Cambridgeshire County Council’s first annual countywide ‘quality of life’ survey has found that although happiness and health scored highly, loneliness in the county is much higher than the national average.
Histon & Impington residents were among the 5,500 residents who took part in the survey, and South Cambridgeshire came out as the district with the most positive scores in eight of ten areas rated in the study. These included happiness, health, Cambridgeshire as a place to raise children, and ‘feeling connected to the local community’ – which was defined as the community within a 15-minute walk of home.
Countywide, over 70% of residents said they feel happy, safe and have a sense of belonging, but the picture, especially among younger residents, wasn’t as rosy across the board.
48% of respondents said they do not trust the County Council and 56% do not think it delivers value for money – though 46% said they did not know what services the Council offers.
Younger people, renters, disabled residents and those from ethnic minorities reported more negative views and experiences. Loneliness was especially an issue for those in the 18-25 bracket, who also reported more struggles with their mental health.
The survey will be repeated yearly so that the impact of changes in council decisions and policies can be measured. It will also show where its financial resources need to be focussed and enable funds to be reallocated if there are changes in residents’ responses.
Given the Council’s budget gap for 2024/25, improving residents’ experiences will be more challenging than was previously expected.