Needs Analysis 2022 FLIP - Manual / Resource - Page 22
20
Medway
Dartford
Gravesham
Thanet
Swale
Sevenoaks
Tonbridge
& Malling
Canterbury
Maidstone
MAIDSTONE
The Borough of Maidstone covers the central part of
the county lying between the North Downs and the
Weald. The county town of Maidstone, the largest
urban town in Kent, is at its administrative centre.
Until 1998, the Sharps toffee factory was based
in Maidstone and provided a significant source of
employment. Nowadays the leisure industry is a
key contributor to the Borough with the night-time
economy worth £75m per annum.
Maidstone is also home to the UK’s largest regional
Independent TV broadcast facility, Maidstone Studios.
Tunbridge
Wells
Dover
Ashford
Folkestone
& Hythe
Maidstone has two LSOAS within the top 10%
most deprived in UK. These include Parkway and
Shepway South (IMD, 2019).
Maidstone is the largest urban town in Kent
DEMOGRAPHICS
PRIORITY AREAS OF NEED
Resident population of 173,100
1. Inclusion and safeguarding support for children
and young people
Maidstone has very high numbers of children with special
educational needs and disabilities (SEND) including
moderate learning difficulties, physical disability, severe
learning difficulties and social and emotional health
difficulties (in total over 1,000 children in Maidstone) and
is within the top three ranking in Kent, per need.102
270,000
260,000
278,556
280,000
250,000
240,000
230,000
The Borough has very high numbers of children
meeting the threshold of Troubled Families support for
education103 and additional help (also within the top 3
ranking within Kent) and a high number of first-time
entrants into the Youth Justice system.104
220,000
210,000
200,000
190,000
NEEDS ANALYSIS
106,900
113,300
114,100
118,500
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ale
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ter
Can
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n
Ma
id
Me
dw
ay
100,000
e
110,000
118,900
120,000
121,400
130,000
131,000
140,000
132,600
150,000
141,500
160,000
166,800
173,100
170,000
0
151,000
180,000
2. Community safety
Maidstone has a vibrant night-time economy which
brings with it more street crime and other consequences
which impact local services. Hospital admissions for
assault105 and violence106 are the highest in the county
which may also be associated with alcohol consumption
whilst crimes for possession of a weapon107 and drugs108
are ranked in the top three of districts in Kent.
Maidstone ranked 3rd in the coun
and mental health difficulties
