🔔Calling economists, analysts and researchers - we've got new volunteer opportunities! If you have experience in economic modelling, Excel spreadsheet creation or data analysis, two orgs could use your help. Applications close 10 am on Wednesday 1 October. Find out more 👇

Thank you Emily Harle for an excellent write up our new report calling for a civil society evidence org to improve the sector's evidence base and effectiveness. Funders, get in touch with report co-authors Anoushka Kenley and @mattwhittaker.bsky.social if you're interested in getting involved.

Civil society is one of the UK’s greatest assets, but it needs a Civil Society Evidence Organisation (CSEVO): a hub to access evidence, cut duplication & support smarter decisions. We have a plan: £2.5m over 5 yrs, co-funded by government and the sector. Read the report: pbe.co.uk/publications...

Free2Talk offers something vital for LGBTQ+ young people: a safe, identity-affirming space to belong. @karol122.bsky.social and @charlotteprothero.bsky.social share Charlie’s story, and the value of the programme which could deliver £4 of wellbeing benefit for every £1 spent. Read it here 👇

"Without suitable measures of organisations’ adoption of AI, policymakers will be unable to shape this powerful technology in ways that benefit society as a whole." - @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social's in her new article for #EconToImproveLives pbe.co.uk/insights/eco...

Civil society has reached a milestone: we estimate that for the first time, paid hours now exceed volunteer hours. Do we need to slow the tide and re-emphasise volunteering, or do we accept the sector is becoming more professional? Explore these questions in our new blog: pbe.co.uk/insights/the...

Instead of framing it as wellbeing v GDP, @hetanshah.bsky.social asks: what's the missing data we need to understand people’s lives? From jobs & public services to how people feel, the real challenge is deciding what to prioritise with limited resources. New article👇 pbe.co.uk/insights/bey...

Around 3 million people with the lowest wellbeing in the UK fall into the category of “wellbeing poverty”. Our UK wellbeing forecast suggests the reinforcing effect of declining general and mental health, combined with loneliness, risks creating a “wellbeing poverty trap”. pbe.co.uk/publications...

National surveys often underrepresent LGBTQ+ young people, and standard datasets rarely reflect the full diversity of gender and sexual identities. Our new report with Free2B addresses part of that gap, evaluating the Free2Talk mentoring programme. 🔗 pbe.co.uk/publications... #ChildrensWellbeing

🌈The lack of accurate data on LGBTQ+ folks is pervasive We're often invisible. Historic exclusion, categorisation challenges, and the potential harm of data collection have all played a part, hindering policy, research, and support services. This report looks to fill in part of that data gap ⬇️

We're hiring: Events and Communications Lead (freelance) We are looking for fixed term support delivering our events and digital communications 📆Fixed term September to November 2025, part or full-time ✨Daily rate: £200 - £250 (inclusive of VAT) Find out more and apply: pbe.co.uk/vacancies/ev...

Whether you’re preparing a funding bid, reporting to stakeholders, or simply looking to better understand your impact, we’re here to support you with free, expert help. Get support: pbe.co.uk/our-services...

A hidden wellbeing penalty: private renters are 3 times more likely than homeowners to have persistently low life satisfaction. Even after accounting for income & health, private renting comes with an estimated wellbeing penalty of around £3,700 per person each year. 🔗 pbe.co.uk/insights/how...

Wellbeing isn't a fringe idea - it tells us a lot about voter behaviour. Including 16- & 17-year-olds in the next election is a bold step for youth participation and democracy. But if their lives aren’t improving by the next election, it could open up new political risks. pbe.co.uk/insights/wha...

15 min call for Economics to improve lives Join us online: www.youtube.com/live/hxKEySZ...

New report from @pbe.co.uk on the wellbeing of the UK’s adults. Good news: despite the grumbles we sometimes have, nearly 4-in-5 of us are content with our lives. Bad news: that’s still down on pre-covid norms pbe.co.uk/publicatio...

Our new report contains a deep dive by @drbethkitson.bsky.social and Marie Horton on the private rental sector. Have a read 👇

“The main purpose of government should be to improve the wellbeing of the people.” In a new blog, @sarahdavidson.bsky.social makes the case that UK government has the data on wellbeing - but isn't using it to drive action. Read why she believes that must change 👇 pbe.co.uk/insights/why...

This looks like a great opportunity!

Free webinar: explore the diversity gap at the top of charities This webinar on Tuesday 24 June lifts the lid on trustee demographics and skills gaps, looking at potential solutions & continuing the conversation sparked by our recent report for the Charity Commission👇

Massively enjoyable management training with Smart Thinking today - dusted off my acting skills for the role plays 😅 Great prep for future managers and enlightening to see things from the other side of the manager/employee relationship!

How can funders measure what really matters, without overwhelming grantees? Our new report is a blueprint for using wellbeing valuation to understand social impact, based on Spirit of 2012’s legacy funding work. Read it here: pbe.co.uk/publications...

Big thank you to @nicolesykes.bsky.social who kicked this off, and to @hannahcthinks.bsky.social who ran full pelt with it. And to everyone who inputted to make this massive project a reflection of what PBE is now. I'm a bit in love with the new website we've created.

Did you miss our April newsletter? Sign up for PBE’s next monthly update for: ✨ Expert insights on charity sector impact & low wellbeing 📊 Volunteer opportunities with our Data First Aid service 📢 Updates on our latest projects, events & workshops Subscribe: www.probonoeconomics.com/newsletter

"The survey reveals a sector that is underfunded, under resourced and under the radar. Women’s and girls’ organisations face considerable pressures, often disproportionately so, compared with the wider charity sector": @probonoecon.bsky.social. www.probonoeconomics.com/underfunded-...

