17,000 year 10 students across Greater Manchester have completed the #BeeWell survey this autumn, in addition to 73,000 completed surveys since 2021. In this time, over 180 schools have taken part in #BeeWell across GM.

As a reminder of how important this work is, the latest OECD PISA report revealed that the average life satisfaction of young people in the UK are the 2nd lowest in the OECD, ahead of only Turkey. The UK scores 4th from bottom among all 74 participating countries.

#BeeWell uses a co-designed survey to listen to the voices of as many young people as possible, publish the results privately to schools and publicly by neighbourhood, and drive action across society to improve young people’s wellbeing.

The programme was established in Greater Manchester in 2019 by The University of Manchester, Anna Freud, The Gregson Family Foundation, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It was launched following the results of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Analysis of the #BeeWell data from previous years by The University of Manchester has revealed findings that are already influencing initiatives across Greater Manchester. Schools, voluntary sector organizations, and children’s services are working closely with young people to interpret and act on the results. For example, a social prescribing and youth-led commissioning pilot in five neighbourhoods in GM used the survey findings to allocate £20,000.

Professor Neil Humphrey, #BeeWell lead at The University of Manchester, said: “The PISA results show that listening to young people about their wellbeing is vital if we want to see improved life satisfaction amongst young people. We’ve been collecting neighbourhood-level data to further our understanding of the domains and drivers of wellbeing in Greater Manchester, allowing us to share unique insights to improve the lives of young people. The decline in life satisfaction of young people in our country shows that more work needs to be done.”

James Robertson, #BeeWell National Director, said: “The enthusiasm across Greater Manchester to deliver the #BeeWell programme has been inspiring. I’m so grateful to our partners at the GMCA, academics at the University of Manchester, and to all the schools who delivered the programme for a third year running. All their hard work amplifies the voices of young people at a time when listening to young people has never been more important. Driving action across the city region in response to the latest survey continues to be front and centre at #BeeWell.”

Find out more here.