Most Cambridgeshire residents continue to feel happy and safe in the county, well connected to their local communities, and still believe it’s a great place to raise children – according to the County Council’s second annual Quality of Life survey involving more than 5,500 residents.
This is the second year the survey has been carried out to help us understand what is important to local residents and to inform council decisions. 5,500 residents took part in the survey this year, 1,100 in each of our five districts to give a representative view across the county. However, cost of living remains the issue of most concern in Cambridgeshire amongst residents, with almost half of residents using less heating, and a quarter cutting back on nutritious food in the past 12 months.
Residents continue to feel positively about their local community; 85% feel safe and 75% feel they belong. Fewer residents report struggling with mental health this year and a lower proportion report issues with physical health. Despite this, young people continue to be more likely to report mental health struggles and loneliness in Cambridgeshire still remains higher than the national average - particularly for young people.
The County Council has published the results of this year’s Quality of Life survey, which is commissioned from national independent market research agency Think Insights. This year the council has carried out this work in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge Ahead. The results will provide valuable feedback for our partners to use.
In addition to this survey this year we have also engaged with some specific groups from our communities, including those with lived experience of homelessness, the criminal justice system and drug or alcohol dependency as well as those under the age of 18. A general public online survey, allowing any resident to take part, ran alongside this other work so we have a really rich picture of how people feel across Cambridgeshire.
“This is the second year that we have asked our residents to tell us what it is like for them living in Cambridgeshire and what concerns them most so we are delighted that so many people have been willing to participate in this activity,” said Council Leader Councillor Lucy Nethsingha and Chair of Strategy, Resources and Performance Committee.
“The fact that our residents continue to feel happy, safe and belong is heartening. But they have given a clear message about the challenges they are facing around the cost of living crisis.”
“It is particularly concerning that residents are telling us that they are having to cut back on heating and nutritious food. In last year’s budget we pledged £2.2million to tackle poverty in the county and whilst this work is still ongoing, we clearly need to keep looking at what we can do to support our residents further if we want to deliver on our vision to be a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire”
“The survey also tells us that fewer people are struggling with mental and physical health this year which is positive,” said Councillor Elisa Meschini, Deputy Leader of the council and vice chair of Strategy, Resources and Performance Committee. “But it also tells us that levels of loneliness have increased, particularly in younger people, and it remains higher than the national average.”
“Our residents are increasingly concerned about climate change and tackling this is one of our seven strategic ambitions,” said Councillor Tom Sanderson, Independent Group Leader. “Our communities are telling us that they are open to making more sustainable choices and they are clear that they expect us as a council to do more on this.”
A snapshot of results
- 72% of residents have high or very high levels of happiness. The average happiness score this year was 7.21, higher than the national average at 7.0.
- Residents continue to feel positively about their local community; 85% feel safe and 75% feel they belong.
- Fewer residents report struggling with mental health this year (37% down to 29%) and a lower proportion report issues with physical health (40% down to 31%).
- Significant numbers of young people (43% of 25–34-year-olds and 40% of 18–24-year-olds) continue to be more likely to report mental health struggles.
- The proportion of residents reporting that they often feel lonely remains higher that national data, at 31% of residents.
- Younger residents are again more likely to report loneliness (53% of 18-24 year olds).
- Cost of living remains residents’ highest concern, with 87% of residents concerned this year.
