A major survey which is helping to build a picture of life in Cumbria has revealed a fascinating insight into some of the challenges faced by people coping with a disability or long-term illness.
Earlier this year, more than 4,000 randomly selected people took part in the Big Cumbrian Survey.
The survey, carried out by the independent research and polling organisation Ipsos MORI on behalf of Cumbria County Council and its partner organisations, asked residents whether they're happy living here and to rate what's most important to them in making somewhere a good place to live - from clean streets to public amenities.
Some of the questions covered smoking habits, diet, exercise levels and other health-related issues.
Around one fifth of those who took part (22 per cent) said they had a long-term illness or disability that restricted their daily activities.
Among the findings:
. Nearly a third of Cumbrians with a long-term illness or disability said they felt unsafe outdoors at night (29 per cent) compared with a fifth of all people in the county (21 per cent).
. Nineteen per cent of Cumbrians with a long-term illness or disability said they were in full-time employment compared with a county-wide average of 40 per cent.
. Nearly half of respondents with a long-term illness or disability said they had done two to five hours of voluntary work during the past year (44 per cent) compared with just over a third of all Cumbrians over the same period (36 per cent).
. Across the county, one in three Cumbrians said they had a formal qualification (32 per cent) compared to just one in five people (18 per cent) with a long-term illness or disability.
. Sixty-nine percent of people with a long-term illness or disability said they owned their own home compared with 76 per cent across the county as a whole.
. More people with a long-term illness or disability said they rent their home from a social housing provider (17 per cent) compared with the county-wide average reported in the survey (9 per cent).
Councillor Oliver Pearson, cabinet member responsible for Adult Social Care in Cumbria, said:
"This is an extremely useful piece of research which highlights some of the challenges faced by people with a long-term illness or disability in Cumbria.
"Changes to the Disability Discrimination Act which came into force at the end of last year now place a duty on public authorities to develop policies, procedures and services that not only combat disability discrimination but actively promote disability equality.
"In response to this development, the county council recently produced a Disability Equality Scheme which sets out how we intend to break down some of the barriers faced by people with a lifelong illness or disability in Cumbria in a number of important areas including the delivery of services, access to information and improved employment opportunities.
"The results from this survey will play an important part in our continued efforts to develop policies and practices which will help improve the opportunities of Cumbrians living with a long-term illness or disability."
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes for editors
1. A copy of the full survey can be found at http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/consultation/2006qolsurvey.asp
2. A copy of Cumbria County Council's Disability Equality Scheme can be found at http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/3904812248.pdf