Cumberland Equality Objective: Evidence Base - Ethnic origin

Results of 2021 Census

Overall, the ethnic minority population has seen an increase of 44.8% between 2011 and 2021, with further increases annually. This is reflected in the number of first languages spoken by pupils in schools which stands at over 70. While the overall percentage of people from an ethnic minority heritage remains low, the rate of increase is greater than the national average and is related to several factors.

EU migration between 2005 and 2016, with increasing numbers of White Other households with settled status post-Brexit.

Cumbria’s decision in 2016 to participate in UNCHR Refugee Programmes for the first time since the Kossovo War in 1999, which has supported families, particularly from the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) to settle (NB. Since the 2021 Census new programmes have opened up for Afghanistan and Ukraine, substantially increasing the diversity of people being supported).

Parts of the area being selected by the Home Office for its Asylum dispersal scheme (with notable increases from the MENA region and further into Sub-Saharan Africa).

Utilisation of the post-Brexit visa arrangements to recruit skilled workers from specific sectors such as Health and Social Care from across the Globe, which includes an increasing number of people who have No Recourse to Public Funds. 

Long-term pattern of second to fourth generation migrants settling in more rural areas (which creates a gradual increase particularly in people who identify from South Asian and African-Caribbean heritages).

Statistically, the Census has identified:

• Of Cumbria’s 499,800 residents, 94.9% identified as White British compared the national average of 74.4%
• 5.1% of Cumbrian residents identified as belonging to an ethnic minority group (including White minorities), this is an increase from 3.6% in 2011.
• nationally, Allerdale and Copeland had the 1st and 2nd largest proportions of residents who identified their ethnic group as ‘White British’ and the 1st and 2nd smallest proportions of residents who identified their ethnic group as an ethnic minority group (including White minorities).
• overall Cumbrian residents who identified as ‘White British’ decreased by -1.6% (compared to a national decrease of -1.7%), while residents who identified as belonging to the other ethnic group categories (including White minorities) increased proportionally (+44.8% compared to a national increase of +39.3%)

There has been an increase in the number of people who do not speak English as their first language and some changes in the main types of language people speak since 2011. According to the Census, the top 10 languages (excluding Ukrainian – see note above) are:

• Polish:  2927
• Romanian:  1558
• Hungarian:  484
• Spanish:  409
• Arabic: 363
• Portuguese: 308
• Chinese:  285
• Turkish: 277
• Filipino: 267
• Bulgarian: 250

For Cumberland purposes, the majority of Filipino and Bulgarian speakers were in the Westmorland and Furness Areas.

Ethnic groups and nationalities
White: Polish	3,137	0.6
White: European Mixed	2,103	0.4
White: Irish	1,669	0.3
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: White and Asian (unspecified)	1,488	0.3
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Indian or British Indian	1,194	0.2
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Chinese	1,128	0.2
White: Romanian	1,077	0.2
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: White and Black Caribbean	796	0.2
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Filipino	668	0.1
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: White and Black African	590	0.1
White: Other White, White unspecified	543	0.1
Other ethnic group: Arab	461	0.1
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Bangladeshi, British Bangladeshi	446	0.1
White: North American	391	0.1
White: Hungarian	387	0.1
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Pakistani or British Pakistani	357	0.1
White: Other Eastern European	347	0.1
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller	346	0.1
Black, Black British, Black Welsh of African background: African unspecified	340	0.1
Black, Black British, Black Welsh of African background: Nigerian	323	0.1
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Thai	307	0.1

School Census January 2023

The School Census is taken three times annually in January, May and October and provides the best proxy data on ethnicity, languages spoken and nationality between censuses.

Key points from the Census show:

• ethnic diversity has increased since 2001 across all districts in the Cumberland and the Westmorland and Furness area
• nearly 70 different languages are being recorded as spoken in schools across both authorities

There are pockets of diversity in which the proportion of people from an ethnic minority background is equal to or higher than the UK national average:

• Urban centres, especially central Carlisle
• Lake District National Park

Ethnicity profile of schools in the Cumberland

The table gives details on the ethnicity profile of schools in the Cumberland areas.

Local authority	Cumberland
Total % of children from an ethnic minority group	7.4%
District with highest ethnic minority school figures	Carlisle 11.5%
Schools with the highest % of ethnic minority pupils	Carlisle primary 63.3%
Number of schools with more than 10% pupils from ethnic minority groups	34 schools (21 in Carlisle)

Main ethnic minority groups (January 2023)

The table gives a breakdown of the main ethnic minority groups (January 2023).

Ethnic group	Cumberland
White British (including White English)	35,975
White Other (excluding Gypsy Roma and Travellers)	987
Mixed heritage	697
Asian heritage	343
Black heritage	234
Chinese	68
Gypsy Roma and Travellers	75

Top ten languages for Cumberland

The table below gives details on the top ten languages for Cumberland, based on children identified as English as an additional language.

