People in Shetland who feel part of their community
About this Indicator
This indicator measures the percentage of people in Shetland who feel 'very' or 'fairly' strongly that they are part of their community.
| Indicator | 2018 Baseline | 2021 Target | 2028 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| People in Shetland who feel part of their community | 88% of people feel that they are part of their community | At least 90% of people will feel part of their community | At least 95% of people will feel part of their community |
Source
Data comes from the Scottish Household Survey Data Explorer. Neighbourhood and Communities is selected and Table 2.21 "strength of feeling of belonging to community by sex" is looked at. Shetland Islands is selected under 'local authority/Scotland.' Responses for 'very strongly' and 'fairly strongly' are added together to get the data.
Data is also available from supporting files to the national report. Due to a smaller sample size, local authority data was not published for 2020. Results for 2021 were published as experimental statistics following a change in survey methodology.
Most recent data
86% of people feel that they belonged to their community in 2025. This is a 1% decrease from 2024.Why do we monitor this indicator?
People feeling part of and connected to their community is an important part of Shetland Partnership’s aim to ensure everyone in Shetland has as good an experience of life as possible. Being part of a community can have a positive effect on mental health and emotional wellbeing and provides a sense of belonging and social connectedness (Australian Government 2023). A sense of belonging and having social connections are important and can help people have a healthier mind-set, improved self-worth and greater enjoyment of life.
This indicator contributes to monitoring the desired outcomes outlined in the People priority of the Partnership Plan.
'Shetland will continue to be a safe and happy place, with more people feeling connected to their communities and benefitting from living in good places and keeping active.'