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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

The Better Family Life IndexA uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

ContentsForeword by Dr Kairen Cullen, Educational Psychologist 4

Chapter One: Key Findings 5

Top five places for families to live in the UK 6-7

Bottom five places for families to live in the UK 6-7

Chapter Two: Budgeting for Family Life 8

Chapter Three: Caring for Children 10

Chapter Four: The Family Home 12

Chapter Five: Family Health and Wellbeing 14

Chapter Six: Where Do We Go From Here? 16

Study methodology 18

Full regional rankings 18

Footnotes 21

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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

Introduction Chapter 01

Foreword by Dr Kairen Cullen, Educational Psychologist

As a parent of four children and as an Educational Psychologist who has worked with countless children, young people and their families over many years, I welcome this opportunity to comment on uSwitch’s study of the quality of family life in the UK.

Based upon detailed desktop comparative research of the UK’s 138 local authority areas and 2,434 online interviews with UK adults who have children aged under 18 in their household, the project has produced a fascinating perspective on family life in contemporary Britain.

Everyone knows that parenting and family life are complex and challenging but also one of the most fulfilling and rewarding aspects of human experiences. There is no definitive instruction manual for bringing up a family and the solutions that parents devise will be unique to them but this study has revealed some clear patterns and themes. These offer the potential for informing and guiding better local and national policies and public and private sector initiatives to support family health and wellbeing.

In particular, it has highlighted the importance of pay and conditions of employment, budgeting for family life, childcare, education, local services, including health and law and order, the home environment and social connectedness.

The key points that I take from reading this report are that - at community and local authority levels - health, education, recreation services and the private sector should be all doing more with families in mind. The more aware society is about the importance of family life, the more likely it is that we can make practical improvements to help families where it matters.

I hope that uSwitch’s study will stimulate further local and national initiatives for supporting family life and deeper consultation with parents about the quality of family life in their localities.

Key findingsIntroducing the uSwitch Better Family Life IndexThe first uSwitch Better Family Life Index offers a snapshot of UK family life in 2016. Bringing together extensive research1, it covers a wide range of aspects relating to family life, from health to housing, crime to sunshine, childcare to healthcare.

The factors behind family life are explored regionally, uncovering where in the UK families can find the best - and worst - quality of life.

Through surveying over 2,400 parents in the UK with children under the age of 182, the study shows that life as a parent in 2016 can feel pressured and hectic:

43% of parents worry they are not giving their family the best start.

40% of parents believe a lot more needs to be done to improve their family’s quality of life.

But it isn’t all bad news. In general, parents seem satisfied with their family relationships and their local area:

72% of parents are really happy with where they live.

82% of parents believe they have a happy relationship with their family.

With Brexit fresh in the nation’s minds, this report provides some quick and simple measures to bring greater stability to family finances, at a particularly uncertain time for many. In collaboration with Chartered Educational Psychologist, Dr Kairen Cullen, it also makes recommendations that relate to government, the community and individual parents.

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5 Clackmannanshire and Fife

East and North Ayrshire mainland

York

Leicester

Cambridgeshire

Hertfordshire

Isle of Wight

Central Bedfordshire

Warrington

Glasgow City

Top places for family life in the UK

Bottom places for family life in the UK

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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

Top five places for family life

1 HertfordshireHertfordshire has one of the highest employment rates in the UK with 81% of those aged 16-64 employed, as well as some of the country’s best exam results (64% achieved 5+ A*-C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE or equivalent). earn a healthy average gross income of £33,435, crime is low and fixed network broadband download speeds are faster than in most other areas of the UK at 38Mbit/s

2 CambridgeshireCambridgeshire takes second place, benefiting from high employment levels (80% of those aged 16-64 are employed), high annual pay of £32,761, the lowest percentage of children in workless households (4%), and a low number of young people out of education, employment or training (only 3%). As part of the East of England, it also sees the most sunshine in the UK.