Our new report for @rosafunduk.bsky.social by @drbethkitson.bsky.social looks at the pressures on and ambitions of the women and girls' sector. 🔗 www.probonoeconomics.com/underfunded-...

Today, 750 schools in England open free breakfast clubs for pupils. Listen to PBE's @jonfranklin.bsky.social on the measurable value of school breakfast clubs like those run by @magicbreakfastuk.bsky.social on BBC 5 Live. 🔊https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002b5n3

📣Join PBE and @rosafunduk.bsky.social for an essential conversation about the strength of the women and girls’ social sector and the challenges it's facing. 📆29 April at 12:00 online Book your free webinar ticket: www.probonoeconomics.com/Event/unlock...

📊 Could your charity benefit from free data support? Our Services team will find the perfect volunteer to solve your data challenges, matched on their experience in sectors such as finance and economics. Apply via our website: ow.ly/GQoi50PtVNA

📣New economist volunteer opportunity Workstyle Revolution CIC need help assessing the feasibility of estimating the potential economic impact of greater job autonomy on labour participation rates for disabled people. Apply to volunteer: www.probonoeconomics.com/volunteer-fo...

Looking forward to hearing from children's wellbeing experts at this morning's event

"Disability benefits aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—they’re a lifeline." Reacting to the #SpringStatement, our CEO @mattwhittaker.bsky.social warns that tightening benefits eligibility risks pushing many further into hardship. Read his full response: www.probonoeconomics.com/news/pbe-rea...

Our report for @z2ktrust.bsky.social shows that the wellbeing benefits of PIP and DLA far outweigh their costs. Focusing only on cutting the benefits bill misses the economic and wellbeing value for disabled people and wider society. 🔗 www.probonoeconomics.com/more-than-mo...

UK now 23rd in the World Happiness Report - our lowest ranking and only one above the US.

"The ‘stick’ of welfare cuts will almost certainly strike before the ‘carrot’ of employment support is in place, motivated by an apparent desire to cut near-term public expenditure and help balance the books."

📚 New report out now! In North Birkenhead, where half of kids live in low-income households, @right2succeed.bsky.social's Cradle to Career programme is improving literacy and creating opportunities. Read the full report: www.probonoeconomics.com/reading-the-...

🔔 Our new report with @right2succeed.bsky.social reveals the transformative power of literacy support for disadvantaged pupils. It highlights the £80 bn-a-year cost of inaction, and the urgent need for targeted literacy interventions in deprived areas. 1/8 www.probonoeconomics.com/reading-the-...

The latest Opinions and Lifestyle release from the ONS paints a somewhat troubling picture of wellbeing in Great Britain. As the five-year lockdown anniversary approaches, PBE CEO @mattwhittaker.bsky.social asks how we're doing? New thread and note ⬇️ www.probonoeconomics.com/five-years-o...

📣We're hiring! ✨Development Manager - Philanthropy and Partnerships (44-50k) ✨Development Manager - Trusts and Foundations (44-50k) ✨Development Officer (33-37k) 📆Permanent, full-time 🏢Flexible working Find out more and apply: www.probonoeconomics.com/Pages/Catego... #CharityJob #Fundraising

In 2024 we supported 169 charities, community groups and purposeful organisations, a record-breaking number that included @literacy-trust.bsky.social, Football Beyond Borders and Pilotlight. Read our newly released review of 2024 here: www.probonoeconomics.com/our-impact-i...

Our 3-year strategy is all about impact We’re expanding our reach to new audiences & partners, deepening our expertise and working better together. 🔍 Read about how we’re tackling low wellbeing and making a difference in our 2024 Impact Report: www.probonoeconomics.com/our-impact-i...

How can we reverse the decline in UK young people's mental health? We brought together 200+ people, including leaders from education, health and wellbeing charities and government, to discuss the evidence and debate solutions. Revisit the blog👇 ow.ly/l1Uu50TusZA #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek

"Treasury guidance attaches a monetary value to wellbeing, and the economic value of claiming disability benefits is estimated to be around £12,300 per person." @isabellamcrae.bsky.social covers our new report for the Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

8/ As public debate continues over the future of government spending, this report makes a compelling case for maintaining and improving access to disability benefits. Read the report: www.probonoeconomics.com/more-than-mo... #DisabilityBenefits #Wellbeing #PolicyChange

Our new report for @z2ktrust.bsky.social shows that the wellbeing benefits of PIP and DLA far outweigh their costs. PBE estimates £42bn annually in economic benefits from these wellbeing gains, compared to the £28bn cost of provision. Read the report: www.probonoeconomics.com/more-than-mo...

"The narrow focus on the rising cost of disability benefits misses the bigger picture... disability benefits actually provide a boost to the economy". Find out more about our new report with @probonoecon.bsky.social in @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Great to see @markrusselluk.bsky.social, CEO @childrenssociety.bsky.social speaking at the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill evidence committee. He emphasised the importance of children's wellbeing measurement and our joint work as a coalition to fill in this missing piece of the bill.

I've moved back in with my parents twice in my adult life. Living as a single person was unsustainable without support to save for a deposit, and I was very lucky to have access to "the hotel". Affordable housing is vital to give young adults independence.

Running a small charity with limited resources? 📊Data First Aid is here to help! Our expert volunteers can help make the most of your data quickly and effectively. 💡Gain insights 📈Build impact 💰Strengthen funding applications Find out more and get support: www.probonoeconomics.com/data-first-aid