Understanding the communities of people that live within Somerset is important in helping to target local services effectively and fairly. Many communities are based not on geographical location but on other shared characteristics and interests.
Characteristics which define such communities include: ethnicity, religion/belief, age, disability and sexual identity/orientation. Information on some of these groups in Somerset is available below.
Age
Disability
Language
Marriage and civil partnership
Race
Religion or belief
Sexual orientation
A summary of key data covering all Protected Characteristics identified through the Equality Act 2010, complied from the Somerset JSNA, is available here.
.
The following provides an ongoing digest of statistical evidence and research relating to the varying experiences and outcomes of people of different groups in Somerset. Information is presented within individual themes relating to: health, employment, education, housing, access to services and personal safety. Links to source material are also provided.
Locally sourced data and information is highlighted in grey. Complementary information is sourced from national reports and surveys.
1. Health and Well-being
The health of Somerset’s Gypsy / Irish Traveller population is poor in comparison to other ethnic groups: only two-thirds (66%) identify themselves as being in good health (‘good health’ or ‘very good health’), compared to 81% of the overall population. (Census, 2011)
Gypsy / Irish Travellers are around five times more likely than the general population to be long-term sick or a disabled (equating to 17% of all Gypsy or Irish Travellers aged 16-74 years). (Census, 2011)
General overall levels of 'life satisfaction' are highest amongst people of White and Asian ethnicity and lowest amongst people of Black ethnicity. (Annual Population Survey, 2012/13)
2. Economy and Jobs
Unemployment is higher for people of Black and Mixed ethnicities: Around 4.8% of economically active Somerset residents are unemployed, rising to 7.6% for Black and 8.2% for people of Mixed ethnicity. (Census, 2011)
People of ‘White Other’ ethnicity are more like to be employed in low-skilled routine or semi-routine occupations than the general population: Around 43% of people of White Other ethnicity work in these occupations compared to 28% of workers overall. (Census, 2011)
3. Education, Skills and Learning
Many minority ethnic groups are currently attaining well below the local authority average results across all Key Stages of education. (Children and Learners Needs Analysis, 2013)
The attainment gap between White children from low-income families and other White children is bigger than for any other ethnic group. (Ofsted, 'Unseen Children: access and achievement 20 years on', 2013)
4. Housing
The proportion of people who own their own home varies significantly across ethnic groups, from 71% for White British to 37% for White Other. Only 15% of White British householders privately rent their home, compared to 54% for Other White, 43% for Asian and 37% for Black ethnicities. (Census, 2011)
Around 2.4% of households in Somerset rate as overcrowded in terms of the number of available bedrooms in the home (defined as having an ‘occupancy rating’ of -1). For several ethnic groups the proportion is significantly higher: Other White (9.9%), Asian (11.1%) and Gypsy or Irish Traveller (16.9%). (Census, 2011)
People of Asian ethnicity are 'under-represented' on the Somerset Homefinder social housing register relative to the size of the population: Asian people comprise 0.4% of Homefinder registrants but 0.9% of the county's population. Conversely, people of White Other ethnicity are marginally over-represented. (Homefinder snapshot, June 2012)
People of White ethnicity are more likely to feel that they belong strongly to their neighbourhood than people of non-White ethnicities (78% for people of White ethnicity compared to 74% for non-White ethnic groups) (Community Life Survey, 2012/13)
5. Travel and Access
White British householders are more likely than members of any other ethnic group to have access to a car (or van). Around 10% of White British householders in Somerset do not have access to a car/van, compared to 15-16% for all other ethnic groups. (Census, 2011)
6. Community Safety
People of Black and Asian ethnicity are most likely to be victims of race hate crime (relative the ethnic profile of the county). Racial incidents account for three-quarters of all hate crime recorded in Somerset. (Somerset Community Safety Strategic Assessment, 2013)
Schoolchildren of Black and South Asian backgrounds are at much higher risk of being a target of a racial incident in school.(Children and Learners Needs Analysis, 2013)
Locally sourced data and information is highlighted in grey. Complementary information is sourced from national reports and surveys.