3 Central BedfordshireCentral Bedfordshire scores well in the rankings, with a high proportion of its young people in education, employment or training, and a relatively low crime rate (49 crimes per 1,000 residents). It also benefits from the East of England’s high sunshine levels.

4 WarringtonWarrington has relatively high employment (78%), strong exam results (60% achieved 5+ A*-C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE or equivalent) and a low average cost for nurseries (£3.61 per hour).

5 YorkYork boasts high exam results (63% achieved 5+ A*-C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE or equivalent), a high number of GPs per resident and, as part of the Yorkshire and Humber region, relatively low energy bills at £1,040 a year.

Bottom five places for family life

1 East and North AyrshireHigh crime rates (115 crimes per 1,000 residents) and relatively low employment rates (67% of those over 16 are in employment), combined with low annual pay of £26,962, poor 2, 3 and 4G mobile signal coverage and slow download speeds (19Mbit/s), have led East and North Ayrshire to score bottom in the rankings. On the plus side, council tax is lower than average in the area.

2 LeicesterLeicester’s second-from-bottom place in the rankings comes from its employment rate - with the fourth lowest in the UK (63% of adults in employment) and a low number of state-funded primary schools per resident. The region is part of the East Midlands, where families spend the least amount of time with loved ones in a week.

3 Glasgow CityGlasgow has one of the lowest employment levels (67% of those aged 16-64 in work), a high proportion of young people out of employment, education and training (8%), the worst crime rate in the country and poor exam results. However, it has a high number of GPs per person, low council tax and high 2, 3 and 4G mobile signal coverage.

4 Isle of WightThe Isle of Wight is among the bottom of the list due to its low annual pay (£25,704) and high petrol prices (£1.15 per litre of unleaded). On the plus side, it has less young people out of employment, education and training than most parts of the country (3%) and some of the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per head.

5 Clackmannanshire and FifeFifth from the bottom,Clackmannanshire and Fife has the third lowest GCSE-equivalent exam results (32% of students achieved 5+ A*-C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE or equivalent), high crime rates and a high percentage of young people not in education, employment or training (8%).

Quality of life for UK families: regional indexWhile it is clear that there is no single “dream location” for families, this study shows that certain parts of the country offer a better balance of the key priorities for family life.

48% Even though most parents are happy with their area, nearly half have considered moving to improve their family’s quality of life.

North East spends the leastFamilies in the North East of England consistently spend the least on food and drink every week (£50), followed by those in Yorkshire and The Humber (£51). Families in Northern Ireland spend the most (£64).

Energy savingsFor nearly three years, wholesale gas and electricity prices have been falling, leading to cheaper fixed term deals. However, fixed priced energy deals have increased by up to £1059 since the UK’s vote to leave the EU, as some energy providers replace their cheapest fixed rate tariffs with more expensive plans.

Yorkshire saves on energyYorkshire families spend the least on energy bills at £1,040 per year. Northern Ireland has the highest bills at £1,572, as a result of infrastructure challenges, followed by the South West of England at £1,087. Living in the areas where energy is at its most expensive offers extra incentive for sourcing a competitive fixed price deal.

Cutting car costsWith school runs and daily commutes a typical part of family life, 75% of British households10 have one car or more, so expenses such as insurance and petrol can make a significant dent in budgets.

South East pays more for car insurance

£

Families in the South East of England may be particularly interested in the car insurance cost cutting measures suggested below as car insurance is at its most expensive here with annual premiums averaging £572.

Petrol costs less in Northern IrelandPetrol is at its most expensive on the Scottish Orkney Islands, (£1.17p per litre), giving families an additional incentive to car-pool, walk and cycle where possible. The east and north of Northern Ireland, by contrast, have the lowest petrol prices in the UK (£1.08p per litre).

uSwitch top tips for family finances

• There are a host of different credit card options available depending on your financial situation:

• Transfer existing debt to a 0% credit card and you could save an average of £188.

• If you’re debt free but want to make a big purchase, get a 0% purchase card with an extended 0% period and make sure to pay the debt off before the offer ends.

• If you can pay off your card in full each month, a cashback or reward credit card might be the best option.

