In November 2006, One World Week (OWW) conducted a survey to determine the impact of the events that took place during OWW, 2006 (23-30 October).

These are the findings.

Survey Highlights

After analyzing the Evaluation Forms we concluded that:

1) The majority of respondents rated the website, resources and office support of OWW very highly

2) The people who attended these events came from diverse backgrounds, though eight out of ten   were white

3) Nearly 60% of those who attended were women

4) Most of the events were held by local Churches Together groups. A quarter were Inter-faith.

“OWW has become an all year round thing in many ways and the actual week highlights it.”

“Thank you very much for all your support and inspiration. We very much hope ways will be found for the good work to be continued.”

Read on for a full summary of the findings and a link to the survey data.

About Us

Our Vision

When we understand each other’s perspectives, our lives can be transformed and enriched.

Our Mission

One World Week exists to provide the space for people from diverse backgrounds to come together to learn about global justice, to spread that learning and to use it to challenge inequality, discrimination and degradation, locally and globally.

Forward

Through the estimated 3,000 local groups and many more individuals who organise and run local OWW events, we have continued in our quest to make a real and positive difference in the lives of people and in the world in general. The report shows what we have done last year and illustrates the impact that our achievements have had in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. The last year brought with it a range of activities and events which kept all of us on our toes. Events took place throughout the UK and, as the report shows, One World Week resources were used extensively and enthusiastically by one and all. With a database of more than 11,000 supporters, we have lots going on. But still, many challenges lie ahead, which I am sure, we will overcome with each other’s support, working in partnership with our partner agencies and local supporters alike.

My thanks go to our dedicated staff, past and present, who have coped so well with all the work pressures. My thanks also go to all our supporters and volunteers. We have come a long way, but still, have a long way to go. As the findings highlight, this is particularly the case with regards to bringing a wider cross-section of people together locally so that a wider diversity of those who share our vision can play their part in OWW to make the world a better place to be.

KEVIN FRAY, Chief Executive Officer April 2007

Introduction to the Report

During OWW 2006, local groups across the UK arranged innovative, thought-provoking events. These ranged from Evening concerts; Fair Trade Fashion Shows and Stalls; International Food Feasts; Poetry competitions, Quizzes and Dramas; Multicultural Bazaars; Church Services and Multi Faith Gatherings. In October 2006, 5,000 Evaluation Forms (a copy of which is in the Appendix) were distributed to supporters drawn from the 11,000 listed on the OWW database. The objectives were a) to find out if local supporters get what they need from the office, b) to find out what local activities took place and c) to know the supporters better. This was achieved by finding out:

• The number, make-up and diversity of people who attended OWW 2006 events.
• The details of organizers of these events and how these events were promoted.
• The usefulness of the OWW resources and website.
• The OWW office support and how this could be improved.

187 forms were returned detailing 312 events. Six more came late, but their comments are noted.

Summary of Findings

In the 187 returned Evaluation Forms, the total number of people who attended these events was 20,914. Dividing 20,914 by 187 and multiplying the sum by 3,000 (approximate number of active OWW groups) provided our best guess total of the number of people attending OWW 2006 events.  Thus, the estimated total number of participants was 334,624. This does not include the many overseas events, independent Further Education and University events inspired by OWW but run with little obvious connection to the office or local groups, the impact of the Radio 4 Sunday Morning Service and the many events (especially acts of worship) undertaken locally but without our knowledge or input. We welcome news of local events, before and after they happen, but we are delighted that they take place, even when they have little reference to the OWW office or theme.

Rating

The respondents were asked to rate A) the OWW Website, B) each OWW Resource and C) the OWW Office Support on a five-point scale.

[5 = Very useful  4 = Useful  3 = Average  2 = Not very useful  1 = No use at all]

This is how each scored:

The Website

59 respondents evaluated the Website.

• 11 respondents rated 5
• 22 respondents rated 4
• 16 respondents rated 3
• 9 respondents rated 2
• 1 respondent rated 1

The OWW Resources

151 respondents evaluated the OWW Resources. For the purposes of this evaluation, we took an average mark across all resources, but we note that the Worship Anthology scored particularly well.

• 88 respondents rated 5
• 42 respondents rated 4
• 15 respondents rated 3
• 4 respondents rated 2
• 2 respondents rated 1

The OWW Office Support

132 respondents evaluated the OWW Office Support.

• 94 respondents rated 5
• 28 respondents rated 4
• 6 respondents rated 3
• 2 respondents rated 2
• 2 respondents rated 1

We can conclude that a majority of local organisers found the support and provision by the OWW office useful with 193 out of 342 responses giving a 5 rating. This equals 56.4% of the total.

Events

Of the 312 events, 89 were Christian acts of worship, 81 were secular and only one was given as interfaith. There is no data for the other events. However, the religious make up of the 187 local groups that responded is more interesting. Please see the section on Faith for details. The total number of people involved in organizing and planning the events was 1,217, with a total of 20,914 people attending the 312 events in total.

Ethnicity

[White includes all Europeans. Asian includes Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Chinese and other Asians. Black includes the people from African and Caribbean countries.]

• 16,797 were White(80.3%)
• 610 were Black (2.9%)
• 676 were Asian (3.2%)
• 126 were Others, including Russians, Portuguese etc (0.60%)
• The Ethnicity of 2,705 people is not known

We can conclude that far more white people attended OWW events, though there is a sizeable and growing diversity of people attending and planning the events. We are seeking to further develop this increasingly important part of our work in the coming year.

