The quality of life in Bristol

The Quality of Life in Your Neighbourhood annual survey provides an invaluable insight into life in Bristol and is now in its eleventh year.  The results are used by the council, health service and other public sector partners to help plan local services, track change and improve the quality of life in Bristol.  The survey is the council's main tool for providing neighbourhood level statistics and public perception information - this long running survey also allows people to see how things are changing over time.

Is quality of life in Bristol improving?

Results from the Quality of Life in your Neighbourhood survey 2010
Read the full report (published May 2011) (pdf, 7.0 MB).

Results from the Quality of Life in your Neighbourhood survey 2011
Read a summary of the indicators (pdf, 27 KB)

Quality of Life statistics 2005 - 2010 are available here http://profiles.bristol.gov.uk/

Residents say that generally quality of life got better in 2010 (based on the trends of over 50 indicators measured in this survey) but there are still some areas for improvement:

Getting better

• General satisfaction with the local area
• General satisfaction with how the council runs things
• Health (more healthy heating, fewer people smoking, improving health services)
• More people feel safe, fewer people have been victims of crime
• Fewer people feel anti-social behaviour is a problem and the police and council is successfully responding
• Fewer people say drug use is a problem
• More people are taking responsibility for the behaviour of their children
• Improving satisfaction with the clearance of litter and refuse on open land
• Perception of pollution (air and water) has improved
• Improving leisure facilities for older people and disabled people
• More people are satisfied with the quality of parks, green space and playgrounds
• More people are satisfied with outdoor events, museums, libraries, theatres and concert halls
• Improving satisfaction with open land kept being kept clear of litter and refuse
• More people are satisfied with the availability and cost of housing
• More people get on well together and more people show respect and consideration
• Fewer people drive to work and more are cycling
• People with skills and qualifications

Standing still, no trend

• Levels of happiness and life satisfaction
• General health and long term illness
• Discrimination and harassment
• Satisfaction with leisure facilities for teenagers
• People who feel influential in their local area and volunteer
• Drunk and rowdy behaviour

Getting worse

• Dog fouling is a growing problem
• Fewer people are concerned about climate change
• Health (fewer people are taking exercise, participating in active sport and more people are obese)
• Declining satisfaction with local jobs
• Fewer people are participating in creative activities
• Health and safety risks in people’s homes