Series

You can find links to the datasets in the DATA ACCESS section above. When you follow the link to a dataset you will be taken to its catalogue record which contains the following information:

• Download button: this is located near the top right of the catalogue record.
• A brief overview of the data: who collected the data, the main topics, the population covered, how the data were collected, the levels of geography and much more.
• Documentation:scroll down the catalogue record to find the documentation. All datasets come with documentation supplied by the data producer, normally in the form of searchable pdfs. The documentation varies from survey to survey but will normally include a user guide, the questionnaire and a technical report. These documents should tell you:
  • how the data were collected and processed into its current format
  • which topics were covered and the wording of the questions used
  • how each variable was coded and how derived variables were constructed
  • the name(s) of the weighting variables, how the weight(s) were constructed and when to use each one if there are more than one
• Related studies and Publications using the data: see which surveys are related, and how other researchers have used the data.

Most survey data may be downloaded as SPSS, Stata or tab-delimited files. There is a download button near the top right of each catalogue record. Most datasets can be downloaded after you login to your UK Data Service account. See our Access pages for more information about how to access data.

See our Use data pages for more advice about getting started with analyses. These pages contain advice and training; guides about datasets, topics and methods and software including SPSS and Stata; information about how others have used the data and how to cite datasets. See also our Events pages for courses and webinars about how to find, use and manage data.

The Community Life Survey was first commissioned by the Cabinet Office in 2012-2013. It is an annual household survey of people resident in England aged 16 and over. The objectives of the survey are to provide robust, nationally representative data on behaviours and attitudes within communities to inform and direct policy and action in these areas. The survey covers a range of topics, including measures that are key to understanding society and local communities such as volunteering, charitable giving, neighbourhood, civic engagement, social action and subjective well-being.

Community Life Survey data are available from 2012-2013.

People aged 16 and over in English households.

Variable lists and PDF user guides (including questionnaires) are freely available on the catalogue page of each dataset. To find a dataset’s catalogue page, follow the link to the dataset from this page under DATA ACCESS or from the results pages in our database search engine Discover.

The Community Life Survey covers topics such as volunteering, charitable giving, local action, community empowerment, and well-being. See the documentation on each survey’s catalogue page for more information.

Results and tables are available online from the Cabinet Office web pages.

See our teaching pages for practical information, exemplars, and tips for using UK Data Service data in teaching, including:

• ideas for using data in teaching
• practical advice on sharing data with students
• teaching resources
• teaching case studies