More information about The Cold Truth statistics

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Sources:

For the Cold Truth campaign, UK for UNHCR is using the latest available information to shed light on the conditions facing refugees this winter. The figures are taken from the results of two surveys conducted by Ipsos.

The World Refugee Day survey was conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform. Ipsos interviewed a total of 20,505 adults aged 18–74 across 28 countries, including Great Britain, between April 22nd and May 6th, 2022. A representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 16-74 in Great Britain was taken from the general adult population under the age of 75.

The Cold Truth survey was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of UK for UNHCR. Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,256 adults aged 16–75 in UK using its online i:omnibus between 12th and 15th August 2022. Data has been weighted to the known offline population proportions of this audience for age, working status and social grade within gender and government office region.

The sample of The Cold Truth survey was split into two equal-sized groups, with 1,128 asked the questions in the context of thinking about a refugee family.

BACK TO THE COLD TRUTH

55% of Brits

agree that refugees make a positive contribution to Great Britain
_{(Source: IPSOS, 1000 adults age 16-74 surveyed)}

4 in 5 Brits

agree that people should be able to take refuge in other countries to escape war or persecution
_{(Source: IPSOS, 1000 adults age 16-74 surveyed)}

9 out of 10

Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in extreme poverty
_{(Source: UNHCR)}

1 in 3 Brits

say they have taken action to support refugees
_{(Source: IPSOS 1000 adults age 16-74, any action in year ending May 2022)}

The World Refugee Day survey

55% of Brits agree that refugees make a positive contribution to Britain

When respondents were asked: “Thinking about your country, do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Refugees make a positive contribution to Great Britain,” 22% agreed very much, 33% agreed somewhat, 17% disagreed somewhat, 11% disagreed very much, and 17% said ‘don’t know’.

4 in 5 Brits agree that people should be able to take refuge in other countries to escape war or persecution

When respondents were asked: “Thinking about your country, do you agree or disagree with the following statement: People should be able to take refuge in other countries, including in Great Britain, to escape from war or persecution,” 42% agreed very much, 39% agreed somewhat, 8% disagreed somewhat, 4% disagreed very much, and 8% said ‘don’t know’.

1 in 3 Brits say they have taken action to support refugees

When respondents were asked In the past 12 months, have you done any of the following?, they answered:

donated funds/goods to support the refugee cause (27%)
posted social media messages in support of refugees (10%)
contacted govt officials or signed petitions advocating for refugees (8%)
volunteered to help refugees (3%)
offered refugees a place to stay in your home (3%)
any other action of support (3%)
any of the above actions (37%)
I have not taken any action in the past 12 months (63%)

9 out of 10 Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in extreme poverty

Critical Funding Needs in the Middle East and North Africa, UNHCR, published 29 September 2022.

The Cold Truth survey

More than half (55%) of UK adults think that refugees around the world need more support with finding shelter or accommodation

When respondents (UK adults aged 16–75) were asked: Thinking about conditions in which refugees live around the world… In which, if any, of the following areas do you think refugees around the world need more support than you believe they are currently getting? 55% selected “Finding shelter/ accommodation” from the list of five areas shown to them.

The following proportions of the respondents selected each of the five options at this question:

- Having enough food to eat (56%)
- Finding shelter/ accommodation (55%)
- Having access to healthcare (53%)
- Having access to clean water (52%)
- Keeping warm during cold winter months (47%)

Almost half (47%) of UK adults think that refugees around the world need more support to keep warm during cold winter months

When respondents (UK adults aged 16–75) were asked: Thinking about conditions in which refugees live around the world… In which, if any, of the following areas do you think refugees around the world need more support than you believe they are currently getting? 47% selected “Keeping warm during cold winter months” from the list of five areas shown to them.

The following proportions of the respondents selected each of the five options at this question:

Having enough food to eat (56%)
Finding shelter/ accommodation (55%)
Having access to healthcare (53%)
Having access to clean water (52%)
Keeping warm during cold winter months (47%)

Four in five (83%) UK adults (16–75) agree that the kindness of strangers can have a positive impact on people all around the world

When respondents were asked: This question is about the concept of “the kindness of strangers” – for example, a kind gesture being made by a stranger to someone else (i.e. who they don’t know). Thinking about this, to what extent do you agree or disagree with each of these statements?.. The kindness of strangers can have a positive impact on people all around the world, 48% strongly agreed, 34% tend to agree with this statement.

Three-quarters (76%) of UK adults (16–75) said that they would be likely to take small actions to welcome a refugee family to their neighbourhood

This figure is taken from the split sample of The Cold Truth survey. When respondents were asked: How likely or unlikely would you be to take each of the following actions if you knew that a REFUGEE FAMILY arrived in the UK and had moved into your neighbourhood?.. Take small actions to welcome them, like smiling or saying hello when you see them out and about, 21% answered extremely likely, 24% very likely, 31% fairly likely.

Half (50%) of UK adults (16–75) said that they would be likely to go out of their way to introduce themselves to a new refugee family in their neighbourhood

This figure is taken from the split sample of The Cold Truth survey. When respondents were asked: How likely or unlikely would you be to take each of the following actions if you knew that a REFUGEE FAMILY arrived in the UK and had moved into your neighbourhood?.. Go out of your way to introduce yourself, 9% answered extremely likely, 16% very likely, 25% fairly likely.

Just over half (54%) of UK adults (16–75) said they would be likely to ask a new refugee family in their neighbourhood if they needed help with anything, such as working out transport routes or for their children

This figure is taken from the split sample of The Cold Truth survey. When respondents were asked: How likely or unlikely would you be to take each of the following actions if you knew that a REFUGEE FAMILY arrived in the UK and had moved into your neighbourhood?.. Ask if they need help with anything (e.g. working out transport routes, whether their children need anything, etc.), 11% answered extremely likely, 17% very likely, 26% fairly likely.