• Poll of over 10,000 Brits examines social isolation and the state of belonging in the UK
• Hexham residents came out top when it came to life satisfaction, with 75% also reporting feeling strongly connected to their local area
• The Belonging Forum is campaigning for practical, affordable initiatives to end social isolation

Hexham, 29 April 2024: Hexham residents have the highest levels of life satisfaction in the UK, the largest-ever poll into belonging in the UK has revealed. 

A significant 40% of residents reported their satisfaction with their lives is at an eight or higher out of 10.

The market town in Northumberland also reported some of the greatest levels of feeling strongly connected to their local area, with 75% of residents agreeing with the statement. Almost all (95%) also claiming that they feel safe walking round the parish. And, in a trend seen across the North East of England, Hexham’s residents also feel the most strongly connected to the United Kingdom (80%). The constituency is represented by Conservative MP and Minister for Roads and Local Transport Guy Opperman. This compares to other areas in England such as Brighton and Bristol, where residents are amongst the least likely to feel strongly connected to the nation.

The research aims to examine social isolation and people’s sense of belonging in modern Britain, as well as inform a series of policies and initiatives which the Belonging Forum will campaign for, known as the Charter for Belonging.

For communities across the country, these initiatives are likely to include improved shared green spaces, more inter-generational socials, and more local festivals and events. 

Kim Samuel, Founder of the Belonging Forum and author of On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation, said:

“Our research – the first of its kind in the UK – has identified acute issues regarding loneliness and social isolation in communities across the UK.

However, the research has also shown us which areas of the UK are experiencing the highest levels of life satisfaction, feel the most strongly connected to their local areas, and feel the safest in their town or city.

Such, our Charter of Belonging will outline common sense and affordable ways to help people in the areas where life satisfaction is low. Our research shows that satisfaction is linked to connections with both people and place in their community – as well as safe spaces to do so.

We have already seen this in action in Hexham, where community interest groups and investment in place and heritage has had a great impact on happiness in the area.”

ENDS

About the Belonging Forum

• The Belonging Forum was created by the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness, a global organisation that has been working with partners around the world to understand and address social isolation and belonging since 2017.
• The Belonging Forum is focused on convening partners and the public to generate simple, practical solutions that have cross-party support in the UK.
• It argues that if belonging is enshrined in policy and decision-making, social problems associated with isolation—such as poor mental health, apathy, and poorly integrated communities – will be reduced.
• It seeks to persuade policymakers and regulators to act and convene charities, not replicate their work, and inspire grassroots action.
• The aim is to use this landmark research to provide the basis for a Charter for Belonging which will outline simple, proven initiatives communities can implement to address social isolation and build belonging in key groups, including students, younger women, renters, older people, and people with disabilities.
• The polling can be found in a report — The Belonging Barometer— here.

Notes to editors:

• The research was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Belonging Forum and surveyed a nationally representative sample of 10,002 UK adults The survey was conducted between 24 November and 13 December 2023.
• The research also included multi-level regression and post-stratification (MRP) analysis of several questions, giving insights into them at a parliamentary constituency level across the UK.
• The Belonging Forum is appealing for input from policymakers, the public and partner organisations on what effective policies to include in a Charter for Belonging that will address the pressing problems identified by the research.

Contributions are welcome at kim@belonging.forum