1. Health and Well-being
The proportion of people with a long-term illness or disability that restricts their daily activities increases steadily with age: Around 4% of people aged under 25 in Somerset have a long-term health problem or disability, increasing to 83% of people aged 85 and over. (Census, 2011)
People aged 45 to 54 rate their ‘life satisfaction’, ‘worthwhile’ and ‘happiness’ levels on average lower than any other age group. (Annual Population Survey, 2012/13)
Around a fifth of people aged 16 or over are estimated to have some indication of anxiety or depression, with a higher proportion of those aged between 40 and 59, and aged 80 and over. (Annual Population Survey, 2012/13)
2. Economy and Jobs
Younger people are more likely to be unemployed and claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) than older people: The claimant rate for people aged 16-24 in Somerset is 3.3%, compared to 2.0% for those aged 25-49, and 1.0% for those aged 50-64. (NOMIS, June 2013)
People aged 35 to 49 are more likely to be engaged in voluntary activities than any other age group, with around half (49%) estimated to have participated in formal volunteering in the last year. People aged 26-34 and 75 or over are least likely to volunteer (41% and 34% respectively) (Community Life Survey, 2012/13)
3. Education, Skills and Learning
People aged 50 or over are much less likely than the general population to hold a formal qualification: Two-thirds (66%) of working age people with no qualification in Somerset are aged 50 or over. (Annual Population Survey, Jan to Dec 2012)
The older people are, the less likely they are to engage in learning. 70% of 20-24 year olds do some form of education, training or study, compared with less than 40% of the working age population overall, and 16% of those aged 65-74. (NIACE Adult Participation in Learning Survey, 2012)
4. Housing
Younger people are much less likely and able to own their own home: 37% of Somerset householders aged 16 to 34 are owner occupiers, compared to 79% of those aged 65 or over. (Census, 2011)
As a result, 44% of householders aged 16 to 34 in Somerset privately rent their home, compared to just 7% of those aged 65 or over. Private renters typically spend more on their rental payments than owner occupiers spend on their mortgage payments (£164 compared with £141 per week). (Census, 2011 / English Housing Survey, 2011/12)
Younger people are much more likely to be homeless: Around one third (31%) of people accepted as homeless and in priority need by Somerset local authorities in the last year were aged between 16 and 24. (Department for Communities and Local Government, Live Tables on Homelessness, 2012/13)
The proportion of people who feel they belong strongly to their local neighbourhood increases with increasing age, from an estimated 77% of those aged 16-24 to 88% of those aged 75 and over. (Community Life Survey, 2012/13)
5. Travel and Access
Age is a key factor as to whether an individual has used the Internet. Almost all adults aged 16-24 years have used the Internet (99%). In contrast, only 33% of adults aged 75 years or over have ever used the Internet. (Internet Access Quarterly Update, Q2 2013)
A very small proportion (0.5%) of Somerset residents cannot speak English well (or at all). However, in the 25 to 34 age group this proportion increases to 1.5%; largely related to recent migrant workers from ‘New EU’ countries. (Census, 2011)
6. Community Safety
The likelihood of becoming a victim of violent crime decreases with age, with a much higher proportion of adults aged 16-24 reporting being a victim in the last year (8.4%) than other age groups, particularly those aged 75 and over (0.2%). (Crime Survey for England and Wales, 2012/13)
People aged 16-24 are more likely than any other age group to be killed or seriously injured (KSI) is a road traffic accident. In a recent three year period, more than a quarter (26%) of all KSIs in Somerset where people aged 16 to 24. (Somerset Road Safety Casualty Review 2011, data for 2009 to 2011)
research shows that those aged over 85 have a much higher rate of fatal fires, this suggests that although we may see a reduction in accidental dwelling fires, the increasing elderly population and associated increase in vulnerable people with complex needs living in the community could mean the number of serious fires and fatalities rising as a proportion of all accidental dwelling fires. (Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan)
Locally sourced data and information is highlighted in grey. Complementary information is sourced from national reports and surveys.
1. Health and Well-being
Life expectancy at birth is 3.8 years higher for females than males in Somerset. Male life expectancy is 80.0 years and female life expectancy is 83.8 years. (ONS Life Expectancy, 2009-2011)
A higher proportion of women than men (aged 16 or over) have some indication of anxiety or depression. (Annual Population Survey, 2012/13)
Women are more likely than men to provide unpaid care to family members, friends or neighbours; 58% of all unpaid carers in Somerset are female. (Census, 2011)
2. Economy and Jobs
Men predominate in the most senior job roles: 71% workers in higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations in Somerset are men. Nationally, the proportion is 66%. (Census, 2011)
The gender pay gap in Somerset (i.e., the difference between men's and women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings based on median gross hourly earnings for full-time employees) is 14.7%. Nationally, the gender pay gap is lower, at 11.5%. (Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2013)
Men are much more likely than women to be employed full-time. 88% of male workers in Somerset are employed full-time compared to 52% of female workers. (Census, 2011)
Woman are more likely than men to be engaged in Further Education or training; 57% of FE learners in Somerset are female (Skills Funding Agency, FE Data Library, 2011/12)
3. Education, Skills and Learning
Girls generally have higher levels of school achievement than boys. The proportion of 11 year olds achieving the expected Level 4 or above at the end of Key Stage 2 in Maths and English in Somerset is 81.9% for girls and 77.6% for boys. (Children and Learners Needs Analysis, 2013)
A higher proportion of boys than girls participate in school sports: 54% of boys in school years 1-13 participate in at least 3 hours of high quality PE/School sport in a typical week, compared to 49% of girls. (Children and Learners Needs Analysis, 2013)
4. Housing
Around half (47%) of householders accepted as homeless and in priority need by local authorities are female lone parent households. Male lone parent households account for 4% of homelessness. (DCLG, Live Tables on Homelessness, 2012/13)
Women householders are more likely to be seeking social housing through the Somerset Homefinder register than men: 60% of registrants (as at mid-2012) are women. (Homefinder snapshot, June 2012)
5. Travel and Access
Men are more likely to hold a full driving licence than women: An estimated 53% of licences are held by men, 47% by women. (National Travel Survey, 2016)
Men are more likely to have accessed the Internet than women (88% and 84% of the population respectively) (Internet Access Quarterly Update, Q2 2013)
6. Community Safety
Men are more likely to be victims of violent crime. Women are more likely to be a victim of domestic abuse. Some 7% of women and 5% of men are estimated to have experienced domestic abuse in the last year. Similarly, young women are much more likely to be victims of sexual assault. (Crime Survey for England and Wales, Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences, 2011/12)
Men in Somerset are around twice as likely than women to be the victim of a hate crime or incident. (Avon & Somerset Constabulary ASPIRE, 2012)
Locally sourced data and information is highlighted in grey. Complementary information is sourced from national reports and surveys.
