mental health.
Crime remains one of the most pressing issues in Hillfields, with rates of violent crime and overall crime significantly higher than the city average. This contributes to an atmosphere of insecurity, impacting residents’ quality of life and further reducing satisfaction with the area.
Health and Wellbeing
Life expectancy in Hillfields for both males and females is lower than the rest of the city overall, the gap being particularly high for males living here. 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 area was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as higher mortality rates and lower vaccination uptake revealed the need for targeted public health interventions in deprived and diverse communities.
Despite relatively good access to GP services nearby, patient satisfaction has declined, reflecting broader healthcare delivery challenges. Lifestyle factors in Hillfields present a mixed picture; while low smoking rates indicate some public health successes, issues related to diet and physical activity remain, pointing to areas in need of improvement. A social gradient approach focusing on people’s prospects and opportunities, housing, and environment and lifestyle factors can help improve outcomes, reduce inequalities, improving healthcare access, and promoting healthier lifestyles through collaboration between public health authorities, healthcare providers, and the community.