Poverty and isolation on the rise

Leicestershire has a large number of young people

Leicestershire is facing growing voter apathy, social isolation and poverty, new figures have shown.

A BBC survey of social trends in Britain, broken down to reflect the 45 local radio areas, indicates greater division along lines of age and wealth.

The proportion of people not voting doubled from 16.6% just after World War II to 33.7% in recent years.

Similarly, those described as "breadline poor" rose from a 1980 low of 15.1% to 23.4% in 2000.

The Changing UK survey used information from the Census and other data to give a picture of how neighbourhoods have changed over the past 40 years.

The national picture is one of increasing separation of communities along lines of income and age, with the changes accelerating in the latest years.

LEICESTERSHIRE IN NUMBERS Population (2006) - 964,000 Average age (2006) - 38.6 Population over pensionable age (2006) - 17.9% Average house price (2006) - £176,000 Breadline poor (1980)- 15.1% Breadline poor (2000)- 23.4% Population not voting (1945-51) - 16.6% Population not voting (1997-2005) - 33.7%

The number of people in Leicestershire classified as "breadline poor" stood at 20.5% in 1970 before hitting a low in 1980, but has steady increased since.

Leicestershire also has a large proportion of young people compared to the national average and has the highest proportion of 18 and 19-year-olds in the UK.

Bill Edwards, from Leicester Connexions, which provides advice and information for teenagers, said it was important these people were given support.

"The last thing anyone wants is for them to be doing nothing, it would be such a waste.

"We try to have them either in employment or education, so they are moving forward.

"There is no longer such a thing as a career for life, the choices for people this age are more complex than ever before and need that support."

The figures also showed a 12.1% growth in population between 1981 and 2006.