Citizenship Survey: 2007-08 (April 2007 – March 2008), England & Wales

This release provides headline findings for the 2007-08 annual Citizenship Survey, covering all four quarters from April 2007 to March 2008. The release is divided into three sections covering active and empowered communities; community cohesion; and racial prejudice and discrimination. These figures update those given in the previous release relating to April-December 2007 (published in April 2008).

1. Active and empowered communities (England)

Volunteering
  • In 2007-081, 73 per cent of all adults had volunteered (formally or informally) at least once in the last 12 months, with 48 per cent having volunteered at least once a month.
  • Overall levels of volunteering (at least once in the last 12 months) have not changed since 2001. However, levels of formal volunteering have risen over this period, whilst informal volunteering has declined.
  • Forty-one per cent of people from groups at risk of social exclusion participated in voluntary activities (formal and informal) at least once
    a month. This is unchanged from 2001 (41%).
Civic engagement
  • In 2007-08, 10 per cent of people had, in the last year, either participated in direct decision-making about local services or issues,
    or participated in the actual provision of these services by taking on
    a role such as a local councillor, school governor or magistrate.
  • Thirty-nine per cent of people engaged in some form of civic participation, such as contacting a local councillor, attending a public meeting or signing a petition at least once in the past year.

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Influencing decisions
  • In 2007-08, 38 per cent of people felt they could influence decisions in their local area, similar proportions to 2005 and 2003 but lower than in 2001 (44%).
  • One-fifth (20%) of people felt they could influence decisions affecting Great Britain, lower than in 2001 (25%).
  • White people are less likely than people from minority ethnic groups to feel they can influence decisions affecting their local area (37% compared with 48%). White people are also less likely to feel they can influence decisions affecting Great Britain (19% compared with 34%).

Volunteering

In 2007-08, 73 per cent of adults in England had volunteered formally or informally at least once in the 12 months prior to interview. This is unchanged from 2001 (74%), although levels have fallen since 2005 (76%).

Levels of informal volunteering were higher than formal volunteering, with 64 per cent volunteering informally compared to 43 per cent volunteering formally in the last 12 months. Since 2001, levels of formal volunteering have risen (from 39% to 43%); whilst informal volunteering has fallen (from 67% to 64%) over this period.

Levels of regular activity were lower, with 48 per cent of adults having volunteered at least once a month in the 12 months prior to interview. Again, levels of regular informal volunteering were higher than formal volunteering: 35 per cent compared to 27 per cent. Current levels of regular formal and informal volunteering in 2007-08 are in line with those from 2001, although levels have declined since 2005 (from 29% to 27% for formal volunteering and from 37% to 35% for informal volunteering).

In 2007-08, 41 per cent of adults from groups at risk of social exclusion had participated in voluntary activities at least once a month, a decline from 44 per cent in 2003, although in line with levels in 2001. As with the overall population, levels of informal volunteering at least once a month (32%) were higher than formal volunteering (21%) among those from groups at risk of social exclusion (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Participation in volunteering (formal and informal) at least once a month,
2001 to 2007-08
  • Table 1: Participation in civic engagement and voluntary activities, 2001, 2003, 2005 & 2007-08
  • Table 2: Participation in voluntary activities at least once a month by groups at risk of social exclusion, 2001, 2003, 2005 & 2007-08

There were some differences in levels of regular formal volunteering between ethnic groups. White (28%), Black Caribbean (27%), Mixed Race (27%), Black African (26%) and Indian (22%) people were all more likely to volunteer formally on a regular basis than those from the Pakistani (16%), Bangladeshi (15%) and Chinese/Other (16%) ethnic groups. In addition White people were more likely to volunteer formally than Indian people.

A similar pattern was observed for regular informal volunteering: people from Mixed Race (42%), Black Caribbean (39%), Black African (36%) and White (35%) backgrounds were all more likely to volunteer informally on a regular basis than people from Pakistani (29%), Indian (28%), Bangladeshi (24%) and Chinese/Other (27%), backgrounds. In addition Mixed Race people were more likely to volunteer informally than White people (Figure 2).

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Cohesion Research Statistical Release

Figure 2: Participation in volunteering (formal and informal) at least once a month
by ethnicity, 2007-08

Women were more likely to volunteer regularly than men. Women had higher rates than men for both regular formal volunteering (29% women, 25% men) and regular informal volunteering (39% and
31% respectively).

  • Table 3: Participation in civic engagement and voluntary activities at least once a month in the
    12 months prior to interview by age, sex and ethnicity, 2007-08

Civic Engagement

The Citizenship Survey measures levels of participation in three broad strands of civic engagement:

  • Civic activism – which refers to involvement either in direct decision-making about local services or issues, or in the actual provision of these services by taking on a role such as a local councillor, school governor or magistrate;
  • Civic consultation – which refers to active engagement in consultation about local services or issues through activities such as attending a consultation group or completing a questionnaire about these services; and
  • Civic participation – which covers wider forms of engagement in democratic processes, such as contacting an elected representative, taking part in a public demonstration or protest, or signing a petition.

