The Community
Wellbeing Index
People who work close to home have more opportunities to interact with the local community.
How we measure it:
Proportion of workers in the community that are travelling 30km or further from their home address to their work address.
(Census 2011, ONS)
Working long hours can be detrimental to work-life balance.
How we measure it:
Proportion of workers in the community working over 49 hours per week.
(Census 2011, ONS)
Higher household income suggests a more economically prosperous community.
How we measure it:
Average household income within the community.
(ONS Income Estimates)
A high number of empty vacant commercial units suggests a struggling local economy.
How we measure it:
Proportion of total commercial units in the community that are currently vacant.
(Valuation Office Agency).
A high number indicates a large number of low-income families.
How we measure it:
Proportion of children at schools within the community taking free school meals. Scotland has been calculated separately.
(Geolytix Education Pack)
Unemployment rates in the community indicate a less prosperous economy.
How we measure it:
Proportion of adults within the community claiming JSA or Universal Credit, depending on their location.
(Claimant Count, ONS)
Shops provide a vital service to meet the needs of local people.
How we measure it:
Distance is measured from the outer boundary of the locale to the nearest shop, with a value of zero if within the community.
(Geolytix Retail Points)
Post offices provide a vital service to meet the needs of local people.
How we measure it:
Distance is measured from the outer boundary of the locale to the nearest post office, with a value of zero if within the community.
(© OpenStreetMap contributors)
Co-ops and social enterprises provide an example of people coming together to meet local needs in their community.
How we measure it:
Figures are scaled per 10,000 population of each community.
(Co-operatives UK, Social Enterprise UK, Locality, Plunkett Foundation, Companies House)
Our research identified nine areas that matter for community wellbeing. These are grouped into People, Place and Relationships.
The availability of good, accessible, affordable services to help all ages make the most of education and learning opportunities.
Find out moreAccess to good quality public, voluntary, and social care services that promote physical and mental health in the community.
Find out moreServices and infrastructure in place to promote a sustainable, ethical, inclusive economy that meets the needs of local people.
Find out moreAccess to affordable and inclusive cultural and leisure activities, services and amenities which celebrate the diverse histories of people in the community.
Find out moreAccess to affordable and sustainable transport and communication networks for everyone, especially those with disabilities.
Find out moreAffordable, secure, quality housing, a safe and clean surrounding environment, and well-kept, accessible and inclusive public spaces for people of all ages.
Find out moreThe state of family, social and community relationships and the impact of any breakdown in trust on issues like crime.
Find out moreEqual and fair opportunities for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, religion, colour, age, ability, sexuality, gender, income etc. Services and infrastructure in place to promote equality, equity and fairness.
Find out moreDemocratic governance and decision-making mechanisms in place to allow people to express themselves and take either individual or collective action to improve the local community and beyond.
Find out more
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We care about the wellbeing of our local communities, which is why we are applying a few changes to our postcode search for you to find your local wellbeing score.
You can still find out about the great work involved throughout the Community Wellbeing Index on site.