Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Community Life Survey was first commissioned by the Cabinet Office in 2012-2013. It is a household survey conducted in England, tracking the latest trends and developments across areas key to encouraging social action and empowering communities, including:

volunteering and charitable giving;
views about the local area;
community cohesion and belonging;
community empowerment and participation;
influencing local decisions and affairs; and
subjective well-being

Up to 2015-16, the survey used a face-to-face methodology. Following thorough testing, the CLS moved to an online and paper mixed-method approach from 2016-17 onwards (a paper self-completion questionnaire being available as an alternative to the online survey), with an end to previous current face-to-face method. The objectives of the survey are to: The objectives of the survey are to:

provide robust, nationally representative data on behaviours and attitudes within communities to inform and direct policy and action in these areas;
to provide data of value to all users, including public bodies, external stakeholders and the public; and
underpin further research and debate on building stronger communities

The Community Life Survey incorporates a small number of priority measures from the Citizenship Survey, which ran from 2001-2011, conducted by the Department for Communities and Local Government. These measures were incorporated in the Community Life Survey so that trends in these issues could continue to be tracked over time. (The full Citizenship Survey series is held at the UK Data Archive under GNs 33347 and 33474.)

Further information may be found on the gov.uk Community Life Survey website.

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