Local authority	Cumberland
Total languages	67 languages
Total average EAL	4.2% pupils EAL
District with highest EAL	7.1% pupils Carlisle
Rank 1	Polish 413 pupils
Rank 2	Ukrainian 84 pupils
Rank 3	Malayalam 81 pupils
Rank 4	Romanian 80 pupils
Rank 5	Arabic 54 pupils
Rank 6	Turkish 49 pupils
Rank 7	Portuguese 39 pupils
Rank 8	Lithuanian 35 pupils
Rank 9	Bulgarian 31 pupils
Rank 10	Chinese 29 pupils

 At the time there was only one Ukrainian speaker in Cumbria. 

The Government Race Disparities Unit

The Government Equalities Office’s Race Disparities Unit produces an ethnicity facts and figures service which collates data on outcomes by ethnic group across government departments and other public data collection bodies.

Search the ethnicity fact and figures service (GOV.UK)

The analysis below sets out disparities of potential relevance to Cumberland.

Ethnicity and socio-economic status

Percentage of people in low-income households: All ethnic minority groups had a higher percentage than White British people (for White Other the figure was the same before housing costs, but much higher after housing costs). NB. This is an average masking some ethnic minority groups whose average earnings are higher than White British people.

Persistent low income: Overall 9% of all households (regardless of ethnicity) had persistent low income with all ethnic minority groups except Mixed more likely to be in a persistent low income household than White British Households.

Percentage in bottom 2 income quintiles: All ethnic minority groups (including White Other) were more likely than White British people to be in the bottom 2 income quintiles, except Indian, which was the same as White British. 

Health disparities

Physical activity: 61.4% of people aged 16 and over in England were physically active; people from a mixed ethnic background were most likely to be physically active out of all ethnic groups (68.0%), followed by people from the white ‘other’ ethnic group (65.0%);  the percentages were lower for Asian, black, ‘other’ and Chinese ethnic groups than the national average, ranging from 50.4% to 57.8%.

Overweight adults (2017 to 2018): 62.8% of adults (people aged 18 and over) in England were overweight or obese; 67.5% of Black adults were overweight or obese – the highest percentage out of all ethnic groups; White British adults were more likely than average to be overweight or obese (63.7%)

Overweight children (2017 to 2018): 34% of children aged 10-11 were overweight; 32% for White British, and over 32% for all ethnic minority groups except Chinese and Mixed White/Asian.

Wellbeing/Life Satisfaction (2018): Overall White respondents were more satisfied with life than non-White respondents except for Indian and Asian Other respondents. 

Housing disparities

Home ownership and private renting: In every, socio-economic group and age group, White British households were more likely to own their own homes and less likely to privately rent than all ethnic minority households combined

Overcrowded housing: White British households were less likely to be overcrowded than households from all other ethnic groups combined – this was across all socio-economic groups and age groups, most regions and income band.

Fuel Poverty: White households were less likely to be in fuel poverty than households from all other ethnic groups combined

Educational disparities

Early Years: 71% of children meet the expected standard of development. 73% for White British children, lower than 71% for all Ethnic Minority Groups except Indian, Chinese, Mixed and Mixed White Other. The lowest are Gypsy Roma Traveller Children 34% and Irish Traveller Children 39%.

7-11 Year Olds: Most ethnic minority groups out-perform White British children. The lowest pass rates are Irish Traveller and Gypsy Roma Traveller children.

GCSE English and Maths: 51.9% of all children achieved Grade 5 or above. Most ethnic minority groups outperformed White British Groups (50.9%) – key disparities: Black Caribbean 35%; Black Other 45%, Irish Travellers 21% and Gypsy Roma and Travellers 9.1%.

Destinations and earnings after study

White people were the most likely out of all ethnic groups to be in sustained employment, study or both (at 78%); those most likely to have a destination that was not sustained were from the Black Caribbean (28%), Pakistani (26%) and Other Black (24%) ethnic groups.

Implications for Public Services

Public services will need to adapt to meet the needs from people from around the world speaking around 70 languages with different needs. This will have implications for customer contact services and all front-line services.

To prevent discrimination public services will need to have better local research on disparities and work with local ethnic minority communities to develop a shared understanding of the key race equality priorities in services

With around 400 race hate crimes per year, tackling racism at a structural and policy level, as well as on the ground will remain a key test for building trust and confidence among ethnic minority groups in public authorities.

Forced migration could lead to greater pressures on housing due to: 

• risk of homelessness among some groups due to the nature of the programmes supporting them (Ukrainians, asylum seekers)
• increase in houses of multiple occupancy due to lack of appropriate housing stock
• community cohesion pressures if existing housing pressures are perceived to be exacerbated by supporting migration programmes

Early Years, Schools and post-16 education settings accommodating people who come from diverse cultures, addressing educational attainment will require dedicated support and provision.

Persistent inequalities for Gypsy Roma Travellers in relation to accommodation, health and education remains a long-term structural challenge that requires a bespoke approach.

Opportunity to address workforce challenges through global recruitment, but requires strong workforce and organisational cultures that support diversity.