problem. Changing perceptions can only be achieved if there is a clear and shared understanding of what factors are contributing to these perceptions. Collating what is already known and undertaking additional research to developing this shared understanding is crucial and must then be used to shape local action, particularly with young adults and people living in Dewsbury & Mirfield. • Across all localities there is already a huge amount of volunteering happening in a wide range of organisations. Sustaining the existing commitment of local people is essential. If those people, with their wealth of knowledge and skills, who are already volunteering become disillusioned and give up then rebuilding this solid base will be a much more of a challenge than building on their solid foundations. • Increasing levels of volunteer activity is beneficial for the person volunteering and the community as a whole. There are several groups where activity to promote volunteering could have a range of benefits: - Young people are among the least likely age group to volunteer but could benefit from the skills and confidence volunteering creates to improve their employability. - Similarly people who are recently unemployed or who have been out of work for an extended period can use volunteering to maintain or enhance their employability and create or maintain social networks. - People approaching or recently retired can use volunteering as a means to establishing new social networks and a sense of worth. - People with health problems can use volunteering to regain their self-confidence and establish new social networks. • Engagement with local community activities was lowest in two groups who are amongst the most likely to have contact with public services, victims of crime and older people. Developing a clearer and more consistent message about what is available locally and the benefits of participating in community activity would help ensure these vulnerable groups regain and maintain their independence.
98 NHS Kirklees and Kirklees Council
Inequality issues People living in Dewsbury & Mirfield were least likely to have a sense of belonging, or felt people were less likely to get on together and perceived anti-social behaviours as more of a problem and experienced crime. These issues were also linked to age, as younger adults saw them as more of a problem than older adults. People across north Kirklees were much more likely to feel people from different backgrounds did not get on well together locally. People from BME communities were much more likely to see anti-social behaviour as a problem in their area. The groups least likely to volunteer were women, younger adults, people from non-BME communities and those with poor health. Those least likely to participate in any local community activities or groups are victims of crime and people living in Dewsbury & Mirfield. People feeling isolated or lonely was linked to age – it reduces as people get older with young adults most likely to feel this way of any age group. But the groups most likely to feel lonely or isolated are people with poor health (all ages), especially mental ill health and pain, and people not working due to ill-health or disability. Feeling isolated or lonely was also linked to smoking and being sedentary, which will not help them feel well in themselves.
References 1. Acheson, D. (1998) Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health Report. http://www.archive. official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/ih/ih.htm. 2. Pevalin, D.J. and Rose, D. (2003) London: Health Development Agency. Social Capital for Health: Investigating the Links between Social Capital and Health using the British Household Panel Survey. 3. Kirklees Council Place Survey (BMG Research) 2008. See Appendix 3. 4. Kirklees Council Tracker Survey (MORI) 2007. 5. NHS Kirklees & Council, Current Living In Kirklees survey, 2008. See Appendix 3.