In 2007-08, 39 per cent of adults in England engaged in civic participation at least once in the 12 months prior to interview, whilst 21 per cent engaged in civic consultation and 10 per cent in civic activism. Levels of participation in all three forms of civic engagement are unchanged since 2005 and there has been no change in civic participation since 2001 – the other two measures were not collected prior to 2005.

Influencing decisions

In 2007-08, 38 per cent of people in England agreed that they could influence decisions in their local area, similar proportions to 2005 and 2003 but lower than in 2001 (44%). In 2007-08 one-fifth (20%) of people felt they could influence decisions affecting Great Britain, lower than in 2001 (25%) (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Whether people feel able to influence decisions affecting their local area and
Great Britain, 2001 to 2007-08

With the exception of the diverse Chinese/Other group, people from minority ethnic groups are more
likely than White people to feel that they can influence decisions affecting their local area. For example, 53 per cent of Black African, 50 per cent of Bangladeshi and 48 per cent of Indian people feel that they can influence decisions affecting their local area compared with 37 per cent of White people (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Whether people feel able to influence decisions affecting their local area and
Great Britain, by ethnicity, 2007-08

All minority ethnic groups are more likely than White people to feel that they can influence decisions affecting Britain. For example, 41 per cent of Black African, 36 per cent of Bangladeshi and 35 per cent of Indian people feel that they can influence decisions affecting Britain compared with 19 per cent of White people.

People under the age of 65 years (21-22% for each age group) are more likely than those aged 65-74 years (17%) to feel that they can influence decisions affecting Britain.

  • Table 4: Whether people feel able to influence decisions affecting their local area and Great Britain, 2001, 2003, 2005 & 2007-08
  • Table 5: Whether people feel able to influence decisions affecting their local area and Great Britain by age, sex and ethnicity, 2007-08

2. Community cohesion (England)

Cohesion
  • In 2007-08, 82 per cent of people perceived their community as cohesive, agreeing that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together, an increase from 80 per cent in 2005.
  • Perceptions of cohesion are most positive among those aged 75 and over (91%) and least positive among those aged 16-24 years (76%).
  • Indian people are more likely than White people to think that their local area is cohesive (86% compared with 81%).
Belonging
  • Seventy-five per cent of people feel they belong strongly to their neighbourhood, an increase from 70 per cent in 2003.
  • Eighty-four per cent of people feel they belong strongly to Britain. This has declined since 2005 (86%), although is at the same level as in 2003 (85%).
Meaningful interaction with people from different backgrounds
  • Overall, 80 per cent of people mix socially at least once a month with people from different ethnic or religious backgrounds, either at work, at a place of education, through a leisure activity, at a place or worship, at the shops or through volunteering.[1]
  • Young people are more likely than older people to mix with people from different ethnic and religious groups: 93 per cent of people aged 16-24 years had mixed in this way compared with
    52 per cent of people aged 75 and over.

Cohesion

In 2007-08, 82 per cent of people perceived their community as cohesive, agreeing that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together, an increase from 80 per cent in 2005.

There was no difference between men and women in their perceptions of cohesion in 2007-08 and no change in men or women’s perceptions since 2003.

Older people are more likely than younger people to think that their local area is cohesive. Cohesion is highest among those aged 75 or over (91%) and lowest among those aged 16-24 years (76%) (Figure 5).

Perceptions of cohesion within individual age groups have risen in most cases (except age 50-64) since 2003 although these individual rises did not reach statistical significance.

Figure 5: Proportion of people who agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds got on well together by age, 2003 and 2007-08

Overall, people from a minority ethnic background are more likely than White people to feel that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together (83% compared with 81%). There is little variation between individual ethnic groups with the exception of Indian people, who are more likely than White people to think that their local area is cohesive (86% compared with 81%).

Between 2003 and 2007-08, perceptions of cohesion amongst individual ethnic groups remained largely unchanged, although there was an increase in perceptions of cohesion amongst Indian people (from
81% to 86%).

  • Table 6: Community cohesion, by age, sex and ethnicity, 2003, 2005 & 2007-08

Belonging

In 2007-08, 75 per cent of people felt they belonged strongly to their neighbourhood, including 34 per cent who said they belonged very strongly. The proportion of people who said they belonged strongly to their neighbourhood has increased since 2003 (70%).

In 2007-08, 84 per cent of people felt they belonged strongly to Britain, including 45 per cent who said they belonged very strongly. The proportion of people feeling a strong sense of belonging to Britain has declined since 2005 (86%), although it is at the same level as in 2003 (85%).

