Greater Manchester’s #BeeWell programme is has released its latest findings from the survey of school pupils in Years 9 and 10 which took place in Autumn 2022.
It shows that shows the wellbeing of young people across Greater Manchester has remained stable over the past two years.
However, results show there are inequalities that need to be addressed, with girls and LBGTQ+ young people in particular reporting significantly lower levels of wellbeing.
The programme originates from a collaboration between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, University of Manchester, the Anna Freud Centre and the Gregson Family Foundation.
The latest survey heard the voices of 35,000 young people from across the city-region, building on 38,000 responses in the previous year. Over 180 schools have taken part in #BeeWell over two years, showing immense support for young people’s wellbeing particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest survey results reveal new and in-depth detail on the wellbeing of young people across the city-region.
Among its findings the report says that The inequalities identified in Year 1 of the #BeeWell data have persisted
Girls are reporting significantly lower levels of wellbeing than boys, and LGBTQ+ young people have significantly lower wellbeing than their cisgender heterosexual peers. The data remains consistent when comparing two different cohorts of Year 10 pupils across the two years.
Wellbeing scores have declined slightly as young people have moved from Year 8 into Year 9, this is in line with wider research about how young people’s wellbeing declines as they get older.
As young people get older, they are less likely to feel like they get enough sleep to feel awake throughout the school day. 41.8% of Year 9 students report that they aren’t getting enough sleep to concentrate at school, which is around 9 young people in an average class of 22. This is compared to 36% of Year 8 pupils who said they do not get enough sleep in 2021.
There has been a decline in young people reporting that they have good places to spend free time. In 2021, 75.5% of young people in Year 8 agreed or strongly agreed that they had good places to spend free time, compared to 67.6% of those young people when they were surveyed again in Year 9 in 2022.
Cllr Mark Hunter, Greater Manchester Portfolio Lead for Young People said:
“The #BeeWell surveys have facilitated a real breakthrough in conversations about young people’s health, wellbeing, and activity. The results have helped to shape some important changes in Greater Manchester to support young people and their wellbeing.
“This year’s findings show that more action needs to be taken to tackle the inequalities in wellbeing between girls and boys, and with LBTGQ+ young people.
“The support of Greater Manchester’s schools has been integral to #BeeWell, Year 2 of the survey has shown how schools have used the survey results to make positive changes for their pupils. I am looking forward to Year 3 of the survey and the positive changes the results will initiate.”
Glyn Potts MBE DL, Headteacher at Saint John Henry Newman Catholic College, Oldham, said:
“The #BeeWell data has enabled us to understand our community with greater focus. We are able to react strategically to areas of fragility and celebrate the strengths and feedback we gain from our young people.
“Put simply, it is the closest we have to a microscope into the minds of our young people and enables us to be reactive to their needs and a stronger community.”
