In today’s Britain, our more affluent residents do not have a sense of community. They do not understand the word and struggle to identify what their community is. Our research programme, focused on people in areas dominated by social and council housing, revealed that not only are people in these areas more likely to feel part of a community, but they are also more likely to connect with those in leadership positions or appoint a leader and share a sense of identity with those around them.

87% of people who live in council housing feel part of their community as opposed to 67% of people who live in social housing and 33% of people who live in private housing

23% of people in council housing see their estate as their community with 18% seeing their city as their community

29% of people in private housing see their circle of friends as ‘their community’ with only 14% of them seeing ‘their street’ as ‘their community’ and no-one feeling that their city was their community

29% of people in social housing see people at the pub as their community and did not refer to their street, estate or city

People who live on estates tend to have a more localised life. Hence, they relate more to their neighbours, take guidance from local media and have a social life that is embedded in local facilities. In effect, their model of existence is closer to 1950s Britain than a model reflected in other, middle class areas. And, these communities are struggling to survive the growing threat from immigrant populations, national chains and the government’s plans to reduce long-term reliance on social/council housing.

92% of people in private housing do not know who the unofficial leader of their community is (i.e. the mayor, a religious leader or head of a community group)

63% of people in social housing know who their community leader is (and opinions on who this is are very varied)

Many of the people who live in social/council housing see their community leaders as the people who run their football clubs/darts/dominoes teams or who they go to Bingo with.

The aspiration...
“There is no single definition and many different perceptions of place. These go to the heart of how people identify with both a geographic area and other people.”
The Government’s Place Matters Corporate Report, 2007

The reality...
“I don’t really feel part of my community. I hardly know my next door neighbour let alone the area.”
Owner-Occupier, Meir

Community voices
“I love going to the Bingo, this is the heart of our community.”
Council house tenant

“If the leader of my community tried to sell me something, it’s probably because they want to steal it back off me after.”
Owner-Occupier

“I am the leader of the community.”
Council house tenant

“The community is the town I live in, but I don’t feel part of it.”
Owner-Occupier