Challenging the myth of the rural idyll

Challenging the my

Ruth Bra
Thematic Stud
Commission for R

yth of the rural idyll

adshaw
dies Manager
Rural Communities

Commiss
Com

• Established Apr
division of Coun

• Independent org
October 2006

• We have three m

– Rural Advocate
– Expert Adviser
– Independent W

sion for Rural
mmunities

ril 2005 (as operating
ntryside Agency)
ganisation since

main roles:

e

Watchdog





Backgroun

• Part of the CRC
• Need for some h

attitudes to disa
• BMRB commiss

cluster analysis
• 20 minute face-t

1,010 people liv

nd to the survey

C’s Disadvantage Study
hard facts about rural
advantage
sioned to undertake

to-face interviews with
ving in 89 rural areas

The qu

• Designed by BM
CRC, Defra and

• Open questions
and awareness

• Attitude stateme
responses

• Issues covered
spirit, social cap
rural idyll

uestionnaire

MRB in consultation with
d an advisory group
s to gauge recognition

of disadvantage
ents with common

included community
pital, self sufficiency,

Main proble

Public transport
Lack of shops/banks/PO
Lack of leisure facilities for adults

High property prices
Lack of leisure fac. for teenagers

Lack of leisure fac. for children
Dependency on car
Few jobs/ Unemp.
Traffic through area
Lack of policing

ems in local area

43%

17%

11%

11%

11%

10%

9%

7% Other problems
7% mentioned by 3% or
4% fewer respondents

Agreemen
specific types

Difficulty finding affordable housin
Lack of public transpor

Difficulty finding a well paid jo
Som e people around here are lonel

Lack of shop
Some people experience pov ert

Racial prejudic

nt that there are
s of disadvantage

g 78%
rt 65%
b 63%
ly 50%
ps 49%
ty 37%
ce 26%

Community

Strong community 38%
spirit

Need to fit in 27%

Mind their own 11% 11% 14%
business

0% 25%
Agree a lot Agree a little

spirit statements

30% 12% 11% 7%
32% 12% 18% 10%

26% 38%
50% 75% 100%
e Neutral Disagree a little Disagree a lot

Social cont
outside th

How often do you … Most 1-2 tim
days wee

Speak to 55%
neighbours

Meet up with 22%
relatives not
living with you

Meet up with 30%
friends

tact with people
he household

mes a 1-2 times Less Never
ek a month often
4%

32% 7% 2%

38% 19% 20% 2%

43% 18% 6% 3%

Characteris

• Less likely to feel p
• Most likely to agree

embarrassing to as
• Less likely to be w

overall)
• More likely to be o

earning less than £
• More likely to be in

14%)
• Less likely to vote

activities

stics of cluster 1

part of the community
e that it would be
sk for help (64% vs. 30%)
working full-time (28% vs.35%

on a low income (37%
£25,000)
n social housing (17% vs.

or get involved in local

Characteris

• Most likely to recog
problems

• Disagree that ever
opportunity (73% v

• Disagree that there
vs. 40%)

• 18% have moved t
years (compared to

• Large proportion o
families

stics of cluster 2

gnise the existence of social

ryone has the same
vs. 29% overall)
e is no disadvantage (73%

to area within the last 3
o 14% on average)
of women (60%) and

Characteris

• Most likely to agree
around here’ – 64%

• 68% ‘feel part of th
overall

• 71% agree welfare
each other vs. 43%

• Strongly believe ev
opportunities – 77%

• 34% aged over 65
• 58% living comfort

46% overall

stics of cluster 3

e ‘there is no disadvantage
% vs. 42% overall
he local community’ vs. 49%

e state stops people helping
% overall
veryone has the same
% vs. 56%
5 vs. 20% overall
tably on present income vs.

Characteris

• Same views on rur
• BUT a more sympa

welfare state
• Strongly disagree t

80% vs. 28% overa
• Disagree that welfa

helping each other
• Least likely to agre

find money for bas
• 23% under 29 and

stics of cluster 4

ral idyll as cluster 3
athetic attitude to the

that people need to fit in –
all
are state stops people
r – 55% vs. 36% overall
ee that some people cannot
sics – 29% vs. 37% overall
d 44% earn £25,000+

The differen
cl

There is no dis

C4 39 19

C3 64

C2 14 12

C1 47
0%
20% 40%

nce between the
lusters

sadvantage around here

9 39

10 24 Agree
73 Neutral
Disagree

22 28

60% 80% 100%

Overview

• C1 – isolated an
(27%)

• C2 – recognise
• C3 – hold traditi

in the rural idyll
• C4 – believe in t

softer views on

of the clusters

nd lack of social contact

disadvantage (24%)
ional views and believe
(29%)
the rural idyll but hold
welfare (19%)

Prioritie

es for action

Further

For the full surve
other Disadvant

:// .
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.@
020 7932 5894

r information

ey report and all the
tage Study outputs:

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