Calling all CLA members: statistics required to help us fight your corner
In the run-up to the next general election, the CLA requires reliable data to lobby for your rights. Have your voice heard by completing our recently relaunched social value survey
Over the past couple of months, the CLA has been running a survey in collaboration with the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) to find out about the activities that members do that benefit the wider community.
This knowledge will help the CLA in the run-up to a general election, as we expect many candidates will not know – and some may harbour antiquated prejudices – about what landowners do for their communities.
The survey looks at a whole range of activities across four themes:
- Providing broadband and renewable energy
- Supporting community activities and events
- Providing access to your land
- Opportunities for volunteering, employment, and education
To date we know that hundreds of members have started the survey but not completed it. If you are one of them, please submit your response to put us on track and secure the desired 450 replies by the end of September. This will give us the best quality data to use to lobby politicians on your behalf and achieve more CLA wins.
We depend on statistics and case studies to demonstrate our members’ experience across a whole range of topics. In fact, many of the CLA’s recent lobbying wins - including the overhaul of energy efficiency targets for landlords - would not have been possible without robust evidence from our members.
Following member feedback, we have relaunched the survey with some changes to make it easier to navigate and complete. If you have any problems completing the survey, or would prefer a PDF or paper copy, please contact Bethany Turner on 07827058046 or bethany.turner@cla.org.uk.
The survey begins by asking you for some basic information about the main land manager, then moves on to ask about your land holding and any people you employ. It then asks questions about the different types of activities you carry out. For each activity that you are involved in, you can expand the question and provide details on what you do, who benefits, and what the cost is to you. You can finish the survey later if you need more time.
As a thank you for taking part, you'll also be entered into a prize draw where one in every hundred respondents will receive £100 worth of CLA event vouchers.
The team at the CCRI will then aggregate the responses and calculate the total economic and social benefits.