Skip to content

Accessibility

#BeeWell

What are we trying to do?

Approximately one in six young people experience high levels of emotional difficulties that are likely to warrant significant additional support. #BeeWell is an innovative programme that blends academic research and youth-led change to ‘pivot the system’ and address this major societal problem. 

 

In the #BeeWell study, detailed information is being gathered from young people in UK secondary schools about their wellbeing, and the things that influence their wellbeing. This information is being used in a variety of ways that are helping to improve the lives of young people:

 

  • Insights are being identified, including wellbeing trends over time.
  • Informed recommendations are being made about areas that need further investigation.
  • Potential interventions are being identified which could reduce inequalities and improve wellbeing. 
  • Research is being published in high-profile academic journals to share knowledge with leading people and organisations in the field.
  • Findings are being used as a starting point for conversations with young people about their experiences and their lives.

 

The #BeeWell study is based on three core principles, which are:

 

  • Listen to young people’s voices.
  • Act together for change.
  • Celebrate young people’s wellbeing.

 

More information about all aspects of the #BeeWell Programme can be found on the #BeeWell website.

 

 

Why is this important?

The wellbeing of young people in the UK is among the lowest in the world and low levels of wellbeing can have a knock-on effect when young people reach adulthood.

 

Therefore, understanding young people’s levels of wellbeing generally, and the reasons for low levels of wellbeing specifically, is important when designing ways to improve equality for young people and to boost their levels of wellbeing.

 

 

How are we doing it?

#BeeWell began in 2021, when a group of experts and 150 young people from Greater Manchester worked together to develop the #BeeWell wellbeing survey. This first-of-its-kind annual survey has been completed by over 60,000 secondary school pupils in Greater Manchester since 2021, with an additional 22,000 young people from Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton taking part for the first time in 2023 as part of a planned expansion. The results provide important data about the wellbeing of young people in these regions.  

 

Each year, once the survey information is collected and analysed, #BeeWell data is shared with schools, who receive confidential reports on wellbeing levels. Data is also shared publicly, with neighbourhood-level findings published each year.

 

In March 2022, NIHR ARC Greater Manchester was awarded £750k additional funding from NIHR to support Mental Health Research across Greater Manchester. As part of this, we were able expand analytical capacity to support the analysis of the findings from the #BeeWell surveys.

 

Thanks to further additional funding, from 2023 the #BeeWell survey is also being rolled out across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton (see above).

 

 

Impact on Young People

#BeeWell has already had a positive impact on the wellbeing of young people. Here are some of the ways in which improvements are being made:

 

  • A Youth Steering Group was created which has the funding power to commission activities that address what they view as the most important survey findings. They were involved in the commissioning of a £60,000 funding pot from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership to support the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people.

 

  • Schools have used #BeeWell data to inform their wellbeing plans and have introduced a range of improvements to wellbeing, including:
    • Offering a greater variety of extracurricular activities to boost physical activity.
    • Enhancing the nutritional value of food provision.
    • Strengthening the school-pupil connection.

 

  • The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) in Greater Manchester has committed to supporting 20 voluntary organisations across neighbourhoods with lower wellbeing scores to start running the DofE in their area so that more marginalised young people can access the scheme.

 

  • After the 2021 #BeeWell survey revealed that only a third of young people in Greater Manchester meet the national recommendation of one hour of activity per day, GM Moving is now delivering a youth-led campaign on physical activity and mental health.

 

 

Impact on National Policy

In just two years, #BeeWell has already had a significant influence on national policy. We plan to keep this momentum going, energising policy makers to make the changes needed to improve wellbeing outcomes for young people across the UK. View the links below to explore how #BeeWell is having an influence:

 

 

 

  • Wider use of the #BeeWell survey – The #BeeWell survey is being adapted and delivered by partners in other locations across England, including the London Borough of Havering, Milton Keynes and North Devon and Torridge.

 

 

Who are we working with?

 

 

Funding information

The #BeeWell study has received funding from a wide range of sources, which can be viewed on the #BeeWell Funders webpage.

 

 

Publications, reports, briefings and blogs

 

 

More information

 

 

 

NIHR ARC Greater Manchester Programme Manager
Gill Rizzello
gill.rizzello@manchester.ac.uk

Please complete the following form to download this item:


Once submitting your information you will be presented with a new 'Download' button to gain access to the resource.