Population & Deprivation: Ageing population; low deprivation overall but rural isolation risks.
Health Outcomes: Life expectancy above England average; moderate inequalities between MSOAs.
Behavioural Risks: Lower smoking & drinking but slightly higher obesity rates; average child health indicators.
Disease Burden: High LTC prevalence due to age profile; ageing trend will further increase demand.
Wider Determinants: Very low economic activity; housing stability; average benefit dependency.
There is no single definition of a neighbourhood in the NHS and local authority planning context.
Neighbourhoods can be understood in several ways: Administrative or statistical boundaries such as wards, parishes, or Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs), which provide stable geographies for data analysis.
Economic centres like market towns or main urban areas, reflecting where people live, work, and access services.
Functional service areas, for example, GP practice or NHS trust catchments, which align with how health and care services are delivered.
Collaborative structures such as Primary Care Networks (PCNs) or integrated care partnerships, which represent groups of organisations working together to serve a defined population.
These neighbourhood profiles draw on recorded data for these areas - whether by GP practice population, PCN, or statistical geography - to provide a shared evidence base for planning, resource allocation, and addressing health inequalities.
Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham has a predominantly rural population with small market towns and villages.
The population’s age distribution is much older than the Norfolk & Waveney average, with fewer adults younger than 50 and more adults aged 60+. Socioeconomic deprivation is relatively low overall.
None of the population of Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham live in small areas that are among the 20% most deprived areas in England (Core20 areas). Across Norfolk and Waveney, 14.4% live in Core20 areas.
Small areas (MSOAs) with the highest proportions of non-White residents in Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham include Fakenham (2.1%) and Wells & Blakeney (2.0%).
In Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham, 23.8% of children aged 0-19 live in low-income families, compared to 22.8% across Norfolk and Waveney and 22.2% across England. 33.9% of children aged 0 to 15 in Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham are estimated to live in poverty according to the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). In England overall, this is 36.25%. In Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham, 23.5% of pupils from Reception to Year 13 are eligible for free school meals. This is similar to across all schools in Norfolk, where 23.8% of pupils are eligible.
Economically Active Definition: Aged between 16-64 and either in employment, unemployed but looking for work and could start within two weeks of an offer, or unemployed but waiting to start a job that has been offered and accepted.
During the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents (aged 16-64) who were economically active within the Norfolk and Waveney neighbourhoods was generally lower than both the East of England (61.8% economically active) and England average (60.9% economically active).Within the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood 50.7% of working-age residents were classified as economically active, while 49.3% were economically inactive. This places the area among the least economically active neighbourhoods and below both the regional and national averages..
Levels of economic activity reported across MSOAs within the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood in the 2021 Census were consistently below the East of England (61.8% active) and the national average for England (60.9% active).
Within the neighbourhood, Holt and Weybourne recorded the lowest proportion of economically active residents aged 16-64 at 39.5%, indicating very high levels of economic inactivity among the working-age population.
In contrast, Walsingham and Raynham recorded the highest proportion of economically active residents (57.6%) among MSOAs within the neighbourhood, though remained below national and regional benchmarks.
Occupation, as recorded in the 2021 Census, is derived from an individual’s main job title and the activities associated with that role. Values are based on the proportion of usual residents aged 16 and over in employment. In the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood, the highest employment levels were in Skilled Trades (17.0%) and Managers, Directors & Senior Officials (14.5%), both above the Norfolk and England averages, indicating a strong presence of vocational and leadership roles in the local workforce.
The lowest levels of employment were in Process, Plant & Machine Operatives (6.6%) and Administrative & Secretarial roles (7.8%), both below county and national averages, suggesting comparatively fewer residents working in operational and office-based roles.
Universal Credit is a monthly payment from the government to help with living costs for individuals on a low income or out of work. Eligible individuals must be between 18 and 66 years of age and have less than £16,000 in money, saving and investments.
The Graph shows the proportion of the population (aged 18-66) claiming Universal Credit across different neighbourhoods in Norfolk during August 2025. The proportion of residents claiming Universal Credit varies across neighbourhoods. In August 2025, the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood recorded a claimant rate of 17.2%, which was significantly lower than seven of the 19 other neighbourhoods. However, this rate remained above the East of England average (16.3%) and was broadly similar to the England average (18%). This suggests that levels of Universal Credit entitlement in this neighbourhood are similar to national patterns.
In August 2025, the proportion of residents (aged 18 to 66) claiming Universal Credit varied significantly across MSOAs within the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood (ranging from 13.1%-20.3%).
Fakenham recorded the highest proportion of claimants at 20.3%, significantly more claimants than four of the other six MSOAs within the neighbourhood. This figure was also significantly higher than the East of England (16.3%) average and the England average (18%).Beeston Regis, Saxthorpe and Aldbourough reported the lowest proportion of claimants at 13.1%, significantly fewer claimants compared to five of the other six MSOAs within the area and both the East of England and England average.
