UK adults show community spirit

Community spirit is still going strong in localities around the UK, according to new research from Santander Mortgages. The findings show that almost half the population (46 per cent) do something to get involved in their local community and demonstrate loyalty to the place they live, from volunteering for local charities to getting involved in local politics.

Some 16 per cent of respondents, equivalent to around 7.7 million people, claim they only shop in local independent businesses, and 13 per cent claim to volunteer for local charities.

Seven per cent claim to immerse themselves in local politics, one in twenty (5 per cent) volunteer at local youth clubs, scouts or brownie groups, and four per cent contribute to the local press.

This community spirit and loyalty to the place they live may be partly explained by the fact that a third of British adults (31 per cent) still live in the town where they grew up, and nearly two thirds (63 per cent) still live within 50 miles of their childhood home.

Many people also participate in their local community activities and sporting endeavours, with one in ten (10 per cent) regularly visiting the local sports team to watch them play, and three per cent playing for a local team themselves. A slightly less active five per cent of people like to express their support for the local area by drinking only the local beer.

Males do more to support their local community overall, with over half of them (52 per cent) getting involved in one community activity or another, compared to only 42 per cent of females.

Phil Cliff, Director of Mortgages at Santander, said: "In an age where people move home and area much more often, it's good to see that people are still getting involved in their local communities even if they're not places they have lived in all their lives. Finding a place to live in a community they can feel a part of is still very important to home buyers."

From a regional point of view, those in the East of England demonstrate the most loyalty to the place they live in, with 53 per cent of residents doing something to show loyalty to their locality. By contrast, only 38 per cent of those in the North East partake in activities to demonstrate their loyalty to the area.

Cliff continues: "Loyalty is an admirable character trait, and it can sometimes help people get better deals on products and services. At Santander we value customer loyalty and that's why we offer exclusive deals with great rates to both our existing mortgage customers wanting to move home as well as our current account customers."

For more information on mortgages from Santander, visit santander.co.uk.