• Savings rates are at a record low. Investigate the extremely good incentives for switching current accounts, such as £100 on switching, numerous cashback options and high interest current accounts.

• Help stabilise your monthly outgoings by considering a fixed-rate mortgage.

• Save up to £679 a year by switching your energy provider11.

Chapter 02

Budgeting for family lifeFood spend, council tax rates and petrol prices are among the key essentials straining family budgets. Additionally, Brexit may bring a new level of uncertainty to many of these costs, with the potential for increased unemployment and rising costs of living.

52% of parents often worry about money and how to support their families.

45% of parents worry about paying the bills.

What would most improve your family’s quality of life? The top three factors parents believe would enhance their quality of life are all money-related, with better weather following in fourth place.

57%

53%

52%

43%

More disposable income

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper bills

Better weather

Employment and economic uncertaintyWhile the UK unemployment rate is at its lowest3

since July 2005, many families still struggle to cover the cost of living. More than one in three families now have an income below the Minimum Income Standard5, classified by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as too low to enable them to fully participate in society.

Balancing employment and childcare is a particular issue for single parents. There are around two million lone parents in the UK, of which 64% are in employment6. This is an increase of nearly 10% compared to last decade - but those in single parent families are still nearly twice as likely to be in poverty as those in dual parent families7.

Liverpool losing outLiverpool has the highest percentage of children in workless households (31%) and the lowest employment rate in the UK (60.4%), suggesting that the benefits of initiatives to boost economic growth have yet to be felt in the mainstream.

Londoners are UK’s top earnersUnsurprisingly, average weekly personal income is highest in the UK’s capital, particularly in inner west London and inner east London, (averaging £817 and £775.50 respectively). The lowest weekly income is found in the north of Northern Ireland (£380).

Feeding the familyThe ability to put food on the table is a non-negotiable aspect of family living. The growing popularity of discount supermarket chains Lidl and Aldi and the ongoing price war with the “Big Four” has helped to keep food prices relatively low for UK families but the recently weakened pound could lead to food price increases8.

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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

Chapter 03

The cost of childcare Childcare is an important financial issue for many parents. Since 2008, UK nursery fees have increased by 48% for under-twos and 52% for over-twos17. The situation can be particularly tough on single parents, who are more likely to rely on longer hours of childcare than couples, but less likely to be able to afford them18.

The Childcare Bill19, which plans to double the number of hours of free care available for three and four-year-olds, may help address this. Interestingly, Wales and Scotland consistently claim the most nurseries in the country per thousand people.

London parents pay the mostThe cost of full-time childcare is at its most expensive throughout London, averaging £5.90 per hour. However, typical incomes across London also tend to be higher. By contrast, in the West and South of Northern Ireland nurseries cost just £2.90 per hour, reflecting the area’s lower incomes.

Inspiring digital natives Young people’s understanding of technology could influence their future employment prospects as jobs in the digital technology industry grew 2.8 times faster than the rest of the economy between 2011 and 201420. The strength of the UK’s broadband network sets it in prime position to fuel digital economic growth; the UK has better levels of broadband coverage than Spain, France, Germany or Italy21.

However, broadband coverage and mobile phone reception can significantly vary regionally. This can be an issue not just for “digital natives”, but also their parents. Good broadband and mobile network coverage are essential for effective remote working, which can help with childcare needs.

Head to Portsmouth for better broadband

Portsmouth, Belfast and Bristol have the fastest fixed line download speeds in the country. The Highlands and Islands in Scotland and Powys in Wales are hindered by the UK’s slowest download speeds. With home internet access increasingly important for education and employment, community-driven campaigns could improve broadband in these areas.

Mobiles work best in the MidlandsThose living in parts of the Midlands are likely to have the best reception, with over 99% coverage in Derby, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Nottingham. Phoning home from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is more challenging, where coverage is less than 14%. Families here should check which network operator has the best local coverage before committing to a contract.

uSwitch top tips for family tech

• If a child has a mobile phone of their own on a contract plan, parents can ask the network operator to place a cap on mobile bills to avoid sky-high data charges.

