RESIDENT'S KEY VIEWS. The area has good access to facilities and opportunities in the town centre. In addition local shopping facilities are on hand in Raby Road, Duke Street and Mulgrave Road. Other local assets include the City Learning Centre at Dyke House School, Brougham Enterprize Centre and Dyke House Annexe. These facilities provide opportunities for local people, particularly relating to increasing community capacity to improve skills and access to employment, and activities at, and use of these facilities should be promoted. The growing local service sector, modern apprenticeships and self-employment opportunities were also seen as possible areas for local development work.
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The benefits trap, low skills and aspirations, mobility and disability issues, and discrimination have all been raised by residents as real and/or perceived barriers to gaining meaningful employment. Publicising the availablility of advice and support sessions in local venues and continuing to develop community based opportunities are seen as priorities. Support for existing local jobs and businesses, joining up service delivery between employers and support services, and existing opportunities to provide more fexible employment opportunities were also seen as being important locally.

KEY BASELINE/SURVEY DATA. Dyke House area has a very low employment rate with only 61% of working aged persons in employment and 13% of the working age population not working through disability. This is compared to the Hartlepool rate of 69% and 10% respectively. There is a high porportion of households on low income and 50% of households on benefits (Hartlepool 37%) and 71% of children in Dyke House/Jackson live in low income households (Hartlepool 50%)

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