Kirklees is set in the heart of West Yorkshire. It includes the two major centres of Huddersfield and Dewsbury along with the smaller towns of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite.
Around 440,000 people live in Kirklees. Kirklees has a varied population – many ethnicities are represented, speaking a range of languages and bringing a cultural diversity to the region. A thriving student community based around the University of Huddersfield attracts students from around the world. Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (the number of years lived in good health) are increasing across Kirklees.
Kirklees contains areas of high and low deprivation, with regions of highest deprivation found in some of the more densely populated urban areas to the north and east – including parts of Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Batley, and lower levels of deprivation found in the more sparsely populated rural areas to the south and west – including the Colne and Holme Valleys, Denby Dale and Kirkburton.
Population projections to 2030 from the Office for National Statistics predict greater increases in the numbers of very young children and older adults, particularly those aged over 64, leading to a relatively smaller working age population supporting a larger dependent population. As the number of people with multiple long-term health conditions increases with age, a projected ageing population is likely to lead to a greater demand on resources.
The Kirklees Joint Strategic Assessment (KJSA) provides a picture of the health and wellbeing of Kirklees people. It is used to inform the commissioning strategies and plans of the local authority, the Kirklees Health and Care Partnership, and the local voluntary and community sector.
