"Community spirit is becoming a thing of the past"
26/11/2007
More than one in five (21.2%)* members of the British public feel they cannot rely on their neighbours in the case of an emergency, according to new figures released from EDF Energy today.
The investigation into British neighbourly actions reveals a declining focus on community spirit in the UK today, with 78.3% claiming that their parents’ generation placed a greater emphasis on caring for their local community. The results show that times have certainly changed, with a shocking 16% not knowing the names of their next-door neighbours, and less than one in ten (9%) Britons of today enjoying regular visits from their neighbours.
The research findings support EDF Energy’s annual Safe, Warm and Well campaign, in partnership with older people’s charity WRVS. The initiative encourages the residents of Britain to pull together and help vulnerable neighbours avoid some of winter’s dangers, including hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Almost one in three (30.3%) Londoners do not feel they have a neighbour they can rely upon in the case of an emergency. This is more than twice as high as the number of residents in Northern Ireland that feel this way (11.1%), where 63% believe they have a neighbour they can call on when they need help.
Percentage of respondents who feel they do not have a neighbour they can rely on to help out in the case of an emergency. Ranked by region -highest to lowest
1. London (30.3%)
2. North East (25%)
3. East (23.3%)
4. Midlands (21.9%)
5. Yorkshire (21.7%)
6. South East (21.1%)
7. North West (20.3%)
8. Scotland (16.7%)
9. Wales (15.8%)
10. South West (15.5%)
11. Northern Ireland (11.1%)
As well as our lack of neighbourly spirit, the investigation also revealed worrying levels of awareness surrounding the winter dangers of hypothermia and carbon monoxide. Four in ten (41.8%) of us would have no idea how to identify incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning and 16% could not even hazard a guess as to the symptoms of hypothermia.
With awareness so low, EDF Energy has put together a ‘Good Neighbour’ pack, which can be downloaded from the website linked below. The pack includes important information on the symptoms of hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as advice on preventative measures that can be taken.
Dr Margaret Samuel, Chief Medical Officer at EDF Energy comments: “Knowing how to identify the symptoms of hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning, and what to do if they arise, is half the battle in helping to reduce the effects amongst the most susceptible this winter.”
Campaign ambassador, Gloria Hunniford comments: “I’m sure we all know someone who could benefit from a helping hand in the colder months. It’s easy to make excuses or to think that they wouldn’t want us bothering them. But it’s up to us to rally together and look out for each other this winter.”
EDF Energy is calling on the British public to help make a difference this winter, by looking out for their neighbours and registering how they help at the website linked below.
If you are concerned about keeping warm this winter, or are worried about an elderly neighbour or relative, you can find out more information by calling EDF Energy on 0800 269450 (lines are open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8:30am until 2pm on Saturday). Calls may be monitored and recorded for training purposes.