Kindest region in UK revealed, as Nissan UK teams up with The Richard Whitehead Foundation to provide Brits with opportunity to volunteer at TCS London Marathon
- A One Poll study of 2,000 adults has revealed that Wales is the kindest region in Great Britain, followed by Londoners and those from the West Midlands
- One in four UK adults currently volunteer, however 56 per cent would do so to help a disabled friend or person complete a sporting event, if they received the right training
- Results released as Nissan UK is helping to make running events more inclusive by working with The Richard Whitehead Foundation to recruit volunteers and help disabled runners participate through the Supported Runner Project
- The initiative is helping to make this year’s TCS London Marathon more inclusive than ever on Sunday 21 April
- For more information on the programme, visit www.whitehead.foundation/supported-runner-project-overview
A One Poll study of 2,000 adults has revealed that Wales is the kindest region in Great Britain, with those in the country carrying out an average of eight acts of kindness each week, compared to the six that people in the East of England will accomplish.
Londoners took second place, closely followed by the West Midlands, and adults in the North West.
It also emerged one in four adults in the UK volunteer, dedicating an average of eight hours of their spare time each week. Whilst 56 per cent would volunteer to help a disabled friend or person complete a sporting event, if they were equipped with the right tools and training.
Results of the survey were released as Nissan UK is working with The Richard Whitehead Foundation to train amazing volunteers to support disabled runners around mass participation races – through the Supported Runner Project. The initiative is helping to make this year’s TCS London Marathon more inclusive than ever on Sunday 21 April.
Gold-medal winning Paralympian and Nissan GB’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Ambassador, Richard Whitehead, said: “It’s fantastic to see how people support each other across the country and so many would be willing to help disabled runners if they had the tools and training to do so.
“Helping others is not only incredibly important, but also very rewarding, so we’re delighted to give people the opportunity to do so around mass participation running events like the TCS London Marathon.
“The Supported Runner Project provides comprehensive training to volunteers. Allowing them to offer all-encompassing support to runners with physical or neurodiverse disabilities before, during and after each event, helping to remove some of the challenges and barriers to entry that they may encounter.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the impact this will have at this year’s race and hopefully we can inspire even more people to take part in the future.”
Supported Runner Project volunteer Gill Menzies, who is helping her friend Julie McElroy become the first female frame runner to complete the TCS London Marathon, added: “I’m excited to be supporting Julie – it’s a real privilege to help her both physically and mentally complete the marathon and a rewarding experience for both of us.
“Volunteers are vital to the project – helping to break down those barriers to entry giving people a chance to take part in amazing events. With the training process being tailored to the needs of each athlete and support runner, it provides everyone involved with the best chance of completing their challenge.”
Runners who are interested in volunteering as a Support Runner for mass participation running events in 2024 can visit www.whitehead.foundation/supported-runner-project-overview or contact [email protected].
Kindest regions, ranked by weekly acts of kindness:
- Wales (8.1)
- London (7.3)
- West Midlands (7.2)
- North West (7)
- Scotland (6.9)
- Yorkshire and the Humber (6.9)
- North East (6.8)
- South West (6.8)
- East Midlands (6.7)
- South East (6.5)
- East of England (6.5)
Top 30 things adults do regularly to help other people:
- Saying thank you/showing appreciation
- Holding a door open for someone
- Asking someone how they are
- Smiling/saying hello at strangers
- Give someone a compliment
- Taking in a parcel for a neighbour
- Donate old belongings to charity
- Make someone a cup of tea
- Letting a friend vent about their problems to me
- Donating to charity
- Checking in on a friend
- Spend time with my children
- Taking in my neighbour’s bins
- Share my snacks with someone
- Help a colleague with their work
- Buy a friend a coffee
- Visiting/spending time with an elderly relative
- Offering a seat to someone else on public transport
- Volunteer my time
- Helping someone with their food shopping
- Sending a gift or flowers to a friend to cheer someone up
- Help with chores for someone who lives alone and is less able
- Help my local community
- Help someone cross the road
- Walking or dog sitting for a friend
- Babysitting someone’s child
- Fundraise for charity
- Donating blood
- Accompanying a friend to an exercise class/for a run
- Taking part in community ‘clean ups’
Key Stats:
- Research of 2,000 adults has revealed that Wales is the kindest region in Great Britain, with those in the country carrying out an average of eight acts of kindness each week, compared to the six that people in the East of England will accomplish.
- Meanwhile Londoners took second place, closely followed by the West Midlands, and adults in the North West. While those in the East of England and South Eastern residents came bottom of the pile
- The study also revealed the top 30 things adults do to help others, with showing their appreciation (60 per cent) and holding a door open for someone else (59 per cent) coming out on top.
- Donating old belongings to charity (44 per cent), checking in on a friend (37 per cent) and taking a parcel in for a neighbour (45 per cent) also made the list.
- Half (51 per cent) of adults are kind because it’s part of their personal values, while 28 per cent said it makes them happy and 27 per cent like to feel they’re ‘doing their bit’.
- A lack of time (42 per cent), money (41 per cent) and an introverted personality (34 per cent) are among the things holding people back from being more compassionate.
- 43 per cent believe they’ve grown kinder as they’ve grown older.
- 76 per cent believe compassion and generosity can be passed on, so when you’re kind to someone, they will be kind to someone else.