Faith

The events were either secular, Interfaith or held for a specific religious group. Out of the 312 events evaluated, 38 were Secular and 135 were Faith-based. The details of organizing groups of these events are given below -

• 37 Interfaith
• 96 Ecumenical or Churches Together groups, which is the highest in number.
• 7 Anglican
• 1 Catholic
• 2 Church of Scotland
• 21 Methodist
• 8 United Reformed
• 1 Unitarian
• 14 forms have not specified a faith

For convenience, we have included The Anglican/Methodist congregations as Ecumenical. We also assume that the mainstream Churches are included within the Interfaith and Ecumenical data.

We can conclude that a majority of events were organised ecumenically by Churches.

“We really valued all the resources. The CD was very useful as a resource for a display and action table. We had at the fair.”  

“On-line Resources are the most helpful, alongside paper resources”.

Age Group

The Age Distribution is as follows:

• Between   0-15 - 4,006 (19.2%)
• Between 15-25 - 3,588 (17.2%)
• Between 25-45 - 3,045 (14.6%)
• Between 45-65 - 4,667 (22.3%)
• Over 65 - 4,023 (19.2%)
• The Age of 1,585 (7.5%) people is not known

 41.5% of those who attended events are known to be over 45 years old. Only 31.8% were between 15-45 years old.

“In a rural village a group of people have become used to the OWW events. It has become part of the calendar.”  

Gender

Out of the total:

• The number of males who attended was 7056 (33.7%)
• The number of females was 10203 (48.8%)
• The gender of 3655 people is not known due to lack of data

We can conclude that far more females attended these events than males.

Disabled

329 disabled people attended the events, which represents 1.6% of the total.

Plans for 2007

Out of the 187 responses, 80 would like to hold 0WW events in 2007; 66 have not yet decided; and only 3 would not like to have any event in 2007. There is no data from 38 forms.                   

Conclusion

From the evaluation, we can conclude that the respondents have found the resources, website and office support of OWW very useful. It is clear that the themes and the resources were popular and well used by grassroots groups and partner organizations alike. The resources and the website of OWW have been appreciated by all. However, most of the organizers of the events would like to have some space within the posters on which they could add details of their own events. They would also prefer more downloadable material to save money and time. Some also mentioned the need to make the resources more child-friendly by putting in more activities for young people.

“Your literature/posters have always been good/colorful/ eye-catching. But this year was very nice indeed.”

One typical respondent has suggested

“We felt that the poster should have had the dates of the week on it, and perhaps a space to mention a local event.”

Another said,

“Possibly more activities to make children aware of what OWW is about. Inspire our young people. We only seem to attract the stalwart elderly.”

Yet another commented

“The pictures in the action pack could be more attractive visually and have them as a separate pack for a good use of them.”

Many respondents also requested help with advertising and publicising their events. One of them requested:

 “...official OWW paper to use to send out our invitations.”

These matters are all being addressed in 2007, when more resources will be downloadable and made child friendly. The poster will provide space to advertise local events but, in keeping with the desire to encourage flexibility, the specific dates will only appear on the reverse of the poster.

Generally, the respondents are happy with the Website, but one or two suggested that it could be improved a little by inserting more graphs and visuals. The Website will be considerably improved to accommodate these concerns and to improve content.

We can also conclude that an increasing number of people from diverse faiths are attending OWW events and are included in the Planning Groups. One respondent comment,

“Range of contacts is increasing. Next year should include Muslim representatives on the planning group.”

Many of these events took place in local schools and a few with young people’s groups such as the Guides and Brownies. So, we can conclude that links are now being developed with young people.

Far more women than men attend OWW events as well as a sizeable number of disabled people. These events were mostly self-financing.

“I adapted the Order of Service to suit the Churches and used the drama in the pack. It was well performed and well received on both occasions. The service was well worked out. I particularly liked  the prayers linked to the readings and involved the readers in reading them.”

Recommendations

1) Thought should be given to including more people from diverse faiths and cultures to make the movement truly global.

2) Men and people in the age-group (15-45) should be encouraged to attend these events.

3) The event organisers should source funding from their local councils and other funding agencies to help make them even more successful.

4) Organisers would like to receive training in inclusivity and managing publicity. Training in Public Speaking and in making presentations could also be helpful.

5) Taking into account the suggestions and comments of the respondents, efforts should be made to improve the resources and the OWW Website.

Looking Ahead

OWW is proud that, over the last 29 years, it has played a crucial part in encouraging informed action for change. Yet we realise that OWW has to move forward. It will do so with renewed confidence, believing that it has a role helping to make a real and lasting impact in our communities and all across the world. Our findings in this report provide a starting point from which we can consider what we hope to achieve in the coming years. As OWW moves forward, we will strive to provide:

• a space in which people can come together locally to work across boundaries of culture, ethnicity, gender and creed, recognising that we are all part of one world in combating inequality and discrimination.
• an opportunity for the supporters of existing partners (funders and, to a lesser extent, non-funders) to engage in an event that partners lack the capacity to provide themselves.
• an outlet through which existing partners can promote and market their work.
• an opening for potential new partners, of all faiths and none, who share OWW’s vision, to work with OWW and develop new partnerships and networks.

Acknowledgements

Our Special Thanks go to all our Funding Partners who funded OWW in 2006:

• The British and Foreign Unitarian Association
• CAFOD
• Christian Aid
• The Church of England
• The Methodist Relief and Development Fund
• SCIAF
• Traidcraft

We are also grateful to those who supported our 2006 appeal and to the local OWW groups, the Churches and individuals who give regularly and have ordered and used our resources.