Distance Aware Scheme Survey – March 2022

Key findings

Awareness of the Distance Aware scheme

A wide-ranging campaign was set up ahead of the launch of the Distance Aware Scheme which aimed to make as many of those on the Highest Risk List aware of the scheme as possible. Of those who were eligible to take part in the survey, 87% were aware of the scheme.

Yes
87%

No
13%

Response count
3967

Where respondents heard about the Distance Aware scheme

The most common channel where people learned about the scheme was through letters that they received from the Chief Medical Officer (84%).

Other ways they found out about it included:

• through the news (31%)
• through social media posts (20%)
• from a family member or friend (9%)
• through their workplace (2%).

I received a letter from the Chief Medical Officer
84%

I heard it on the news
31%

I saw it on social media
20%

A family member or friend told me
9%

I found out at my workplace
2%

Response count
3439

Whether respondents decided to pick up a Distance Aware badge or lanyard

Of those who were aware of the Distance Aware Scheme, 28% had decided to pick up a Distance Aware badge or lanyard.

Yes
28%

No
72%

Response count
3442

Of the 72% of respondents (n=2491) that had decided not to pick up a badge or lanyard. The top reasons for this included:

• I don't think wearing a badge or lanyard would change people's behaviour (46%)
• I worry about being discriminated against (22%)
• I am not able to travel to a location with badges and lanyards (14%)

Of those who responded 'another reason' the most common responses were from people who said that they felt able to manage their own risk or that they hadn't been out and therefore wouldn't need a badge or lanyard.

I don't think wearing a badge or lanyard will make a difference to how others treat me
46%

I worry about being discriminated against
22%

I am not able to travel to a location with badges or lanyards
14%

I haven't had time to pick up a badge or lanyard
13%

No particular reason
13%

I don't know where I could get a badge or lanyard
12%

I don't see the benefit of the scheme
9%

I don't consider myself at risk any more
6%

I have tried to get a badge or lanyard but there was none available
6%

Another reason
4%

I already wear something to signal to others I would like space or care around me
2%

I don't know
1%

Response count
2491

Impact of the scheme on how people felt when out in public

Of those who had decided to pick up a Distance Aware badge or lanyard (n=963), 37% said that it did not change the way they felt when they were out in public. 9% said they felt a lot less anxious when out in public and 29% said they felt slightly less anxious.

3% said that they felt more anxious and 4% said that they felt a lot more anxious. It is unclear if this was because they were wearing the badge or lanyard, or because of other factors.

18% said that they had not been out in public since picking up their badge or lanyard.

I felt a lot less anxious
9%

I felt slightly less anxious
29%

It didn't change the way I feel
37%

I felt slightly more anxious
3%

I felt a lot more anxious
4%

I have not been out in public
18%

Response count
963

Impact of the scheme on wearers' confidence to do day-to-day activities

61% of those who said that they had picked up a badge or lanyard (n=927) said that they did not do anything differently after picking up a badge or lanyard. However, of those who did change their behaviour:

• 20% said they had more confidence to go shopping more or for the first time
• 12% said that they started to see friends and family more or for the first time
• 11% had more confidence to go to cafes, restaurants or other leisure facilities for the first time
• 8% said they had more confidence to meet up with more people
• 6% said that they now had confidence to use public transport more or for the first time

Of the 1% who had chosen an activity not on the list, the most common response was going to the doctors or healthcare appointments.

I did not do anything differently
61%

It helped me go back to work
3%

I used public transport more or for the first time
6%

I met up with more people than before
8%

I went to cafes or restaurants, theatres or cinema, or other leisure facilities more or for the first time
11%

I started to see friends and family again
12%

I went shopping more or for the first time
20%

Response count
927

Impact of the scheme on attending work or education

Of participants who had decided to pick up a badge or lanyard, 29% were either employed or self-employed (n=268).

Of these participants, 68% needed to go to the workplace for their job or were doing a mixture of home and workplace based working.

I am working from home
28%

I go to my workplace
47%

I do a mixture of working from home and going to my workplace
21%

I can't work from home but I am not going into my workplace
4%

Response rate
268

Of those who were attending a workplace (n=181), 63% said that they wore their badge or lanyard in their workplace.

Yes
62%

No
38%

Response count
181

Of the respondents who were wearing their badge or lanyard at work (n=111), 56% said that wearing their badge or lanyard had made them feel more reassured in their workplace.

Yes
56%

No
44%

Response count
111

Very few participants told us that they were in education (1% of responses). Of the 10 respondents, 4 of them had to attend classes in person and only 2 people wore a badge or lanyard to their school, workplace or university. Limited insight can be gained from the additional questions with such low response numbers.

Impact of the scheme on the behaviour of others

Of those who had picked up a badge or lanyard (n=915), 70% had not noticed any changes to the way that other people behaved when they were close to them.

However, 15% said that they noticed others being more careful or considerate, 14% noticed others giving them more space and 6% noticed other putting on or adjusting their face covering.

Of the 6% who responded 'Something else' (n=53) the most common reasons provided were:

• That they had not been out or used a badge/lanyard
• That they had a negative response from people
• That people came too close to read what was on the badge/lanyard

I have noticed any changes to the way people behave
70%

I have noticed people are more considerate or careful around me
15%

I have noticed people giving me more space
15%

I have noticed people putting on a face covering or adjusting it to cover both their mouth and nose
6%

Something else
6%

Response count
915

Future of the scheme

When thinking about how they might use their badge or lanyard in the future, 90% of respondents (n=915) said that they will continue to wear their badge or lanyard in the future.

Yes
90%

No
10%

Response count
915

The 10% of respondents who said that they would not continue to wear their badge or lanyard in the future (n=91) gave a range of reasons as to why not. The most common reason for this was 70% saying that they had not seen a change in the way people behave when they wear their badge or lanyard.

Of those who picked 'another reason' the most common answer provided was that they didn't feel there was enough public awareness about the scheme (n=5). This is likely to be linked to the 70% who said they did not see a change in the way people behave around them.

I don't see a change in other people's behaviour when I'm wearing my badge or lanyard
70%

I've been discriminated against when wearing my badge/lanyard
11%

Another reason
10%

I am more confident to go out again now and don't think I need my badge/lanyard
7%

No particular reason
5%

I don't know
2%

I don't consider myself to be at risk any more
1%

Response count
91