• A pre-pay tariff as opposed to a contract, allows parents to keep costs under control and educate children about managing finances in the process.

Caring for childrenA good educationEvery parent wants the best future for their children and the study found some positive findings regarding childcare, schooling and recreational facilities:

81% The vast majority of parents describe the quality of schools in their area as good or very good.

72% Nearly three quarters rate the quality of local playgrounds as good or very good.

However, in many parts of the country it is still challenging for parents to find a place for their children at their preferred school. The National Union of Teachers has accused the government of creating a “school-places crisis”12 and is calling for councils to be able to open schools in response to local needs.

The Academies Act 201013 aims to open schools free from local authority control, boosting innovation in education. However, critics are concerned that these schools lack accountability to parents, staff or local communities.

Poorer choice of schools in Monmouthshire and Newport

Monmouthshire and Newport in Wales have the fewest state-funded primary schools per 1,000 residents, followed by Bournemouth and Poole.

Scotland bottom of the class for exam results

Scottish parents may be concerned to learn that the ten lowest scoring regions for GCSE-equivalent exams14 are all in Scotland, perhaps reflecting reports that literacy standards have dropped in Scottish primary and secondary schools15.

NEET numbersIdentifying areas where young people are not in education, employment or training (known as NEET) is another way of determining the likelihood of children obtaining a good start in life. In the first three months of 2016, 12% of young people16 in the UK were classified as NEET, an increase of 0.8% on last year.

Least opportunity for young people in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has a high percentage of NEETs (ranging from over 13% of 16-24 year olds in Outer Belfast to nearly 18% in the East of Northern Ireland), highlighting a real need for more training and youth support in the area. By contrast, less than 2% of Surrey’s 16-18 year old young people are NEETs.

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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

Chapter 04

The Family HomeTo buy or to rent?Home is at the heart of family life, where everyone comes together to eat, chat, rest and play. Despite its central role, the prospect of owning their own home is a distant dream for many families in the UK today.

High housing prices and a national housing shortage mean that 1.3 million families with children live in privately rented accommodation22. With current financial uncertainty and the UK interest rate cut, many families trying to save are likely to see their savings returns languish, and house ownership could be pushed further beyond the grasp of many23.

Other home-related expensesBeyond mortgage and rent payments, local council tax rates and home insurance are important financial considerations relating to the family home.

Council tax cheapest in Belfast

£££TAX

In Belfast council tax rates average £831 annually. Nottingham residents pay more than double this amount at £1,771 per year.

Home insurance most expensive in South East EnglandThe North East of England sees the cheapest home insurance prices (£198 per year). Residents of the South East of England pay the most with an annual average of £317. The tips below offer some practical measures to help families reduce home insurance premiums.

Keeping the family safeFamilies naturally want to feel safe in their local neighbourhood. Reassuringly, there has been a 6% fall in the number of crime incidents against adults in the past year24, although levels of risk vary throughout the UK.

Protected in PowysPowys is statistically the safest place in the UK, with the lowest crime rate in the country (36.8 recorded crimes annually per 1,000 residents), followed by Devon. Glasgow City was found to have the highest crime rate (235 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), although parents in London are the least likely to believe their children will grow up safe and secure in their area, according to the survey.

Family timeThe strength of family relationships undoubtedly plays an important part in a family’s emotional wellbeing. Typically, parents spend an average of 5 hours 18 minutes with their children on a normal week day (excluding weekends) and 4 hours 24 minutes with their partner.

82% of parents believe they have a happy relationship with their family.

75% of parents surveyed say they have a strong and solid relationship with their partner.

uSwitch top tips for the family home

• Make sure your house is fitted with good quality locks, a burglar alarm and a smoke alarm.

• Increase the excess on your home or contents insurance premium, if you can afford to pay it, as the higher the voluntary excess, the lower the premium.

• Turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can save you as much as £85 per year.

• Don’t unnecessarily add to your energy bills by leaving appliances on standby .

