Patterns of social capital, voluntary activity, and area
deprivation in England
Patterns of social capital, voluntary activity, and area
deprivation in England
This study uses data from the 2005 and 2007 Citizenship Survey to map broad differences in levels of volunteering and social capital between ninety different types of place in England, characterised by their regional location and level of deprivation. A measure of social capital in each type of place is constructed using a multivariate multilevel statistical model and the association with rates of volunteering is then examined. The results show a positive association at the area level between the level of formal volunteering and informal volunteering and the level of social capital. The rate of both formal and informal volunteering was, however, unrelated to the level of social capital after controlling for area deprivation. These results raise concerns about the ability of volunteering to change the social characteristics of deprived areas independently of their material circumstances. Communities have strengths primarily in areas concerned with maintaining social order rather than creating economic growth. Policies to tackle area deprivation need to concentrate on linking deprived areas up to economic opportunities in more affluent surrounding areas rather than on local strategies based on self-help.
citizenship survey, social capital, volunteering, big society
McCulloch, Andrew
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Mohan, John
01d0f96b-aee7-4f4d-ad3f-e177231005f6
Smith, Peter
961a01a3-bf4c-43ca-9599-5be4fd5d3940
McCulloch, Andrew
957b8ce9-d9c5-4d0d-9511-0502b9c977c3
Mohan, John
01d0f96b-aee7-4f4d-ad3f-e177231005f6
Smith, Peter
961a01a3-bf4c-43ca-9599-5be4fd5d3940
McCulloch, Andrew, Mohan, John and Smith, Peter
(2012)
Patterns of social capital, voluntary activity, and area
deprivation in England.
Environment and Planning A, 44.
(doi:10.1068/a44274).
(In Press)
Abstract
This study uses data from the 2005 and 2007 Citizenship Survey to map broad differences in levels of volunteering and social capital between ninety different types of place in England, characterised by their regional location and level of deprivation. A measure of social capital in each type of place is constructed using a multivariate multilevel statistical model and the association with rates of volunteering is then examined. The results show a positive association at the area level between the level of formal volunteering and informal volunteering and the level of social capital. The rate of both formal and informal volunteering was, however, unrelated to the level of social capital after controlling for area deprivation. These results raise concerns about the ability of volunteering to change the social characteristics of deprived areas independently of their material circumstances. Communities have strengths primarily in areas concerned with maintaining social order rather than creating economic growth. Policies to tackle area deprivation need to concentrate on linking deprived areas up to economic opportunities in more affluent surrounding areas rather than on local strategies based on self-help.
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Accepted/In Press date: 2012
Keywords:
citizenship survey, social capital, volunteering, big society
Organisations:
Social Sciences
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 338287
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/338287
ISSN: 0308-518X
PURE UUID: 1d2265f4-447e-4958-8574-e91d65353d06
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Date deposited: 11 May 2012 13:44
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:43
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Author:
Andrew McCulloch
Author:
John Mohan
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