What matters to people the most is reflected in their wellbeing. It reflects people’s health, both physical and mental, as well as any disabilities. It reflects people’s financial situation; their jobs, income, and security. It reflects their environment; their climate, housing, access to green space, safety. And it reflects their connections; their relationships with family, their friends and communities.
PBE focuses on those people who have the lowest wellbeing. A total of 3.1 million adults across the UK were suffering from ‘low’ levels of satisfaction in late 2023 – an increase of 750,000 in just three years. And at any one time, around half a million adults in the UK report ‘very low’ personal wellbeing. They are extremely unsatisfied with their lives, usually because numerous parts of their lives are going poorly at once.
People of many different backgrounds can find themselves in such seemingly hopeless, unhappy states. The retired widower who struggles to get out of their home because of a disability. The middle-aged single mother who’s been out of work and finding it hard to make ends meet. The LGBT young person who’s in temporary accommodation following estrangement from their family. The refugee who’s been through traumatic times.
Understanding more about who these people are, understanding the drivers of this unhappiness, and understanding the measures which can solve and prevent such deep unhappiness is crucial so that the right changes can be delivered. A fair, just and equitable society cannot exist while there are such significant proportions of the population suffering from low wellbeing, even for short periods of time.
PBE firmly believes that all policymakers should be committed to eradicating and preventing the causes of very low wellbeing in the UK, so that everyone feels satisfied with the lives they lead in our country. We undertake research, analysis, policy development and influencing to achieve this.
Veterans returning to civilian life have had a range of experiences, and so have a range of needs. Our new analysis of Annual Population Survey data highlights the need for targeted approaches to supporting veterans in transition. Read more
PBE's report for MQ Mental Health Research found that rolling out ADIE treatment for autistic people with anxiety could help 6,000 more people recover, with an estimated total economic benefit to society of £125-£170mn Read more
Our report for MQ Mental Health Research finds making LENS treatment available to everyone with moderate and severe anxiety could lead to significant quality of life improvements, with equivalent economic benefits valued at up to £2,170 per person. Read more
PBE's report for Autistica found that doubling the employment rate for autistic people would draw an additional 100,000 into work, resulting in an estimated total economic benefit to society of £900 million-£1.5 billion. Read more
The Chancellor’s decision to uprate housing benefits in last week's Autumn Statement was a boost to many low-income households. But PBE's Chief Economist Jon Franklin says it is just a short-term sticking plaster which will not fix the UK's broken housing system. Read more
New analysis by PBE of the financial and wellbeing benefits of grants for fridge-freezers and washing machines, commissioned by the Association of Charitable Organisations (ACO). Read more
Pro Bono Economics worked with Breaking Barriers to understand the potential value for money of their employment support for refugees in the UK. Read more
A wellbeing analysis of the employment and mental health programmes run by Walking With The Wounded Read more
An analysis for Hestia looking at how extending the right to work to all potential survivors of modern slavery could generate significant economic benefits to society. Read more