The Challenge

Leicester City Council’s Division of Public Health is responsible for improving the health of the local population. As part of its strategy to reduce health inequalities and improve quality of life and life expectancy, the Division works with partners such as the NHS through initiatives outlined in the Leicester Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Leicester City Council commissioned DJS Research to deliver the fourth iteration of its Health and Wellbeing Survey, following previous waves conducted in 2010, 2015 and 2018. The aim was to provide a high-quality, cross-sectional snapshot of the behaviours and attitudes of adults (16+) across the city in 2024.

This research plays a key role in supporting the Council’s health and wellbeing strategy, helping to identify local needs and inform the design and delivery of public services. DJS Research was appointed to deliver robust insights through a comprehensive face-to-face survey, covering a wide range of topics such as general health, mental wellbeing, diet, smoking, alcohol use, and access to services.

The Approach

DJS Research carried out 2,100 face-to-face (CAPI) interviews across Leicester between April and October 2024. Approximately 100 interviews were completed in each of the city’s 21 wards, ensuring robust ward-level data and strong representativeness across the city.

Within each ward, census output areas were stratified by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and randomly selected for inclusion. Interviewers worked to demographic quotas based on ward-specific profiles, including age, sex, ethnicity, disability and economic status.

The survey itself took around 15 minutes to complete.

The Results

The 2024 Health and Wellbeing Survey provided an evidence base of residents’ experiences and attitudes. Key insights included:

• Four in five residents rated their general health as very good or good
• Three in four use green spaces at least monthly
• Most feel they have a support network to rely on in difficult times
• One in four households struggle with food and energy bills
• Access to NHS dental and GP services remains a concer

In addition to producing a detailed report for this piece of research, our Creative Services team created an engaging video summary which brought the survey results to life. The research findings and video have been extremely well received by senior leaders, local councillors, the city mayor, and members of the Health and Wellbeing Board. The results have also been shared widely and used to spark wider conversations on health inequalities.

Following a presentation of the findings at a local Feeding Leicester meeting, the Council was invited to present at the national Feeding Britain Network, further extending the reach and impact of the survey. Both the full report and supporting video can be viewed on the Leicester City Council website. 

Insights from the study will help guide policy decisions and service design aimed at improving health outcomes for Leicester’s diverse communities. 

Testimonial

"Thank you so much for creating the video summarising the results of the Leicester Health and Wellbeing Survey 2024. It’s an outstanding and engaging summary that effectively highlights both the key positives and challenges identified in the survey. The video is now available on our City Council webpages and we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback on this high-quality output.

A big thank you to DJS Research and the creative team for their invaluable support in identifying the key takeaways, crafting the script, and producing such a vibrant and visually compelling video. The result is a clear and engaging presentation that makes complex data accessible and relatable to all.”

Leicester City Council