50% Of British People Don’t Know Their Neighbours’ Names

Dr Stephanie Alice Baker has devised a 15-step questionnaire to measure community spirit levels across the UK. The research, which included over 4000 participants, unveiled York as the UK city with the highest level of community spirit and Wolverhampton with the least.

 

The questionnaire was devised to assess social and civic attachments, participation and engagement. Questions ranged from ‘Do you know your neighbours’ names?’ to ‘Would you feel safe leaving your house key with someone in your local neighbourhood?’

 

The research was conducted to launch Bisto Open Door Sunday, a campaign designed to bring back community spirit, by identifying the areas in the UK with the most and least community spirit. The research revealed that community spirit across the UK is low: 35% feel their neighbourhood does not have a good sense of community spirit and only 50% know their neighbours’ names. Despite this, 43% want to improve community spirit in their neighbourhood.

 

Dr Baker explains, “There’s a significant body of literature in sociology that discusses the decline of community in the twentieth century. Arguments of this kind have been intensified by the proliferation of digital devices and social media platforms in the twenty-first century. Our findings suggest that technology is not solely responsible for a decline in community spirit. A series of social and cultural factors have contributed to people’s lack of engagement in their community, including longer working hours, commute times and moving house frequently. Trust and friendship is generated by repeated, meaningful social interactions. To increase community spirit, we can start by taking the time to get to know those around us and engaging with them on a regular basis.”

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/open-door-sunday-encourages-brits-to-meet-their-neighbours_uk_582f0530e4b09025ba3225d1