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Wellbeing Loneliness Wellbeing poverty Low wellbeing

Research & policy

We use economics to provide information and analysis that helps tackle, and ultimately end, the causes and consequences of low wellbeing in the UK. Our analysts and economists have expertise and close connections with the social sector that allow them to develop vital insights for a range of audiences, including charities, funders, firms and policymakers.

The team work on a wide range of issues related to low wellbeing, including the following areas:

Our themes

Children & young people
Low wellbeing
Social sector
Housing
Loneliness

We work with charities, funders and policymakers dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people in the UK.

We’re facing a crisis in children’s wellbeing. The life satisfaction of our children has been trending down since 2011/12 and an international survey from the OECD ranked the wellbeing of the UK’s children 71st out of the 74 participating countries.

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Wellbeing reflects what matters most in our lives – our health, our finances and our connections to those around us.

Right now, more than 3 million adults in the UK are living in wellbeing poverty. We want to change that. We are working with policy makers and partners across the social and private sectors to drive this number down.

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Charities, community groups and social enterprises are essential – they solve problems, uplift marginalised voices, and often prevent people from experiencing low wellbeing.

Guided by the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, we use our research to inform charities and funders on the social sector’s health and develop solutions to its challenges.

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Where we live matters to our wellbeing.

Families and individuals in private rentals face a higher risk of low wellbeing than those in owner-occupied or social housing. Social housing appears to offer a protective effect that private rentals lack.

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Right now, five million adults in the UK are struggling with persistent loneliness. They are 12 times more likely to experience low wellbeing than those who hardly ever feel lonely.

People under 30, women, those who are separated from their partners, the unemployed, and those reporting poor health are most likely to be affected, according to our analysis.

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Publications

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Trusteeship – a positive opportunity: Understanding skills, experience and demographics in England and Wales

Trusteeship – a positive opportunity: Understanding skills, experience and demographics in England and Wales

May 2025
Underfunded, under resourced and under the radar: The state of the women and girls’ social sector

Underfunded, under resourced and under the radar: The state of the women and girls’ social sector

May 2025
A long road to recovery: Local authority spending on early intervention children’s services 2010-11 to 2023-24

A long road to recovery: Local authority spending on early intervention children’s services 2010-11 to 2023-24

May 2025
Reading the future: The impact of literacy support on disadvantaged pupils’ GCSE grades and beyond
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Reading the future: The impact of literacy support on disadvantaged pupils’ GCSE grades and beyond

Studies show that many children across the UK are starting secondary school without age-appropriate literacy skills. A quarter of pupils start Year 7 with a…
May 2025

Our Insights

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Impact stories

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