A NATIONAL LOTTERY REPORT 2020
Dawn Austwick Chair, The National Lottery Family Forum
For 25 years The National Lottery has helped to make amazing things happen, but never before in such extraordinary times. When the call came for the UK to go into lockdown in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people had to put on hold many of the things that brighten up their everyday lives – or, in some cases, stop them altogether. We have all found ourselves facing different challenges and pressures, and it’s fair to say that, for many, these have been unprecedented. Thankfully, even in times of darkness, light breaks through, and what has struck a chord with me
personally, is the way in which people and communities have rallied in response to the crisis. They have adapted and evolved, showing great resilience, flexibility, and determination in how they work, live, and support each other. Here at The National Lottery we have been privileged to witness much of this first hand through the fantastic response of the many thousands of projects we fund. It has been equal parts humbling and heartening to see how they quickly swung into action to overcome obstacles to support our communities and protect the things that matter to so many people’s lives. Whether delivering vital supplies to those forced to shield, performing online plays to lift the spirits of vulnerable people, arranging online creative sessions for those with autism, delivering physical activity equipment for people with disabilities to keep active in their
homes - 2020 will live long in the memory as a moment of unity and determination, which has seen many incredible people play an active role in their communities. As highlighted in this report, our society has grown and changed in these crucial times - with millions of people taking small but meaningful actions to help others. PreCOVID-19, their work may have gone unnoticed, but, today, with more people attuned to their community, their extraordinary work is recognised, valued, and inspiring others more than ever before. When we reflect on this time, it will surely be to marvel at the resilience the UK has shown through the astonishing actions of individuals and communities. For many, it was an opportunity to lend a helping hand or to support the things that lift our spirits and wellbeing – often through sport, the arts, and heritage and community
projects – despite the most trying of circumstances. It’s this redoubtable spirit that has been replicated in cities, towns, and villages up and down the UK. And it’s this spirit which will help the UK in its recovery and in the future. This report is part of a wider National Lottery campaign to recognise the hidden heroes in our communities whose actions, big or small, are making such a difference. As well as thanking them, we also want to thank the millions of National Lottery players who have continued to help us to raise money for good causes: thanks to you £30m is raised each week which continues to go to projects improving people’s lives, wellbeing, and happiness. By dedicating this report to the people who have stepped up to support their communities, I hope that many more will be inspired to join them.
Community
The UK’s sense of community has been tested like never before during lockdown.
A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
But newly released findings from a study of over 6,000 adults across the UK, commissioned by The National Lottery, show that living with the pandemic throughout 2020 has resulted in changes few thought possible, bringing about a series of unexpected social and attitudinal shifts that could be retained long into the future. The research has revealed that while the pandemic is having serious consequences for millions and a potentially devastating effect on the economy, the extraordinary public response to it may also represent a watershed moment in our history - changing both how we feel about ourselves and each other.
8x more likely
Members of the public saying they were eight times more likely to buy a drink for a community worker than a celebrity.
It found that community spirit was named by 49% as one of the best things to come out of the pandemic, while 58% said they had an increased appreciation for community project workers. The increased value that people’s experiences of engaging with their community more looks like it will influence their future decisions of where to live, with over half (55%) saying the community spirit of an area would be an important consideration if they were to move and 42% saying they would be reluctant to move to a new area because they would not want to lose their current local community.
47%
of people value selflessness more since before the pandemic, 46% value empathy more and 38% value humility more.
The research also shows that people who receive emotional support from others in their community and say that getting to know their neighbours has given them a sense of community are more likely to feel the experience of lockdown has helped their well-being (respectively 42% and 45%) compared to the UK average (27%).
Is the pandemic making us more caring?
Feeling personal benefits from connecting with our local community
Meanwhile across society, the public now prizes the values of compassion and selflessness much more highly than before, along with a new-found respect for the ‘everyday heroes’ in their community.
Just as 2020 is bringing a host of unprecedented challenges, the study reveals that drawing on the UK’s hidden reserves of resilience is leading to millions reconnecting with each other and reassessing their priorities.
The survey found that 51% now place a greater value on compassion than before the pandemic, while nearly 45% of the public say they acted altruistically in offering to help their neighbours and people in their local area during lockdown.
Changing our attitudes and opinions of others
music or movie stars, such as the Grammys or Oscars (8%).
Profound changes are potentially taking place at a social level across the UK, with over half (of adults (59%) feeling the pandemic has led them to have an increased appreciation for community project workers and 62% appreciate volunteers more than before.