  • Table 7: Whether people feel that they belong strongly to their neighbourhood and Great Britain, 2003, 2005 & 2007-08

Pakistani and Indian people are more likely than White people to feel a strong sense of belonging to their neighbourhood (85% and 80% respectively compared with 75%). A greater proportion of people from Black Caribbean and Bangladeshi backgrounds also feel a strong sense of belonging to their neighbourhood than White people, though these differences were not significant due to the smaller sample sizes. People from Chinese/Other backgrounds (64%) are significantly less likely than White people to feel a strong sense of belonging to their neighbourhood (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Proportion of people who feel they belong strongly to their neighbourhood by ethnicity, 2007-08

Pakistani and Indian people are also more likely than White people to feel they belong strongly to Britain (both 89% compared with 84%). A greater proportion of people from Bangladeshi backgrounds feel a strong sense of belonging to Britain than White people, although these differences were not significant due to small sample sizes. Black African, Black Caribbean and Mixed Race people are as likely to feel a strong sense of belonging to Britain as White people (all 84%), while people from the diverse Chinese/Other group (75%) had the lowest sense of belonging strongly to Britain (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Proportion of people who feel they strongly belong to Britain by ethnicity, 2007-08

Young people are less likely than older people to feel a strong sense of belonging to their local neighbourhood. For example, 65 per cent of people in the 16-24 age group feel a strong sense of belonging to their local neighbourhood compared with 87 per cent of people aged 75 or over.

As with feelings of belonging to the neighbourhood, feelings of belonging to Britain are generally stronger amongst older people. Those aged 75 and over are most likely to feel a strong sense of belonging to Britain (92%) while 25-34 year olds are the least likely to feel a strong sense of belonging (80%).

  • Table 8: Whether people feel that they belong strongly to their neighbourhood and Great Britain by age, sex and ethnicity, 2007-08

Meaningful interaction (mixing socially) with people from different backgrounds

Overall, 80 per cent of people mixed socially at least once a month with people from different ethnic or religious backgrounds, either at work, at a place of education, through a leisure activity, at a place of worship, at the shops or through volunteering.

Young people are more likely than older people to mix with people from different backgrounds. For example, 93 per cent of people aged 16-24 years mix regularly compared with 52 per cent of people aged 75 years or over. The situations in which people mix also vary by age: younger people tend to mix at work, school or college while older people tend to mix at the shops.

Not surprisingly, people from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely than White people to mix socially with people from different ethnic or religious backgrounds (95% compared with 78%), reflecting their greater opportunity to do so.

Lower mixing among White people compared with minority ethnic people reflects the nature of the areas in which people live. For example, White people who live in more ethnically diverse areas (where more than 5% of the population are from minority ethnic backgrounds[2]) are more likely than White people who live in relatively homogenous areas to mix socially with people from different backgrounds (89% compared with 71%).

Within the minority ethnic groups, there is little difference in the levels of mixing, though people from Black (both Caribbean and African) backgrounds mix more than people from Pakistani backgrounds (96% compared with 93%).

People are most likely to mix socially with people from different backgrounds at the shops, followed by work, school or college, and then a pub, club, café or restaurant. This pattern is true for most ethnic groups. However, levels of social mixing vary considerably between ethnic groups in some situations. For example, Black African people are more likely than Pakistani people to mix in a place of worship (68% compared with 36%), while 51 per cent of Indian people mix in a pub, club, café or restaurant compared with 40 per cent of Bangladeshi people.

  • Table 9: Mixing with people from different ethnic or religious groups by age and ethnicity (percentage mixing at least once a month), 2007-08

3. Racial prejudice and discrimination (England & Wales)

Racial discrimination
  • The proportion of people from minority ethnic groups who feel that they would be treated worse than other races by at least one of eight public service organisations[3] is lower in 2007-08 (34%) than it was in 2001 (38%).
  • The proportion of people from minority ethnic groups who feel that they would be treated worse than other races by at least one of the five criminal justice system (CJS) organisations5 is lower in 2007-08 (28%) than it was in 2001 (33%).
  • The proportions of people from minority ethnic groups thinking the police, the prison service, the courts, the Crown Prosecution Service and housing departments would treat them worse than other races have all decreased since 2001.
  • Twenty-one per cent of people from minority ethnic groups who have been refused a job feel that
    it was for reasons of race, which represents no change since 2003 (24%).
  • Among people from minority ethnic groups who have been treated unfairly with regard to promotion or progression, 49 per cent feel that it was for reasons of race. This represents no change since 2003 (46%).
Racial prejudice
  • Over half (56%) of all people feel that there is now more racial prejudice in Britain than five years ago, which is an increase from 2005 (48%), 2003 (47%) and 2001 (43%).
  • People from minority ethnic groups (32%) are less likely than White people (58%) to feel that there is now more racial prejudice in Britain compared with five years ago.
Racial or religious harassment in the local area (England)
  • Less than 1 in 10 people (9%) say that racial or religious harassment is a problem in their local area, and most of these feel it is a fairly big problem (6%) rather than a very big problem (2%).
  • A higher proportion of people from minority ethnic groups (16%) think that racial or religious harassment is a problem compared with White people (7%).

Organisational discrimination

In 2007-08 two thirds (66%) of people from minority ethnic groups did not consider that they would be treated worse than people of other races by any of the eight public service organisations measured. Almost three-quarters (72%) felt they would not be treated worse than people of other races by any of the five criminal justice agencies. Thirty four per cent of people from minority ethnic groups felt that they would be treated worse than other races by at least one of eight public service organisations, down from 38 per cent in 2001. Twenty-eight per cent of people from minority ethnic groups felt that they would be treated worse than other races by at least one of the five criminal justice system (CJS) organisations, also down from 2001 (33%).