Social Evils

The voices of unheard groups

About this study

A decline in community and family and a rise in selfishness and consumerism are some of the social evils facing Britain today, according to a recent study by NatCen.

You can read more interesting findings from the study here.

Our researchers spoke to people whose voices normally go unheard, such as ex-offenders and people with learning disabilities, to find out about their experiences of living with social evils.

We found out how people coped on a daily basis with these social evils and what they thought, if anything, coud be done about them.

Who commissioned this study?

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation asked NatCen to conduct this study as part of a national consultation about modern-day social evils. This ambitious project included a web survey of the general public, radio phone-ins and discussion with today's leading thinkers and activitists.

Methods

We ran workshops and discussion groups across England, Scotland and Wales, which were attended by single parents, the unemployed, carers and people with experience of homelessness. Those who took part were recruited through statutory and third sector organisations.

Now find out more

Read about the national consultation in a book called Contemporary Social Evils

Find out more about Natcen's study in two reports called Living with social evils: the voices of unheard groups and Modern-day social evils: the voices of unheard groups

Read the think piece about NatCen's study, Opportunity and Aspiration