• Slow broadband speeds can often be combated with better router placement. Make sure your router is on a table and not the floor and not too far from the devices you want to connect it to. Also try to avoid thick walls, though extenders and signal boosters are an option if moving your router isn’t.

• Limit the amount of time your children can spend online by looking into parental control software. It is offered by some broadband providers but if not, it is possible to invest in paid-for parental control software or use something like the Windows Live Family Safety app.

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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

Chapter 05

Family health and wellbeingFamily life causing stress?Nearly half (46%) of parents in the study admitted to feeling stressed, suggesting the pressures of family life in 2016 are taking their toll. This stress could be linked to a diverse range of factors including financial worries, relationship pressures, a lack of sleep or social contact.

Rest and relaxation52% of parents believe they rarely get enough sleep, which could be detrimental to their wellbeing as, without good quality sleep, we simply do not function properly25.

Scotland sleeps the leastIn Scotland, parents sleep an average of 6 hours 36 minutes a night. London parents claim to get more sleep than any other part of the UK, averaging 7 hours 18 minutes. The average for UK parents is 6 hours 54 minutes per night.

As well as getting daily rest, holidays are an important factor in family wellbeing, giving parents a chance to recuperate and spend quality time with their children. Perhaps that is why 83% of female parents and 75% of male parents surveyed wish they could take more family holidays.

London families missing out on family fun?

With fewer paid days’ holiday than anywhere else in the UK, Londoners could be spending the least amount of time with their families on holiday. They have an average of 21 days of leave a year, compared to Northern Ireland, which has 27 days.

More fun in the sunAmong the top four factors that would improve quality of life, 40% of parents mentioned better weather. In fact, Public Health England recently recommended that during autumn and winter UK residents should take vitamin D supplements as the country does not see enough sunshine.

Go East for sunnier climesThe East of England is the sunshine capital of the country, seeing the most hours of sunshine in 2015, followed by London and the South East of England. Those in the Highlands and Islands in Scotland may struggle to get their vitamin D, with the least amount of sunshine per year.

Transport and air pollutionTime spent outdoors contributes to a healthy family lifestyle and so it is worth noting that CO2 emissions in the UK have declined27 significantly over the last few decades. However, air pollution still causes 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK28.

Northumberland’s air is cleanestNorthumberland has the least amount of CO2 emissions per head. South Teesside is the UK’s most CO2-polluted location, followed by Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot in Wales.

Parents in South East of England face longest commutes

Parents in all parts of the South East of England spend more time commuting (one hour and eight minutes there and back) than anywhere else in the UK, perhaps giving them less time to relax at home. Those in the North East and South West of England spend the least time commuting (43 minute round trip).

The North East has the most time for loved ones

Those in the North East of England appear to be spending more time with their children, partner, friends and other members of their family than any other region (with 5 hours 5 minutes in an average day). By the same measure, parents in the East Midlands spend the least amount of time with loved ones at just 4 hours 14 minutes each day.

Doctors in demandAvailability of GP appointments is a serious challenge in the UK. The number of GPs has declined by 1.9% in the last two years, while the number of appointments booked by patients has increased by 40 million from 2008 to 201429. On a more positive note, 81% of parents surveyed are happy with the quality of their local surgery.

Torbay has most GPs per personFamilies seeking medical attention are most likely to find a doctor in Torbay, where there is the highest ratio of GPs per person in the UK. Bradford and Leeds are at the opposite end of the spectrum, with less GPs per person than anywhere else.

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Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

Where do we go from here?Family Life: A government priority?Some of the areas covered in this report are familiar political stomping grounds, including the housing shortage, high childcare costs, high energy bills and demand for more GPs. While these topics will undoubtedly remain on the political agenda, families may feel powerless to contribute to discussions.

To ensure that the voices of UK’s families are heard, uSwitch has partnered with Dr Kairen Cullen, Educational Psychologist and Family Specialist and created a list of recommendations to help improve families’ quality of life. Dr Kairen Cullen suggests, “The government might consider conducting a larger-scale nationwide survey similar to the uSwitch Better Family Life Index via Local Authorities on perceptions of family life. Insights from this should inform the development of policies and initiatives at a national and local authority level.”