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) entitlement statistics covers individuals currently receiving PIP and those whose payments are temporarily suspended (e.g., during a hospital stay).To be eligible for PIP an individual needs to be between 16-66 and have a long-term condition which makes everyday tasks or mobility difficult. PIP provides support through two components: daily living (help with everyday activities) and mobility (help with getting around).
In June 2025, the proportion of residents entitled to PIP in the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood was 9.7%, which was broadly consistent with the average across neighbourhoods. However, entitlement in this area was higher than both the East of England average (8%) and the England average (8.7%), indicating comparatively elevated levels of PIP entitlement locally when compared with regional and national figures.
In June 2025, the proportion of residents aged 16 to 66 entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) across MSOAs within the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood differed significantly.
Fakenham recorded the highest entitlement rate at 11.2%, significantly higher than two of the remaining six MSOAs within the neighbourhood. Entitlement was also significantly higher than both the East of England average (8.0%) and the England average (8.7%), indicating above-average levels of PIP entitlement. Walsingham and Raynham recorded the lowest PIP entitlement rate at 8%, which was significantly below three of the remaining six MSOAs within the neighbourhood. However, entitlement in this MSOA was broadly similar to both the East of England and England averages. This suggests that, while the area has comparatively lower entitlement levels locally, it aligns with wider regional and national patterns.
Compared to England, the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood has a higher proportion of homes owned outright (48.6% vs 32.5%) and a lower proportion with a mortgage (18.9% vs 28.8%). Its combined social renting rate (council and housing association) is 13.8%, which is lower than the national average of 17.1%. The private renting rate (Landlord/rent free/other) at 17.9% is also slightly lower than the England average (20.6%).
Compared to the average across neighbourhoods , the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood has more homes owned outright and a lower proportion of homes mortgaged or rented (privately or from social housing).
Life expectancy is generally above Norfolk and England averages, with moderate variation between MSOAs for healthy life expectancy. Premature mortality is 24% lower than England, and preventable mortality is 32% lower, reflecting relatively good health outcomes compared to national benchmarks. Life expectancy in the neighbourhood area is generally higher than the England average and a little higher than Norfolk overall, reflecting average deprivation and healthier behaviours.
Only a small proportion of the population of North Norfolk live in Core20 areas. Nevertheless, there is moderate variation in relative deprivation. In North Norfolk, the life expectancy gap between more and less deprived deciles of North Norfolk is the same for males than females in the latest time period. Looking at the relatively most and least quintiles shows that cancer and respiratory diseases cause the largest proportion of existing gaps.
Within the neighbourhood area, healthy life expectancy was generally a little higher than the Norfolk and Waveney average in 2021. There was moderate variation between small areas (MSOAs), with the lowest healthy life expectancies in Fakenham. Within the Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham neighbourhood area, female healthy life expectancy was lowest in Fakenham and highest in Wells & Blakeney in 2021. Male healthy life expectancy was lowest in Fakenham and Melton Constable, Briston & Little Snoring and highest in Wells & Blakeney in 2021.
There were 745 deaths of people under the age of 75 in Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham in 2019 - 23. Overall, the rate of premature mortality was 24% lower than the England average.
Locally, the highest rate of premature mortality was in Fakenham (Standardised Mortality Ratio = 100.2). The lowest rate was in Wells & Blakeney. Six small areas (MSOAs) had a significantly better premature mortality rate than the England average .
In 2019 - 23, 305 deaths of people under the age of 75 in Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham were from causes considered preventable. Overall, there was a 32% lower rate of preventable mortality compared to the national average.
Locally, the highest rate of preventable mortality was in Fakenham (Standardised Mortality Ratio = 95.4). The lowest rate was in Wells & Blakeney. All small areas apart from Fakenham had a significantly better preventable mortality rate than the England average.
Preventable behavioural risk factors have an important impact on ill health and constitute a major challenge for health and social care. Of concern are our rates of smoking, poor diet and exercise, and alcohol consumption.
Smoking and alcohol-related risks are generally lower for North Norfolk than the Norfolk and England averages. Obesity prevalence is higher than average, which may be partly explained by the older population.
Childhood overweight prevalence in the local areas is average or lower than average.
The burden of long-term conditions is higher than average and will rise with ageing demographics. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenrative conditions remain priorities for prevention and management. Rates of unplanned hospital admissions are generally lower than in deprived areas, but Fakenham has high rates for some indicators.
This chart shows the estimated number of patients with major long-term conditions within the North Norfolk 1 PCN. Diabetes affects around 3,400 adults, and chronic kidney disease affects 2,600 people.
Stroke and transient ischaemic attack affect approximately 1,400 people. These figures highlight a significant burden of metabolic and cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the need for integrated prevention and management strategies.
Unplanned hospital admission rates in Fakenham, The Raynhams, Holt and Sheringham are generally in line with the Norfolk and Waveney average.