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South Whitehaven Forum Area

Forum Area MapForum Area Map Back to Area MapCopeland District Map Community Unit detailsCopeland Community Unit

Community Activity

The South Whitehaven Partnership based at the Valley Community Development Centre, Mirehouse. The project started in 2000 and is due to end March 2007. The main aim is to raise the profile of the area, meet the needs of the people, not to work in isolation and to build confidence in the area.
Funding: Single Regeneration Budget £2.8m. Private Sector £2.9m. Public Sector £5.6m. 
Five Focus Groups:

  • Healthy Community Group
  • Leaning Communities
  • Prosperous Communities
  • Safe Communities
  • Young People

Recent schemes include `Dig It & Win It' a gardening competition open to everyone in the South Whitehaven area. Sponsored Music Course, for any interested young musicians especially young men. Anti-social behaviour, Childcare problems and facilities, sponsored walks and other healthy activities.
For more information contact: Denise Raper on 01946 852944.

Forum Meetings

The joint forums meet a minimum of four times per year with the meeting rotating between, Kells, Mirehouse, Woodhouse and Greenbank.

Forum Area

The South Whitehaven Joint Forum area covers a large area of what was originally council owned estates. Some were built pre-war to accommodate the large number of miners that were employed in the area.

There are very few employment opportunities within the forum area. In fact in the Sandwith ward there is 13.3% unemployment, the highest in Cumbria by a considerable margin. There are also two wards that come in the top 2% of Socially Deprived areas in the Country.

The population of the forum area is 9,800, the majority being families with young children. The more affluent tend to buy their council homes or move to the newer estates being built around the town and the older age group move into purpose built flats in the area or in Whitehaven.

Crime is a major issue in the area. Vandalism the most major problem followed by assaults, theft and house burglary. The crime rate for the area has actually reduced in the past four years due to community policing and community involvement in targeting troublemakers.
Traffic calming is also another major issue. A special meeting was recently held to gather people's opinions on the County Councils proposed traffic calming for the Mirehouse estate.