The power of local community Of course, the quality of family life isn’t solely down to government decisions. Both the local community and parents as individuals have the power to influence their economic or social state of affairs and create a better life for their children.

There are some great examples of parents and families leading community action across the country. In Manchester, for instance, a father set up Fathers Against Violence to find more positive male

role models for young men in the area, after his son was killed in a gang shooting30. A group of mothers in Crystal Palace have set up ‘push it real good’ walks inviting women to bring their buggies so they can exercise without worrying about childcare needs31.

Keeping in mind the importance of community-level involvement and individual influence, as well as government action, four recommendations to help improve families’ quality of life stand out:

Recommendation 1: Better financial education for adults and young peopleBritish families need a watertight approach to money management. The uSwitch tips throughout this report are a good starting point but in the longer term a more prominent role for financial education within the school curriculum, and increased support for adults, is needed. Dr Kairen Cullen explains,

The way in which parents approach budgeting will most

likely be based upon their parents’ approach, whether it is to repeat or to correct the habits and patterns they observed as they grew up. Therefore, there is a big role for education in informing and enabling parents in their everyday management of finances.”

More needs to be done, to not only teach school children about financial literacy but to also give them the confidence to be engaged consumers. Support groups such as the Personal Finance Education Group play a crucial role in bringing young people’s financial education up the political agenda. However, Dr Cullen suggests young people

might need more support: “There is huge scope for schools to do a much better job in helping children and young people understand and manage money. Learning these skills early on will give adults the confidence to not only handle money matters but recognise their rights and how to challenge companies when they feel they aren’t getting a good deal and vote with their feet if a service isn’t up to scratch.”

Recommendation 2:Community and private sector to play a greater role in childcareIncreasing costs and high demand mean childcare continues to be high up the political agenda, but childcare remains a tough financial and practical challenge for many families and there could be a greater role for communities to play. Indeed, Dr Cullen concludes:

At a community and local level health, education, leisure and

recreation settings should be doing more with families in mind, through weekend or residential events. The private sector could also play a greater role, offering a wider range of family-focused activities and resources and working with Local Authorities to achieve better standards.”

A good example of community involvement in childcare is ‘Plymouth’s Playday’, where hundreds of children take part in a free lottery-funded playday32.

A number of UK companies have also modified their policies to adapt to parents’ childcare needs. For example, Goldman Sachs offer onsite childcare

for all staff and Addison Lee was the first company in the country to allow staff to care for their babies while working in the office33.

Recommendation 3:Increased government focus on family housing requirementsIn recent years, the government has introduced schemes to support first time buyers, as there has not been a specific emphasis on family housing schemes. Housing charity Shelter34 is currently campaigning for the government to introduce more affordable homes. Meanwhile, research from the Local Government Association and Savills has found that, even with government support, a couple on average salaries would struggle to buy an affordable home in almost half of all council areas35. The long-term impact of this lack of affordable housing is profound and directly impacts families - many young people put off starting a family without their own home, and for existing families the sense of security, wellbeing and reduced costs that come from home ownership is lost. To tackle this there needs to be an increased emphasis on building more affordable homes, and ensuring as many as possible are built with families’ needs of multiple bedrooms, flexible living space and outdoor space in mind.

Recommendation 4:Parental stress levels to be investigated There are clear signs that financial burdens and other family pressures are affecting parents’ emotional wellbeing. An effective and supportive mental health service is essential to ensuring that parents can help themselves and their children to maintain a healthy mindset.

Despite continuing pressure on budgets, the NHS has recently revealed details of its plans to reshape mental healthcare36. Under the new government it

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is important the Health Secretary progresses these plans, with a closer analysis of parents’ mental health.

