Survey of concerns for British people and place
New independent research published today reveals the extent to which people across the UK fear losing local shops, post offices, and countryside, as well as support for young and old people (published Wednesday 16th August 2006).
Vanishing Britain, conducted by ICM and commissioned by CSV Make a Difference Day and Barclays, tracks British concerns for both people and places, and urges people to take action through volunteering. The campaign has the backing of high profile figures, such as Pete Waterman, June Sarpong and Tony Robinson.
The survey reveals which places they were most concerned about losing:
• Nearly half (46%) of the population are concerned about losing countryside and green spaces
• 41% say they are worried about losing local amenities, including shops and post offices
• Over 1 in 10 (11%) are concerned about losing historical buildings
The survey also reveals how the population is worried about the ‘vanishing’ dignity for older people and declining support for young people growing up:
• 40% of the population say they are concerned about dwindling support and guidance for young people growing up
• 30% say they are concerned about not spending enough quality time with their family
• A quarter (25%) of the population say they are concerned about older people losing their dignity
Vanishing places – results breakdown
The loss of local amenities, such as shops and post offices, is the greatest concern amongst people aged over 55 years old. Over half (53%) of 55-64 year olds, and nearly the same number of the over 65s (54%) are worried about this. This may be because older people are more likely to live in rural areas with poor transport links. Without local shops, day-to-day living becomes more difficult and they may experience increased hardship and isolation.
Younger people are most concerned about losing countryside and green spaces. Over half of 25-34 year olds (54%) and nearly the same amount of 35-44 year olds (55%) express concern over the issue, while only 34% of over 65s are worried.
Meanwhile 18-24 year olds seem to treasure our national heritage the most. Nearly 1 in 5 are concerned about losing historical buildings, such as castles and stately homes.
Only 6% of people say none of these issues are of concern to them.
CSV Make a Difference Day is encouraging people to take action to stop our most treasured places disappearing forever. By donating just one day people can help turn wasteland into community gardens, start a campaign to support local shops and farmers or help renovate a historical building.
Also supporting the call to action is BBC Springwatch’s Kate Humble.
“With so many new roads and houses being built all the time it’s not surprising that people are so concerned,” said Kate. “We need to protect our environment and all of us can do our bit by giving time and supporting the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign.”
Vanishing people – results breakdown
Young people are more concerned about support for young people growing up, compared to the threat of declining dignity of older people. Only 16% of 18-24 year olds are concerned about older people, contrasted to 39% of over 65s who are concerned about declining support for young people.
The group most concerned about not spending enough time with their family are 25-34 year olds - nearly half (47%) are worried. Men appear more anxious than women about the amount of time they spend with their families. Around 33% of men express concern, compared to 27% of women.
Only 2.5% feel none of the issues regarding younger people, family or older people’s dignity are a concern.
CSV Make a Difference Day is urging people to tackle falling levels of support for both young and old through volunteering. People can get involved in a range of activities, including helping school children with their reading and numeracy or baking and donating a cake for an elderly neighbour. In addition, volunteering is a cheap, fun day out that can help improve a family’s physical and mental health as well as bring them closer together.
The call for volunteers to provide support to vulnerable people has the backing of a range of celebrities, including Pete Waterman. Having faced homelessness himself, Pete has been a supporter of CSV Make a Difference Day for many years, taking part to support young people:
“Having lived rough myself I know how hard it can be for young people,” Pete said. “I was lucky, but others aren’t. That is why I support CSV Make a Difference Day and am fully behind their call for more people to support young people through volunteering. So if you are really concerned about young people get involved. It’s your chance to change lives.”
Other celebrities calling for more support for young people include T4’s June Sarpong.
June said: “If you’re 15 years old so many places are off limits to you. It’s easy to become bored and even angry. But we shouldn’t write young people off as just trouble-makers. We should be providing them with positive role models and activities to stimulate their minds. Through volunteering you can provide both of these. So take action to support our young people and get involved in CSV Make a Difference Day.”
Actor Tony Robinson, whose recent documentary Me and My Mum highlighted the lack of care and support for older people, is also an advocate of volunteering.
“The fact that many older people lose dignity and self respect and spend their final years feeling lonely and isolated is a national scandal,” Tony said. “We need to make some big changes to ensure older people are better looked after. Through volunteering we can start to make those changes and CSV Make a Difference Day is the perfect opportunity to get involved.”
CSV Make a Difference Day Campaign Manager, Claire Ghoussoub said: “If we are to stop those things we most value about people and place from vanishing forever we must take action now. You can do this through volunteering - petition your MP about out-of-town supermarkets or help renovate a stately home; help a school leaver prepare for their first interview or take your elderly neighbour to the beach for a day. And for all those mums, and dads concerned about not spending quality time with their families, the answer is simple – volunteer! It’s a great way, for the whole family to get out and have fun, while also improving the local community.”
CSV Make a Difference Day is the biggest single day of volunteering, with around 114,000 people taking part in activities the two weeks either side of Saturday 28th October 2006. To find out more call FREEPHONE 0800 284533 or visit the website – www.csv.org.uk/difference
Further press information: Esther Freeman, CSV Make a Difference Day Press Office on 020 7812 0035 or email: efreeman@csv.org.uk Out of office hours: 07981 591150 or Jason Tanner, Head of Press on 020 7812 0038/ 07941 433598
Latest press releases: www.csv.org.uk/press
Notes for editors
1. ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1009 male and female adults aged 18+ by telephone between 31st May – 1st June 2006. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk
2. A range of case studies is available upon request.
3. CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 28 October 2006, and activities take part a week either side. Around 115,000 people are expected to give time rather than money to improve their local community. The campaign is organised by CSV (Community Service Volunteers) and supported by Barclays community investment programme and the Home Office Active Communities Directorate.
4. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 195,000 people give 4.9 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 11,500 people of all ages.
5. Barclays PLC actively encourages employee involvement and provides direct support through its employee community programmes. These include paid time off in work time for volunteering, grants for group volunteering activities, matched fundraising and matched payroll giving.
6. In 2005, more than 26,000 Barclays employees around the world took advantage of the support available to them for their work in the community - to the benefit of more than 7,500 charities and community groups.
7. More than 10,000 Barclays employees took part in CSV Make A Difference Day activities globally, including projects in Africa and Spain. Volunteering activity included mentoring, beach clearing, gardening and painting.
8. Barclays is taking its community investment responsibilities seriously - investing £39.1 million in 2005. The organisation focuses on the areas where it can use its knowledge and expertise to make the biggest difference to key social issues. In the UK, this includes programmes about money education, debt advice, financial inclusion and getting people into work. Barclays also strives to strengthen the local communities in which they operate, and are investing £30 million over three years in grassroots sport through Barclays Spaces for Sports.
9. For further information see social responsibility at http://www.barclays.com. Media enquiries contact: Michael O’Toole, Barclays PLC on 0207 116 6137.