Praise for our survey that shone a light on your lives
M.E.N.’S HUGE STUDY IS A SNAPSHOT OF REAL LIFE ACROSS GREATER MANCHESTER
THE M.E.N.’s survey into what life is really like for thousands of people in Greater Manchester has been praised for its findings.
More than 10,000 people took part in our study to understand the hopes, dreams and concerns of residents in our region.
The results - which we published in full in yesterday’s special report - outline many of the challenges people face in terms of income, housing and health problems.
Key findings showed that seven out of 10 respondents would rate their happiness as seven out of 10 or higher, while more than one-in-three pay more than 30 per cent of their income in rent or mortgage.
And more than one-in-five people in some parts of Greater Manchester had taken illegal drugs.
The unique findings have been praised by many readers, as well as politicians and researchers who say it offers a robust insight into the challenges the region faces.
Manchester Central Labour MP Lucy Powell said: “This is what modern journalism should be. It’s an important piece of work. The voice and power that the M.E.N. gives to the community it serves is why it’s such a successful and well-loved paper.
“I found some of the survey reassuring - it did reflect a lot of what I pick up on the doorstep or in my surgeries. But you’ve done it in a much more scientific and extensive way.”
Our survey showed one-in-four of you felt lonely - with the highest incidence among the young. Loneliness has been raised a lot in Parliament recently, said Ms Powell.
The late Labour MP Jo Cox pushed for a commission into loneliness, which was finally launched in January.
Ms Powell added: “The increasingly digital world we live in means your need for human contact is so much less than it used to be. You can shop online, you can socialise and date online.
“We are losing some of the community connections that being a human is all about. “You can aggregate those trends with cuts to services like youth clubs and libraries, and more pubs closing. Loneliness is very much related.”
Our findings also brought attention to Manchester’s drug habits.
Citizens UK organizer Furqan Naeem tweeted “Loving tomorrow’s front cover of @ MENnewsdesk! After living in London for a while I think @standardnews has found its match”.
Academics’ interest got sparked, too. University of Leeds Urban Sociology Fellow Dr Kim Allen tweeted “V interesting results, esp around youth and loneliness”.
We even made it onto a school curriculum. As Timperley geography teacher, @WellingtonGeog, tweeted: “Year 12 - very useful”.