Part of this analysis could involve hearing from teachers. Dr Cullen explains,

Children are like emotional barometers as far as their

parents’ wellbeing is concerned. The behaviour of children and their capacity to benefit from schooling is a clear indicator of family wellbeing. This is especially evident, as most teachers will testify, on a Monday morning after children have spent the weekend at home with family.”

So what’s next?These recommendations come at a time of real opportunity for the government. We are in a period of political upheaval and uncertainty, so now is the time to tackle the postcode lottery that is quality of life across the UK and put families firmly at the heart of policy.

A new government, with new ministers means there is a chance now for fresh thinking and policies that can really make better family life a priority. While the vote to the leave the EU is likely to dominate the agenda, it’s vital that the new Government takes a broader perspective and makes positive changes to help families achieve higher living standards.

Investment in the wellbeing of families now will pay dividends for generations to come and benefit society as a whole.

Tashema Jackson, uSwitch.com money expert, says:

For many consumers, the prospect of Brexit may be a

turning point, forcing us to re-evaluate both how we manage our household budgets and how we provide stability for our families in the future. Policymakers would do well to follow suit. With the new government yet to announce its budgetary priorities it is vital that positive changes are made to help give all families fair opportunities no matter where they live – whether it is access to a good education, childcare, housing, GP’s and jobs. Quality of life should not be a postcode lottery.

In the meantime households can take an honest look at their budgets to see if there are any savings they can make to improve their own standard of living. Even simple steps such as switching energy or your broadband provider could put hundreds of pounds back into the household kitty.”

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Appendices

Study methodologyThe uSwitch Better Family Life Index is a comprehensive assessment of the UK’s 138 NUTS337 local authority areas (within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) against a broad range of measures.

The study includes data from a uSwitch commissioned survey of 2,434 parents with children under the age of 18 living in their household across all regions of the UK carried out in June 2016. It also uses data from reliable sources of public information such as ONS, Ofcom and Gov.uk.

The desk research and consumer omnibus research findings were ranked in “Best to Worst” order, and then weighted based on an assessment of the relative importance of each measure to families’ quality of life. This analysis was done by Research Insight on behalf of uSwitch. A detailed definition of the factors measured and their sources is available on request. Contact uswitchbrand@brands2life.com for more information.

