Accredited official statistics

Taking Part 2015/16 Quarter 4: Adult Statistical Release: Key Findings

Published 21 July 2016

1. Culture

Headline trends for engagement in DCMS cultural sectors 2005/06 to 2015/16

• The latest results show that in 2015/16, 76.1% of adults had engaged with the arts at least once in the last 12 months, a similar rate to 2005/06 (76.3%) and 2014/15 (76.8%). However, this is a significant decrease on the 2012/13 high of 78.4%.

• In 2015/16, 73.2% of adults visited a heritage site in the 12 months prior to interview: a significant increase from 69.9% in 2005/06 and a similar rate to 2014/15 (72.6%).

• In 2015/16, 52.5% of adults visited a museum or gallery, a significant increase in attendance from 2005/06 (42.3%), but a similar proportion to 52.0% in 2014/15.

• In 2015/16, 33.4% of adults had used a public library in the 12 months prior to being interviewed. This is a significant decrease from 48.2% in 2005/06 and a similar rate to 2014/15 (34.5%).

• The proportion of adults who had visited an archive significantly decreased from 5.9% in 2005/06 to 3.1%. This was a similar proportion to 2014/15 (3.0%).

2. Volunteering and charitable giving

• In 2015/16, almost a quarter of adults (24.4%) reported that they had taken part in voluntary activities in the last 12 months, a similar proportion to 2005/06 and 2014/15.

• The proportion of adults who volunteered in DCMS sectors has significantly increased from 7.0% in 2005/06 to 7.9% in 2015/16, but is significantly lower than the peak of 9.3% in 2012/13, which may have been influenced by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• In 2015/16, 86.4% of adults said they had donated money to charity in the last 12 months, a decrease from 88.4% in 2010/11.

• The proportion of adults who donated to at least one of the DCMS sectors significantly decreased from 33.0% in 2010/11 to 29.7% in 2015/16.

3. First World War

• In 2015/16, 54.7% of adults stated that they were aware of local or national events or activities being held in the UK between 2014 and 2018 to commemorate the FWW.

• Between April 2015 and March 2016, 76.9% of all adults supported the UK commemorating the Centenary of the FWW, reporting that they were slightly or strongly supportive. .

4. Olympics

• In 2015/16, 22.5% of respondents who had taken part in sport or recreational physical activity said that the UK hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games had motivated them to do more of these activities. This is a significant increase from 7.7% in 2005/06, and an increase from 2012/13 (the year the Games were held), when the figure was 19.8%.

• Among adults who had taken part in cultural activities, there has been a significant increase in the proportion who felt that the UK hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games had motivated them to take part in more cultural activities, from 4.0% in 2010/11 to 7.6% in 2015/16.

5. Wellbeing

Mean wellbeing scores, 2014/15 to 2015/16

Adults responding to the Taking Part survey are asked four questions relating to their personal wellbeing. Respondents are asked: how happy they are; how satisfied they are with their life; how anxious they felt the day prior to interview; and to what extent they feel things in their life are worthwhile. Mean wellbeing scores among all adults for the period April 2015 to March 2016 were:

• 8.0 out of 10 for happiness yesterday;

• 7.8 out of 10 for life satisfaction;

• 2.9 out of 10 for anxiety yesterday;

• 7.9 out of 10 for feeling that what one does in life is worthwhile.

These scores have remained stable since 2014/15.