With a population of around 128,000, Amber Valley has the highest number of households for all Derbyshire Districts that comprise of lone pensioners, at 14% of households. 5% of the total population identify as Black or Minority Ethnic, which is lower than the Derbyshire and England average. Although Amber Valley has a lower than England average deprivation score, there are pockets of deprivation that exist within some of the smaller geographies of the district. In addition to this, Amber Valley has an ageing population. By 2035 it is predicted that over a third of residents will be aged over 65. These forecasts also show a marked deficit in residents turning 18, which is a distinct imbalance that is likely to affect the local economy.
The Amber Valley Neighbourhood Alliance is made up of local partners and stakeholders who collaborate to develop local priorities and plans based on population health, and care and well-being needs.
The ageing population is an area of significant focus with a joined-up approach to ageing well in Amber Valley. Our Ageing Well programme includes the development of integrated health and care teams to support those with the most complex needs, falls recovery and prevention, building dementia friendly communities and addressing social isolation.
Amber Valley’s other priorities include promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing ill health and supporting people to stay well. Our core workstream related to this is via our Move More Amber Valley programme which aims to help everyone in Amber Valley be more active in their everyday lives, whether this involves joining a gym or just getting in a few extra steps every day. This links with our other offers regarding healthy lifestyle work including blood pressure checks, stop smoking and weight management services and promoting healthy workplaces.
We also have local priorities around improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of our children and young people, strengthening community resilience including support with food poverty and the cost of living. We are also working across our neighbourhood to develop our approach regarding support for those with mental health needs in our community by ensuring that care is personalised to individual needs and includes support from community assets and initiatives.