Wiltshire Uncovered, the most far-reaching study into life in Wiltshire in the last 20 years, has recently been launched by the chief executive of Wiltshire Community Foundation, Rosemary Macdonald.
“Wiltshire Uncovered is an objective statement of facts which goes beyond the statistics to the people themselves,” said Kate Robinson, on behalf of the Wiltshire Community Foundation. “We believe it is the first report to give a comprehensive view of issues facing local communities across the entire county of Wiltshire.
“What are the ‘needs’ in Wiltshire? Are we funding the right projects in the right places and where should we be advising those who care to invest their support? These are some of the questions that lie behind this publication.
“The key findings show that Wiltshire is a great place to live if you can afford it.
• Wiltshire has one of the lowest crime rates in the country and a strong economy compared with other areas of the UK.
• There are two areas in the Wiltshire Local Authority that are in the 5% most deprived in the country, Trowbridge Adcroft and Salisbury Bemerton
• In some areas nearly half the children across Wiltshire and Swindon are living in poverty, and the health of children is a cause for concern.
• Pockets of serious deprivation exist within apparently wealthy communities, but are statistically invisible and therefore services and facilities are not provided for them.
• There are 7,800 voluntary groups across Wiltshire and Swindon. Their strength is their independence. Their weakness is fragmentation, each a specialist in their own area, competing for funding.
“We want to ensure this report’s findings influence the way we make a difference to people’s lives in Wiltshire. We will continue to support people to build strong and resilient communities – wherever they are in Wiltshire.
To view the ‘Wiltshire Uncovered’ report in full, go to their website www.wiltshirecf.org.uk