Full regional rankings:1. Hertfordshire

2. Cambridgeshire CC

3. Central Bedfordshire

4. Warrington

5. York

6. Tyneside

7. Norfolk

8. Northumberland

9. West Cumbria

10. Calderdale and Kirklees

11. North Yorkshire CC

12. Cheshire East

13. Gloucestershire

14. Bedford

15. Darlington

16. Essex CC

17. Lancashire CC

18. East Cumbria

19. Dorset CC

20. Buckinghamshire CC

21. East Riding of Yorkshire

22. Peterborough

23. Outer London - South

24. Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees

25. Outer London - West and North West

26. Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

27. Berkshire

28. Oxfordshire

29. Suffolk

30. Luton

31. Hampshire CC

32. Surrey

33. Durham CC

34. Wiltshire CC

35. Inner London - West

36. Powys

37. Wirral

38. Southend-on-Sea

39. Bradford

40. Isle of Anglesey

41. South Nottinghamshire

42. Cheshire West

43. Solihull

44. Inner London - East

45. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

46. Bournemouth and Poole

47. Wakefield

48. Greater Manchester South

49. Somerset

50. Sunderland

51. South Teesside

52. Shropshire CC

53. North and North East Lincolnshire

54. East Merseyside

55. Sheffield

56. Leeds

57. Orkney Islands

58. Blackburn With Darwen

59. Shetland Islands

60. Thurrock

61. Swansea

62. Belfast

63. Devon CC

64. Swindon

65. Outer London - East and North East

66. Warwickshire

67. Bristol, City of

68. Sefton

69. Worcestershire

70. Greater Manchester North

71. West Sussex

72. Plymouth

73. Liverpool

74. Staffordshire CC

75. Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire

76. Leicestershire CC and Rutland

77. Perth and Kinross and Stirling

78. South Lanarkshire

79. South and West Derbyshire

80. Brighton and Hove

81. Flintshire and Wrexham

82. East of Northern Ireland

83. North of Northern Ireland

84. Caithness and Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty

85. Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot

86. South West Wales

87. Derby

88. Lincolnshire

89. West Northamptonshire

90. Eilean Siar (Western Isles)

91. Gwynedd

92. Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan

93. East Derbyshire

94. Milton Keynes

95. West and South of Northern Ireland

96. Birmingham

97. Outer Belfast

98. Edinburgh, City of

99. Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae and Argyll and Bute

100. Conwy and Denbighshire

101. Coventry

102. Dumfries and Galloway

103. South Ayrshire

104. Scottish Borders

105. Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham

106. Portsmouth

107. Herefordshire, County of

108. Inverness and Nairn and Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey

109. Torbay

110. Southampton

111. East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh and Lomond

22 23

Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain Better Family Life Index 2016: A uSwitch study examining the quality of family life in Britain

112. East Sussex CC

113. Central Valleys

114. West Lothian

115. Walsall

116. Wolverhampton

117. Telford and Wrekin

118. Kent CC

119. Gwent Valleys

120. Medway

121. Blackpool

122. North Northamptonshire

123. East Lothian and Midlothian

124. Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire

125. North Nottinghamshire

126. Stoke-on-Trent

127. Angus and Dundee City

128. Monmouthshire and Newport

129. North Lanarkshire

130. Kingston Upon Hull, City of

131. Falkirk

132. Sandwell

133. Nottingham

134. Clackmannanshire and Fife

135. Isle of Wight

136. Glasgow City

137. Leicester

138. East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire mainland

Footnotes1. See “Methodology” in appendices for details

2. A national online survey, amongst a cross section of 2,434 male and female parents with children under 18 in their household, conducted in all 12 NUTS1 regions of the UK

3. ONS, UK Labour Market: July 2016

4. TUC figures, July 2016

5. Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report, July 2016

6. ONS Report, Working and Workless Households 2015

7. ONS Report, Working and Workless Households 2015

8. Kantar Worldpanel head of retail and consumer insight, quoted in Independent article, June 2016

9. uSwitch data, Cheapest fixed energy tariff price changes between 10th June and 12th July, 2016

10. Statistica, Number of cars per household in the UK, 2014-15

11. Between 1 March 2016 and 31 May 2016, at least 10% of people who switched energy supplier for both gas and electricity with uSwitch saved £679 or more

12. Reported by BBC Online, March 2016

13. Legislation.gov.uk

14. Figure relates to percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+ A*-C grades including English and mathematics at GCSE and equivalents (England/Wales/NI 2015; Scotland 2014

15. Telegraph article quoting official Scottish statistics, April 15

16. ONS, Young people not in education, employment or training: May 2016

17. Family and Childcare Trust, Childcare Survey 2016

18. Gingerbread Report, Paying the Price: The Childcare Challenge, March 2015

19. Gov.uk press release, June 2015

20. The Tech Nation Report 2016, Tech City

21. Ofcom European Broadband Scorecard 2015 Update

22. Shelter data Accessed on July 2016

23. UK interest rate cut: how it will affect you, Guardian, August 2016

24. Crime in England and Wales, ONS March 2016

25. Journal of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine, 1996, Effects of sleep deprivation on performance

26. PHE report on vitamin D consumption, July 2016

27. Carbon Brief Analysis, February 2016

28. Royal College of Physicians report on air pollution, February 2016

29. BMA article, May 2016

30. Manchester Evening News, March 2011

31. https://www.instagram.com/p/BIQe1evhm5W/?hl=en

32. Plymouth Herald, July 2016

33. Guardian Online, January 2016

34. Shelter campaign for affordable homes

35. Local Government Association, February 2016

36. NHS press release, Feb 2016

37. NUTS3 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) refers to Upper Tier Authorities or groups of Lower Tier Authorities (Unitary Authorities or Districts) for England, groups of Unitary Authorities in Wales, Council Areas in Scotland and Districts in Northern Ireland.