Polling Shows British Public Still Value Compassion in Others, but Place Less Value on Civic Virtues

Polling undertaken by Populus for The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, at the University of Birmingham, has found that the UK public value care and compassion in people around them, as well as in senior and political leaders in almost identical numbers to a similar poll run in April 2020.

A poll of 2,088 adults in the UK found that 68% selected ‘being compassionate/caring’ in their top 3 most valued strengths in those around them – an identical figure to the first poll. They also valued it the most in terms of personal well-being (25%).

The British public valued ‘being resilient’ in greater numbers than in April, but there was a decline in the value placed on the civic strengths of ‘being of service’ and ‘having community awareness’; suggestive that the public mood has moved to one of self-preservation over community togetherness.

Less than a quarter of the British public have volunteered their time to benefit others during the crisis, but of those who have, both 18-24 year olds and those aged 55-64 have volunteered the most.

The poll is available to view in full here.

A press release on the poll is also available here.

/userfiles/jubileecentre/images/newsletter-thumbs/2023/May/CSWWMay23.png

Character Strengths for the Working World is an essential event for PSHE Leads, Careers Leads, and Character Education Leads within UK educational institutions. Join us on Thursday, 13th July 2023, from 9am to 5pm at the beautiful Botanical Gardens, Birmingham.

This one-day conference, organised byThe Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham, aims to provide insights, knowledge, and networking opportunities for professionals committed to enhancing character development and employability skills in their students.

Our speakers will share their expertise and perspectives on educational policy and best practices for empowering students to excel in the working world through harnessing their character strengths. The event will include keynote speeches, policy and practitioner panels, interactive sessions, and opportunities to connect with a wide range of professionals and experts in the field.

Our line-up of distinguished speakers includes:

• Rt. Hon. Baroness Nicky Morgan (former Secretary of State for Education)

• Bec Tigue (Character Lead at the University of Birmingham School)

• David Harkin (CEO at 8 Billion Ideas)

• Adrian McLean (Character Ambassador and Multi-academy Trust Lead at Severn Academies)

• The Careers and Enterprise Company

Food and refreshments:

Morning coffee and pastries, lunch, afternoon tea, and a drinks reception will be provided as part of registration for you to enjoy.

Free resources:

There will be multiple free resources available for you to take away at this event. We will be launching a new workbook, based on research funded by the Society for Educational Studies, for use by careers guidance professionals and character educators to help students consider who they are, the character traits they aspire towards, and to align their career choices with this. We will also have multiple other free resources that educators can use within their practice based on over a decade of research at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.

Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. It is essential to reserve your place in advance to avoid disappointment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your institution's approach to character education and student employability. Register now to secure your spot at Character Strengths for the Working World.

Hear more from us