Young people’s wellbeing in doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester

In this report examining young people’s wellbeing, #BeeWell and The Centre for Education and Youth compare neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester identified as doubly disadvantaged with those considered non-doubly disadvantaged. Their analysis focuses on the views of young people, looking into overall life satisfaction, loneliness, and feeling safe or unsafe. 

The report’s quantitative analysis is supplemented by findings from a series of workshops held with young people aged 16-25 and youth workers from across the county. The findings highlight the significant disparities faced by young people who lack access to social infrastructure.

Crucially, one of the key findings is that young people’s preferred ‘third place’ – somewhere to spend time together that is neither school nor home – is not always, or even usually, the formal spaces accorded to them by the local authority or the third sector. 

To address these disparities, the report recommends facilitating greater, meaningful involvement of young people in decision-making, alongside improving local environments and ring-fencing funding to safeguard ‘third places’ for young people.