Clerkenwell, the historic London neighbourhood that has in recent years become synonymous with creative agencies, boutique restaurants and some of the capital’s most sought-after property, is concealing a very different reality for many of its residents.
Clerkenwell, the historic London neighbourhood that has in recent years become synonymous with creative agencies, boutique restaurants and some of the capital’s most sought-after property, is concealing a very different reality for many of its residents.
New data reveals that more than half (56%) of all children aged 0-15 living in Clerkenwell are growing up in income-deprived families, a figure that outstrips both the London average and the wider borough of Islington.
According to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2025, 81% of Clerkenwell residents live in neighbourhoods that rank within the most deprived 40% in England. The equivalent figure for London as a whole is just one in two (51%).
The data paints a picture of a community under pressure from every angle. More than one in four Clerkenwell residents (28%), including nearly half of all people aged 60 and over (44%), experience income deprivation. And 15% of working-age residents are involuntarily shut out of the labour market, whether through unemployment, ill health, disability or caring responsibilities.
Founded in 1898, The Peel has spent 128 years supporting and connecting all those living and working in Clerkenwell and surrounding areas, trying to maximise well-being and life experience. They’ve done so through activities for older residents, children and families, and delivering programmes addressing mental health and cost-of-living challenges, helping to build a cohesive and vibrant community for everyone.
To help address these long-term and ongoing challenges, The Peel is working harder than ever, continuing to deliver a high-quality, impactful core offer, whilst developing pilot projects and exploring new ways to meet community needs. With an ambitious funding target of £250k for the year, The Peel is aiming to increase its visibility and levels of awareness and support, as well as formalising its approach to impact measurement and reporting.
Paddy Radcliffe, CEO at The Peel, said: “Clerkenwell is one of London’s most talked-about neighbourhoods. The local pubs and restaurants are thriving and it is internationally recognised as a centre of design, so, from the outside, it can look like one of the most privileged postcodes in the country. But behind the scenes, we are working with and supporting families and local residents who are struggling to make ends meet and to hold things together, facing challenges that are largely invisible to the local business community who share the same streets every day.
“These statistics will be a surprise to many. But it’s the reality. And it is why we are still here, after 128 years, working with and supporting our community.
As official charity partner of Clerkenwell Design Week, the annual festival that draws tens of thousands of visitors to the streets where The Peel operates, the charity sees a powerful opportunity to close the gap between perception and reality. The partnership is a chance to be visible – to show the designers, architects and industry figures who flock to EC1 the community that exists alongside them, and to build the relationships, awareness and support that will help sustain it.
Clerkenwell Design Week is on now – Tue 19th, Wed 20th and Thu 21st May 2026 – at various locations across Clerkenwell.
All deprivation statistics are from the Local Insight England Custom Report for Clerkenwell (OCSI Ltd, November 2025), available from The Peel on request. Demographic data is sourced from stats.islington.gov.uk. Clerkenwell’s population is approximately 12,000.
