The beautiful island of Wight is a popular destination with its sand beaches, chalk cliffs and landmarks like Carisbrooke Castle, but the reality for many residents living on the island year-round is quite different.

The JSNA Healthy Places data report from May 2024 states that the county has ‘high levels of deprivation’ with over half of the population on the island live in areas classified as being within the top three most deprived categories.

The report found that 12 areas in the Isle of Wight are in the top 20% of the most deprived in England with the most deprived areas of the island being in Cowes, Newport, Ryde and Ventnor.

Many homes in Bembridge which is located in the eastern part of the island sell for over £1 million while 1,475 Island residents rely on food pantries just to make ends meet.

The island has launched a poverty reduction strategy 2024-2029 which aims to reduce poverty, improve health and education, create job opportunities, and provide affordable housing for Island residents over the next five years.

Councillor Phil Jordan, council leader and chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board for the Isle of Wight told the Express: “Probably contrary to the common view of the Isle of Wight as a chocolate-box, thatched-roof island off the south coast of England—full of holidaymakers and tourists, which we do have—there have also been pockets of deprivation here for many years.

“The island itself isn’t one of deprivation, but it has areas that experience it, particularly in built-up places like Ryde, Newport, and East Cowes. At the same time, we have towns like Bembridge, Cowes, and Yarmouth that are clearly not areas of deprivation, so there is a mixture across the island.

“Employment has always been an issue and a contributing factor to deprivation. We are largely a tourist economy, with a mix of rural and urban environments. Jobs on the island are generally lower paid than on the mainland, and there are fewer opportunities in fields like IT or technical industries. However, there are many jobs in the care and hospitality sectors, but these are often lower paid and seasonal.

“We are working on some of the key factors behind deprivation. In the long term, that means improving education—where we currently don’t perform as well—focusing on regeneration, attracting businesses to the island, and addressing health and well-being, as we know poor health is closely linked to deprivation.

“Housing affordability is another challenge. Many island residents, particularly young people and families, struggle to get on the housing ladder. While this is a national issue, it is particularly difficult here.

“Part of our wider strategy—though separate from the deprivation plan—is to build more affordable homes, either through partnerships or directly. Our goal is to offer housing at 60 to 70% of market value, rather than the government-defined affordability level of 80%.”

The poverty reduction strategy is a community-driven plan created with contributions from health, employment, education, public health, and NHS stakeholders, aiming to address the key issues.

The councillor said that the plan has been created, adopted, and approved through the health and well-being board, cabinet, and full council and is a living document that will evolve over time, and they are actively working to deliver its aspirations and support those affected by deprivation.

The average salary in Isle of Wight in 2024 was £34.7k whereas the UK average salary was £45.8k.

According to the Isle of Wight Council, a third of households with children are on universal credit and there was a 33% increase in the use of foodbanks between 2022 and 2023.

In a YouTube video posted by PoliticsJOE, one resident said there are no jobs at the moment, while another stated that in the towns and outer areas of the island, there is a lot of poverty.

One resident told the journalist that while people think the island is wealthy, many are struggling with the cost of living crisis.