Press release

Latest Community Life Survey results confirm a bigger, stronger society

Results from the Community Life Survey show a sustained level of volunteering.

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

The Cabinet Office has today released the results of the 2015 to 2016 Community Life Survey, which shows that charitable donations from the giving public remain at their highest ever.

Levels of volunteering have been sustained and even more people agree that their neighbourhood pulls together for local improvement.

The major survey of 3,000 adults over 16 years old in England, tracks the latest trends and developments. It covers the period between July 2015 and April 2016.

Highlights include:

  • 70% of people responding to the survey have volunteered in the past year
  • 73% of people report that they donate money to charities in an average four week period
  • 68% of respondents agreed that their ‘neighbourhood pulls together to improve the area’ – up from 63% last year

These results come a week after the government committed up to £1 million over the next 2 years to take forward ideas that develop our culture of giving, including a day later this year to celebrate local charities and community groups.

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said:

This year’s Community Life Survey shows that communities across the country are pulling together and creating better places to live. Community cohesion is improving with 9 out of every 10 reporting that people from different backgrounds get on well.

People also continue to give huge amounts of their time and money to the causes that matter most to them, contributing towards a bigger, stronger society.

I am determined to continue this success and work with charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises to further promote volunteering, fundraising and giving back to communities. We continue to be a One Nation government with compassion at its heart.

Updates to this page

Published 20 July 2016