Nearly two-thirds (63%) of people believe that ‘it could easily be me’ when asked about their attitude to people poorer than themselves. (Wednesday 29th September 2010).

This fear of poverty comes from research published on Wednesday 29th September by CSV, the UK’s leading volunteering charity. They polled a wide cross-section of the British public as part of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (EY2010).

Work has been going on across the UK to raise awareness of poverty and social exclusion through a range of projects, including listening events, conferences, debates and games. The research is the culmination of work over the summer to highlight what poverty means to individuals.

In the survey, 95% of respondents say the bare minimum that people should be entitled to is ‘three meals a day’, far higher than a car (10%) or mobile phone (31%). However, 54% felt that being able to afford new clothes was important and being able to give children and grandchildren presents (50%).

Other attitudes reveal that: only 9% feel that people were getting benefits for nothing whilst 39% felt poor people needed more income, more education (44%) and better access to services (52%).

Reducing inequalities between rich and poor has also provoked a strong response. Forty-nine per cent thought that the rich should be taxed more and 67% felt that low-paid workers should be paid more. Financial support for children from poorer families was also seen as important (60%) as was more support from neighbours and the community (39%).

The current financial climate will also impact on poor people with 62% of respondents believing that the poor will be much poorer and 51% feeling that they will have to go without basic necessities.

Events taking place during the European Focus Week can be found at http://www.csv.org.uk/campaigns/european-year-2010/EY2010-events-calendar

For further press information Jason Tanner on 07941 433598 / 020 7812 0038 or Francesca Toma on 079661 68686 / 020 7812 0037

Notes for editors

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. Every year CSV helps transform the lives of over 1 million people. Last year 167,064 people gave their time as volunteers through CSV. The charity trained 12,196 people of all ages.  www.csv.org.uk

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the lead government department for the UK for EY2010. In this capacity they have set up a ‘National Implementation Body’ (NIB), the role of which is to manage the funding and programme for the Year.  Membership of the NIB includes representatives from each of the Devolved Administrations and DWP.

The Communications Stakeholders Group consists of:

• Save the Children: www.savethechildren.org.uk
• Community Links: www.community-links.org
• Mentoring and Befriending Foundation: www.mandbf.org.uk
• Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme at CSV: www.csv-rsvp.org.uk
• Poverty Alliance: www.povertyalliance.org
• The Bevan Foundation: www.bevanfoundation.org
• London Voluntary Sector Training Consortium: www.lvstc.org.uk  
• Social Firms UK: www.socialfirmsuk.co.uk
• All In One, East Midlands: www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/news.php
• West Midlands EY2010, Birmingham City University: http://www.bcu.ac.uk
• 2010 Social Inclusion Regional Group in the North East: www.onenortheast.co.uk
• The Future City Game, Centre for Local Economic Strategies: www.cles.org.uk
• Church Action on Poverty: www.church-poverty.org.uk/

The poll was carried out by CSV electronically using Survey Monkey. 520 people completed the survey, 70% female, 30% male, with 83% being aged between 25 and 64 in the income bracket £20,000 to £40,000.