1.1 The name Hollington derives from the meaning the “town in the hollow”. It is mentioned as a distinct settlement in the ancient Domesday Book. The Greater Hollington Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder encompasses the Hollington and Wishing Tree wards. Hastings and St Leonards is the twenty-seventh most deprived area nationally (Rank of Ward Ranks, Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000) and the most deprived local authority area in the South East. Hollington ward falls within the most deprived 10% of all communities in England and Wishing Tree ward is in the 20% most deprived.

1.2 Key Issues within Hollington Ward

• With 1,600 children aged under 16, it has the highest number of children in Hastings (Oxford University 1998).
• It is within the worst 10% of wards nationally for overall deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000). Specifically it is within the worst 10% for income, child poverty, education and housing.
• Unemployment is high especially amongst women, many of whom have been unemployed for over a year. Male unemployment levels for the under 20s is also a concern.
• There are health related issues in respect of life expectancy, which is the 4th lowest in Hastings. The older population figures (aged 65+) indicated a high percentage of those with limiting long term illness in the 2001 Census.
• There are a large number of lone parent households where the head of the household is not in work.
• It has an increasing incidence of anti-social behaviour, car crime, criminal damage and burglary from non-dwellings (Senlac Police Division 2002).
• Between 1998 and 2000, 70% of all new Hastings jobs were created in the area, and jobseeker claimants reduced by 31% throughout the town but only by 15% in Greater Hollington. The area’s skills base is low; adult reading, writing and maths need improving.

1.3 Key Issues within Wishing Tree Ward

• In terms of the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000, it falls within the worst 20% of wards nationally for overall deprivation. Specifically it figures within the worst 20% for income, health, child poverty, employment and education.
• The number of unemployed is lower than the Hastings average, but many have been out of work for over a year. The number of unemployed men aged 35 – 44 and women aged over 55 is above average.
• 13% of the ward population aged over 16 claim Income Support. Over 275 people in the ward claim either Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disability Allowance; this indicates potential illness and disability issues (Department of Work & Pensions 1998).
• In respect of crime 2001-2002 saw a marked increase in burglary from non-dwellings (Senlac Police Division 2002).

1.4 For further detailed figures for Greater Hollington population, housing, jobs, income, enterprise, education, health and crime see Appendix H.