Home | Press | Publications | What We Do | Who We Are | Search | Site Map | Contacts | Links
Scottish Social Statistics

Scottish Social Statistics Home Population Housing Education Labour Market Income, Wealth and Expenditure Health and Care Crime and Justice Transport Environment Attitudes, Social Participation and Lifestyles Appendices

< Previous | Contents | Next >

2001 Scottish Social Statistics

Social participation

Getting involved in the community and interacting with people can be very important in terms of feeling part of society and a citizen of the country. Recently there has been a tendency to mourn the lack of community spirit in today's towns and suburbs. The following tables give an indication of how involved in the community people living in Scotland are.

Some think that voting in elections is an important way of getting involved in the decisions of the country, whilst others do not vote because they feel it will make no difference or because they are not interested. Chart 10.6 shows the proportions of people that voted in the Scottish Parliamentary elections in Scotland in 1999. According to Scottish Household Survey 1999 results, overall, 72 per cent of the population voted in the Scottish Parliament elections. However, the official turnout figure for the election (Bochel and Denver, Scottish Council Elections 1999), was 58.5 per cent. Survey research commonly over estimates turnout at elections. The over-reporting from the Scottish Household Survey is likely to be a result of several factors including a desire by respondents to give a socially acceptable response, genuine confusion or forgetfulness and, potentially, a greater willingness among voters to take part in survey research itself.

Of the people who didn't vote in these elections, the most common reasons included: "not interested in the election", "away from home on election day", "too busy", "not registered to vote" and "no point".

It seems that people in older age groups are more likely to vote in elections with about four fifths of those aged 45 and over stating that they voted in the Scottish Parliament elections compared to under one half of 18-24 year olds (Chart 10.6). This trend is consistent with other Scottish Household Survey results which show, older age groups are more likely to agree with the statement: "voting in local government elections is important".

Chart 10.6: Whether voted in Scottish Parliament election in May 1999 by age, Scotland

Source: Scottish Executive Scottish Household Survey (interviews done between July and October 1999)

Scotland and the UK had the lowest turnout for the European elections of all the countries in the EU in 1999 (Table 10.7). The lower proportion participating in the European elections perhaps reflects the fact that Europe is an issue further from home and the results have a less direct impact on local issues, especially since the constituencies for European MPs are very large so there is less local identification with the candidate. The low turnout could also be attributed to lower awareness of the European Parliament elections compared to other elections which get more publicity, and voting fatigue, since the council and parliamentary elections preceded the European elections in Scotland. Twice as many people did not vote in the European parliament election compared to the other elections because they "did not understand the issues" (Scottish Household Survey 1999).

Table 10.7 also shows that participation in the EU elections has been declining throughout the EU, over the past fifteen years.

Table 10.7: Participation in EU elections⁽¹⁾

Source: European Parliament
Note: The figures for Portugal and Spain in 1984 are for the 1987 elections and the figures for Austria,
Finland and Sweden in 1994 are for the 1996 elections.
2. Voting is mandatory in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Another indicator of the extent of community involvement is club membership. Chart 10.8 shows the numbers of people living in Scotland that are active in various clubs, groups or organisations. Overall, 48 per cent of men and 45 per cent of women in Scotland, are active in an organisation or club. The most common groups that men are involved in are sports clubs, for which one quarter of men are active members. The most common groups that women take part in are religious groups for which just over one in six women are active members. Three times more women than men are active members of parenting associations. Over twice as many men compared to women are active members of social clubs.

Chart 10.8: Percentage of people who are active members of organisations, groups or clubs, Scotland 1999⁽¹⁾

Source: British Household Panel Survey⁽²⁾, produced by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex
Note: 1. Interviews carried out between September 1999 and March 2000.
2. British Household Panel Survey 2001, figures are unweighted.

In 1999, Scottish Household Survey results indicated that one in five people living in Scotland gave up time to volunteer in the community. One quarter of women in the middle age groups (35-59) volunteered, making them more likely to do voluntary activities than men or women in other age groups. Chart 10.9 shows that those working part time or studying were more likely to volunteer. Other Scottish Household Survey results indicated that volunteering was more common in rural areas, and rose as household income increased.

Chart 10.9: Whether gives us time as a volunteer/organser⁽¹⁾ by economic activity and gender, Scotland 1999

Source: Scottish Executive Scottish Household Survey 1999
Note: 1. The question asked was: "Do you give up any time to help as a volunteer or as an organiser for any charities,
clubs or organisations, these days? I mean in an unpaid capacity."
2. Full-time employed also includes those who are self employed or on a government work or training scheme.

The main beneficiaries of this voluntary activity are churches or religious organisations (23 per cent of volunteers describe their organisations in this way), organisations working with young children (21 per cent), organisations working with the elderly or the disabled (both 12 per cent), or working with the arts, culture or sport (13 per cent).

Religious membership and attendance at religious meetings and services can enable people to be involved in the community. Church membership of the Trinitarian churches (churches that believe in the holy trinity), has been declining over the past twenty years (Table 10.10), for example membership of the Presbyterian church has decreased by over a third. However, membership of the Non-Trinitarian churches has increased by nearly two-thirds, and membership of other religions (for example the Muslim faith), has more than doubled.

Table 10.10: Active membership of churches: 1980-2000, Scotland

Source: Christian Research
Note: 1. Mass attendance (the Roman Catholic have no equivalent to the Protestant concept of membership)

Chart 10.11 shows that just over one quarter of those with a religion, attend religious services and meetings at least once a week, and over one third of those with a religion never or practically never do this. As shown in Chart 10.1, 40% of people living in Scotland do not associate themselves with a religion and therefore are not included in Chart 10.11.

It is worth noting that the proportions of people attending religious services and meetings is probably much lower than the figures given in Chart 10.11, due to the tendency for survey respondents to over estimate because they wish to give socially acceptable responses. However, there is evidence to suggest that church-going is significantly higher in Scotland than in England and Wales. Research by Christian Research showed that in 1998, on an average Sunday, 7.5 per cent, 7.4 per cent and 13.5 per cent of the total population in England, Wales and Scotland respectively, attended church.

Chart 10.11: Frequency that people with religious beliefs attend religious services or meetings⁽¹⁾, Scotland 1999

Source: Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 1999
Note 1: Excludes special occasions such as weddings, funerals and baptisms.

< Previous | Contents | Next >

The information contained on this WWW site is Crown Copyright but may be reproduced without formal permission or charge for personal or in-house use. Privacy and Content Disclaimer.

For general enquiries about this web site email ceu@scotland.gov.uk or fill out our online questionnaire.