NHS workers (69%), essential workers (59%), volunteers (32%) and community project workers (29%) are seen as having had the most impact on society during the pandemic and people would prefer to hear about stories of kindness in their local community (79%) than stories about show-biz celebrities (8%)
This increased appreciation for people we term ‘everyday heroes’ means they are now the most valued members of society and those that are seen to be most deserving of being celebrated with a quarter (24%) of respondents saying they would rather buy a drink for a community project worker than an A-list celebrity (3%) or reality TV star (3%) and people feeling it is more important to have award ceremonies that celebrate everyday people that helped others in their community (78%) than to have award ceremonies that celebrate
Interestingly, the survey indicated that the greatest shifts in attitudes were among those who were ‘time poor’ with busy lives pre-pandemic, such as young people, parents living with kids, people living in the capital or highest income earners, as well as those most likely to have been impacted directly by the virus, including key workers and those who have tested positive for Covid-19.
45% 49%
of people offered to help their neighbours or people in their area during the pandemic.
agreed that ‘one of the best things about lockdown has been the community spirit’.
51% value compassion more than pre pandemic.
80% 42%
of those that know their neighbours better say knowing their neighbours makes them feel safer. of people say they would be reluctant to move to a new area because they wouldn’t want to lose their local community.
Emma Kenny, psychologist, presenter and writer, said: “Whilst any crisis can have a hugely negative impact on many areas of our lives, this year has also brought into sharp focus the important aspects of what makes us human. Neighbours have become friends, key workers - once taken for granted - have been seen and appreciated for the amazing work that they do, and communities have come together to meet the needs of those struggling in the current climate. “These increased connections within your local area can have huge psychological benefits for you and the people around you. Feeling connected, and having a sense of belonging, are conditions that are beneficial on all levels for physical and mental wellbeing. When you experience a sense of community, you are more likely to feel secure and reassured, which can offer a sense of safety, particularly during such turbulent times. The lessons learnt during this year offer an important insight to, and reminder of, how individuals and small groups of people have the power to change the world around them.�
Jay Blades, eco designer, furniture restorer and TV presenter has designed 12 benches which will be installed around the UK dedicated to some of the many inspiring and unsung people helping others in their community this year. “I’ve been really humbled to hear some exceptional stories of people who do so much to protect the vulnerable and care for many of those who live on the edges of our society. We are going through incredibly tough times, and unfortunately no one expects it to be over soon. But I’ve been inspired to see their work being recognised and to see the new networks we’ve created. “We live in a very advanced, digital world, but we seem to have rediscovered what it really means to live side by side with each other again. Those bonds that connect us have really sprung to the surface.”
WE’RE SEEING LONELY PEOPLE COME TO LIFE AGAIN
The charity, Time To Talk Befriending, was one of the organisations that proved to be of immense support to elderly people during lockdown. The group specialises in reaching out to the elderly and the vulnerable, building up networks for those who have few friends or company. After being founded by social work graduate Emily Kenward in 2013, it grew to a staff of eight with 500 volunteers and supporters by this year. But demand for their services rocketed over lockdown as the charity sought to help over 800 elderly people - many who could no longer have face-to-face contact, but urgently needed provisions like food and medication. Emily who is now in her second year of funding from The National Lottery says: “The long-term goal is to
Emily Kenward Founder, Time To Talk Befriending
replicate what we’re doing and help even more people. The National Lottery funding has been brilliant and it has meant we are now expanding our work even further to more hard-to-reach places and communities across the county.” The idea for the charity began almost ten years ago when Emily was a mature student studying social work at Brighton University. Each day, she would walk past a little church in Kemptown and notice the high-rise blocks with their rows of windows all with the curtains closed. Emily knew from her studies that the blocks were senior housing schemes where hundreds of older people lived, but undertaking further research in the area, she found many of those who lived there were chronically lonely and hadn’t seen or talked to anyone for months. The discovery prompted Emily to set up a charity connecting the elderly with volunteers for friendship
and company. It offered support to get to group events and help for them to build networks of friend. Many simply wanted a friendly face to visit them at home. Emily says: “The heart-breaking thing was people telling us they didn’t want to be here anymore because they have no purpose and they feel so alone,” she says. “But quite quickly we began to see people’s lives literally transform. People came to life and felt like they were in the world again. Emily says: “These are people have an amazingly rich life history, so it feels like a privilege to be able to offer an opportunity for them to not wilt away and feel forgotten.” Over lockdown Emily and her team switched to face-toface contact with their members were mostly aged 80
and above and who were all vulnerable with many living with long term health conditions. Most of them needed the fresh meals and emergency care packages every week. Referrals from the council’s emergency hubs also increased dramatically… but the success of their work has been incredible Emily says: “The most uplifting moments are just hearing their stories. “People have written into us to say that they didn’t have any family or friends but now feel like they’re not on their own and belong to a community. Loneliness is in the spotlight and befriending is more needed now that it ever has been, so I feel very proud of the team and everything that’s been achieved.”