Islington is a small, densely populated, inner London borough with a growing, diverse and relatively young population. It is a borough of stark contrasts. There are high levels of deprivation, with associated long-term benefit dependency, worklessness, high levels of chronic ill health and premature mortality. The borough also contains small areas of great wealth, leading to the common perception that the area is home to media celebrities and visited by well-heeled shoppers and diners.