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Thursday, October 11, 2007

Bingo Association Report On Social Interaction

The Bingo Association released information last weekend on a report they commissioned into social interaction in the community. It makes for an interesting read on the people's community habits, and the effects of Bingo hall closures on the community. The findings are not good. The research was carried out by The Henley Centre and points to a lessening sense of community in the people that were polled.

The report looked at a number of community activities beside Bingo. Of the people asked, 97% said that community activities were of great importance, but nearly half of them thought that such activities were in decline as many now preferred watching TV or taking part in social networking. The report also emphasises the impact that the closure of Bingo halls has on a community.

Bingo plays an important role in promoting a sense of belonging to a local community. It is one of the few leisure pursuits that brings together people of all ages. When a bingo club closes, former patrons can feel isolated and alone, and some even cease to leave their homes altogether

Dr Carolyn Downs also took part in the research, and had this to say about club closures.

"Traditional bingo clubs may play an important role in maintaining a sense of connectedness to the local community amongst both players and staff. This is more likely to be the case in rural or more deprived urban areas. Where there are no alternative social networks, loss of a sense of belonging could have repercussions on both individuals and society as a whole, and might contribute to isolation and social dislocation."

You can download the full press release and further details here (Word .doc format.)

Posted at 8:43 AM |

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