4.5A Engagement

• Level of engagement = ways in which people participate in their community in order to improve the quality of life for others to shape their community
• Measuring engagement:

  • local elections
  • national elections
  • community groups
• 2015 general election:

  • 78% of people aged over 65 voted, compared to only 43% of people aged 18-24.
  • Locally, turnout ranged from 51% in Stoke on Trent Central to 82% in East Dunbartonshire in Scotland. 
  • Turnout is the lowest in deprived inner cities and higher in wealthy suburbs and commuter belt rural areas. 
• Variation in political engagement due to:

  • Language barriers, especially among recently arrived immigrants
  • Lack of trust in politicians, strongest among the young and some ethnic minority groups
  • Feeling that one has no influence, strongest among minorities
• • There are variations in the level of community engagement, which can be measured through:
  • Local and national election turnout
  • The number of community activities 
  • The number of supported local community groups\]