1. Health and Well-being
The proportion of people with a long-term health problem or disability in Somerset varies widely by religious group, ranging from 8% of Muslims to 29% of Jewish residents. This is largely related to the older age profile of the small Jewish community. (Census, 2011)
Similarly, the proportion of residents in ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ health ranges from 3% of Muslims to 10% of Jewish people. (Census, 2011)
2. Economy and Jobs
People of Hindu religion are around twice as likely to be working in higher managerial, administrative or professional occupations than members of any other religion: 31% of Hindus aged 16 or over in Somerset occupy these senior roles. People of Christian religion form the lowest proportions (9%). (Census, 2011)
3. Housing
People of Hindu and Muslim religions are more likely to live in overcrowded housing than other groups. 8% of Hindu householders and 7% of Muslim householders have a bedroom ‘occupancy rating’ of ‘-1’, compared to between 2% and 3% for all other main religious groups. (Census, 2011)
People of Buddhist and ‘Other' (i.e., non-major religions) are more likely to live in housing with no central heating: 4.9% of Buddhists householders and 5.6% of ‘Other' religion followers do not have central heating. The Somerset average is 3.5% of households. (Census, 2011)
4. Travel and Access
People of Hindu and Muslim religions in Somerset are less likely than the general population to have their own transport: 23% of Hindu and 21% of Muslim householders do not have access to a car (or van) (Census 2011)
5. Community Safety
There were five hate crimes committed against people is Somerset due to their religious beliefs in the last year, as reported to Avon and Somerset Constabulary. (Community Safety Strategic Assessment, 2013/14)
Overall, people of Muslim religion are more likely than any other group to be the victim of a personal religion-motivated hate crime. (British Crime Survey, 2010/11)
Locally sourced data and information is highlighted in grey. Complementary information is sourced from national reports and surveys.
1. Health and Well-being
People with a disability rate their ‘life satisfaction’, ‘worthwhile’ and ‘happiness’ levels on average lower than non-disabled people. (Annual Population Survey, 2012/13)
2. Economy and Jobs
Disabled people are significantly less likely to be in employment than non-disabled people. Nationally, 47% of working-age disabled people are in employment compared to 76% of working-age non-disabled people. (Labour Force Survey, 2012)
Half (50%) of people aged 16+ with a long-term health problem or disability in Somerset have never worked or are long-term unemployed. Overall, only around 4% of Somerset residents have never worked or are long-term unemployed. (Census, 2011)
People with a long-term health problem or disability are more likely to work in routine or semi-routine occupations than the overall population (33% compared to 28%) and less likely to work in managerial, administrative or professional operations (24% compared to 30%). (Census, 2011)
Workers with a long-term health problem or disability are much more likely to be working part-time than people with no disability or health problem (43% compared to 29%). (Census, 2011)
3. Education, Skills and Learning
Disabled people are around three times as likely not to hold any qualifications compared to non-disabled people, and around half as likely to hold a degree-level qualification. (Annual Population Survey, Q2, 2012)
4. Housing
Households containing a person with a disability are more likely to live in social rented housing than households with no disabled occupant. (English Housing Survey, 2011/12)
5. Travel and Access
Disabled people are less likely to live in households with access to the internet than non-disabled people. Over half (53%) of adults who have never used the Internet have a disability. (Internet Access Quarterly Update, 2013, Q1)
6. Community Safety
Disabled people are significantly more likely to be victims of crime than non-disabled people. This gap is largest amongst 16-34 year-olds where 39% of disabled people report having been a victim of crime compared to 28% of non-disabled people. (British Crime Survey, 2010/11)
There were 17 hate crimes committed against people is Somerset due to their disability in the last year, as reported to Avon and Somerset Constabulary. (Community Safety Strategic Assessment, 2013/14)
The proportion of Christians in Somerset declined from 76.7% in 2001 to 64.0% in 2011. The proportion of people who said they had no religious affiliation increased from 14.8% to 26.6% over the same period. - 2011 Census