Data is also available at a regional level: this indicates that residents in the South East, London and the South West are most likely to exercise regularly (36.9%, 36.7% and 36.7% respectively), while those living in the West Midlands, East Midlands and North East are least likely to do so (33%, 34.2% and 34.4% respectively). Other regional differences are illustrated in the chart below.

Proportion of adults aged 16+ undertaking at least one half hour session of moderate exercise every week

Despite having the highest proportion of residents who exercise regularly, the South East has seen the smallest increase in exercise rates since 2005/6: the figure seen in 2013/14 is just 0.2 percentage points higher than that recorded in 2005/6. Other regions which have only seen small increases over this period are the East of England and the East Midlands (0.5 and 0.6 percentage points respectively). In contrast, the South West and North West have seen much larger increases (2.9 and 1.8 percentage points since 2005/6).

Data is also available at local authority level, allowing councils to identify trends in activity rates in their local area. At national level, the data has also been broken down by type of activity and by demographic group: this information could perhaps be used to identify the sports with the highest growth rates, and therefore to help target behaviour change campaigns. While exercise rates are rising, fewer than two in five UK adults in all regions are currently exercising on a weekly basis.

For further information about the Active People Survey, please see: www.sportengland.org/media-centre/news/2014/june/12/record-numbers-of-people-playing-sport/

Photo credit: Runners by Stuart Grout

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PHE has developed an excel tool to help CCGs review their ambitions which is attached along with a guidance document intended to support the use of the tool. It is recommended that users of the tool print the document and read it while using the tool. The guide contains instructions on using the tool with screen-shots, guidance on reviewing the level of ambition and definitions of the various CCG and Local Authority indicators within the tool (Technical Appendix).

The main focus of the tool is a CCG registered population base (because this is the basis for the indicator in the outcomes framework) but the tool also includes the LA resident population trajectories as context, which is particularly useful where the CCG relates to more than one LA.

For any technical queries please contact David.Merrick@PHE.gov.uk and for other queries relating to this tool please contact Sue.Baughan@PHE.gov.uk

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Meanwhile, concern with a range of other issues has risen. The proportion of voters who mention unemployment as one of the most important issues facing the country has risen from 21% in June 2010 to 32% in May 2014, while the proportion who cite issues surrounding the NHS has risen from 19% to 27% over the same time period. Concern with race relations and immigration has also increased, though not by as great a margin as might be expected: the proportion of voters mentioning the issue as a concern stood at 29% in June 2010, and has now risen to 34%.

This declining level of concern with the economy and equivalent increase with regard to other issues can be seen across almost all UK regions. Concern with the economy has fallen by more than twenty-five percentage points in all regions except Greater London, bringing the proportions of voters expressing concern about the issue to a more geographically uniform level. Concern with unemployment has risen across all regions, while the proportion of voters who mentioned issues surrounding the NHS has risen in all areas except Scotland. However, the issue of immigration presents a less uniform picture. While the proportion of voters to mention the issue has risen in southern England and in the Midlands, the inverse is true in Scotland, Northern England and Greater London. Detailed figures regarding these changes can be seen in the tables below.

For further information, please see the Ipsos MORI releases on the Issues Index results for May 2014 and June 2010, and the Ipsos MORI Issues Index archive.

Photo credit: English Money by Images Money.

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From their article:

“The councils in the UK facing the most worrying levels of “digital deprivation” include Sandwell, Knowsley and Kingston Upon Hull; all of which cater to significant percentages of service users who may never have owned a smart phone, sent email, or used the internet.

Districts in inner-London look set the weather the transformation successfully, with consumers in Kensington and Chelsea being most likely to research local government services on the web.

Top 5 local authority districts with communities most likely to research local government services online*

– Kensington and Chelsea, 27.5%
– Westminster, 24.4%
– Camden, 23.8%
– Hammersmith and Fulham, 23.6%
– Islington, 22.7%

Top 5 local authority districts with communities least likely to research local government services online*

– Sandwell, 14.9%
– Knowsley, 15%
– Kingston upon Hull, 15.1%
– Leicester, 15.20%
– Stevenage, 15.2%

*UK average = 17%”

Moving forward with digital is really beginning to take off – see what the Government is planning to do in their digital inclusion strategy

Photo credit: Digital Britain by Mark Hillary

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