Embargoed 26 September 2006
Coronation Street is revealed as the soap with the most community spirit, in research commissioned for a new campaign encouraging people to give back to their community by getting in touch with their local Volunteer Centre.
The Manchester soap received a third of the votes ahead of rivals EastEnders and Emmerdale. Despite the dramas on the cobbles, Corrie has long been associated with chats over the back yard wall, parties in the local pub and a friendly hello in the corner shop.
In real life the research reveals that nearly 80% of people want to see more community spirit in their own neighbourhoods. National charity Volunteering England is encouraging people to take steps to boost their community spirit by getting in touch with their local Volunteer Centre to find out how they can make a difference in their area.
In fact many people would like to give back to society but simply don’t know where to start. The survey found that almost 60% of people would be more likely to volunteer if it was easier to get into. When asked in which area they would most like to take action to improve their community, nearly a third of people said crime and safety, while a quarter wanted to see more opportunities and services for children and young people. More support and care for older people also came high up on the list.
Jane Heath, Assistant Director of Outreach Services at Volunteering England, said:
“We know that many people think about volunteering in their local community, but simply don’t know where to start.
“Volunteer Centres make the jump from wanting to take action to getting involved straightforward. They can tell you what voluntary work is available locally and put you in touch with charities and groups that need your help and match your interests. You can chat in person about what you want to do and get volunteering advice and support.”
As well as making a difference to others, there are many ways volunteers themselves can benefit – from gaining new skills and experience to having fun meeting new people. There is even research to suggest that volunteering can reduce stress levels and improve your health and well-being because you are doing something positive and rewarding.*
George Graham from Plymouth used his local Volunteer Centre to gain experience to restart his career. He was working in personnel and opted for a complete change of lifestyle when he started volunteering with the environmental charity BTCV. When George visited the Volunteer Centre in Plymouth, he was surprised by the variety of options available. He says:
“I certainly used volunteering to my advantage and the Volunteer Centre helped give me the confidence to take up a new role and eventually buy my own company. I’ve also met a number of really interesting people at BTCV who I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
To get in touch with your local Volunteer Centre, call 0845 347 9360 or visit www.volunteercentres.org
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For more information, please contact Helen Wylie on 020 7785 6388 / 07784 129 651 or email: h.wylie@timebank.org.uk
Notes to editors:
1. BMRB Omnibus Survey 18th – 20th August 2006. Sample size 2024
When asked to choose which soapworld has the most community spirit, people who chose from a list of popular tv soaps said:
| Coronation Street | 33% |
| EastEnders | 26% |
| Emmerdale | 18% |
| Neighbours | 12% |
| Hollyoaks | 6% |
| Home and Away | 5% |
When asked in which area they would most like to take action to improve their community, people said:
| Crime and safety | 29% |
| Opportunities and services for children and young people | 25% |
| More support and care for elderly people | 13% |
| The environment and outdoor spaces | 10% |
| Better sports facilities | 6% |
| Protecting animals and wildlife | 4% |
| Tackling homelessness and social exclusion | 4% |
| Arts and culture | 2% |
| Stronger faith organisations | 1% |
| Other answers | 1% |
2. *Allan Luks The Healing Power of Doing Good 2001
3. Volunteering England is the integrated national volunteer development organisation for England. It works across the voluntary, public and private sectors to raise the profile of volunteering as a powerful force for change and to secure and support an England-wide network of quality Volunteer Centres, promoting and enabling local volunteering and community involvement.
