Norwich

Introduction

Norwich is located in the East of England on the river Wensum. Its economy developed in the eighties and nineties from being mainly industrial, with shoemaking the largest sector, to a service-based economy. Norwich Union, and Aviva still dominate, but they have now been joined by other insurance and financial services companies.

New developments on the former Boulton and Paul site include the Riverside entertainment complex with nightclubs and other venues featuring the usual national leisure brands. Nearby, the football stadium is being upgraded with more residential property development alongside the river Wensum.

Recent Visits

2nd May 2008- Lord McKenzie (DWP): Visit to Meridian (Norwich) which provide opportunities for people to get the skills needed to get back into work

Demographics for Norwich

Mid-2006 Population Estimates

Children and Learners

• Over the next 3 years (2005/06 to 2007/08) £34.5m has been allocated to school building projects in the Central Area, which covers Norwich and the suburbs. Projects include, £5m for a new 315 place primary school in Dussindale, Thorpe St Andrew, £7.5m to bring a current split site high school onto one site at Blyth Jex High School, and £20m for reorganisation of schools in the Central Area.

Health and Well Being

• The £229m Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) opened in late 2001, it has 987-beds, and has some of the most up-to-date cancer diagnosis and treatment technology in Europe.
• NNUH is also home to the Norwich Radiology Academy which opened in February 2006, one of only three radiology training academies in the country.
• The new network pathology laboratories opened in July 2005.

Crime

• Norwich has been named as one of 40 priority Respect Action Areas in England, for being a Council who has a strong record in tackling anti-social behaviour. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is also backing the scheme with £6m of funding in 2007/08 for parenting classes in the 40 areas.
• The 2006/07 Norfolk Local Area Agreement includes a range of outcomes to create a safer and stronger community. Over £1m from the Building Safer Communities, Anti Social Behaviour Coordinator Grant and the Drug Partnership Support Grant have been pooled to support the outcomes.
• The Central Area Basic Command Unit (BCU) in Norfolk, which covers Norwich, received a Basic Command Unit Fund allocation of £207,000 in 2006/07. The allocation will include funding for Police Community Support Officers and a project for tackling alcohol related disorder which will contribute towards making a long term impact on violent crime and Anti Social Behaviour.
• The Norwich Community Safety Partnership is working together to implement the 2005/08 Norwich Community Safety Strategy. The Partnership includes Norwich City Council, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Police, Primary Care Trust, Probation Service and the Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Action Team.

Transport

• £11m of Local Transport Plan Funding was allocated to Norfolk for 2006/07 for integrated transport, and £19.4m for maintenance
• The new £9.6m Norwich Town Centre Bus Station opened in August 2005 to help improve bus services in the centre of Norwich with new bus priority lanes between the bus and the rail stations. 
• £5.4m of government funding was allocated for work on the de-trunked sections of the A10, A134 and A140 in 2006/07. This is in addition to the basic allocation for maintenance.

Social Inclusion and Regeneration
 
• Funding of over £35m for 2000-2010 was awarded under the New Deal for Communities programme to regenerate the North Earlham, Larkman and Marlpit estates. The 60 projects include the Bowthorpe School site project, to redevelop a semi-derelict site for new housing and enterprise starter units, and £2.5m used by The Garage to provide scholarship places on creative arts courses
• The Time Limited Development Fund is providing £124,000 to the INSPIRE Hands on Discovery Centre to set up 2 study support schemes in disadvantaged communities and to recruit volunteers to help run them, and almost £158,000 between 2002/03 and 2004/05 to the Jubilee Community Association to develop a local volunteer bank.
• There are three Sure Start programmes operating in Norwich. A programme in Thorpe Hamlet, A scheme covering Catton Grove, Fiddlewood and Mile and a programme operating at Bowthorpe and West Earlham.
• Over £2m was allocated to Norfolk Children’s Fund for the period 2005/06 to identify children aged 5-13 years at risk of social exclusion and develop preventive services to support them. A further £3.3m has been allocated for the period 2006/08.

European Funding

• Over £860,000 has been allocated to extend the New Deal project in the city to help the long-term unemployed
• More than £360,000 has been awarded to help Norfolk County Council increase training for childcare employees
• Over £332,000 has been allocated towards providing an advice and learning service for adults with multiple deprivation within the Thorpe Hamlet area, building on the nationally funded Sure Start programme.
• Over £192,000 was awarded to Norwich & Norfolk Voluntary Services providing learning opportunities and training on e-government, advice and support on quality systems for voluntary sector organisations.
• £18m was allocated to the Learning and Skills Council Norfolk, the main Co-financing Organisation within Norfolk and Norwich.