North West’s happiness levels exposed

NEW research commissioned by the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign reveals up to 90% of adults in the North West feel less happy than when the recession started. It also shows that people from this area are more likely than any other part of Britain to feel happier if they know that crime levels are being reduced.

The independent research, undertaken by ICM, shows that only 12% of the British population feels happier now than when the economic crisis began, falling to 9% in London and the South East. The research comes ahead of new figures expected to confirm whether or not the recession is set to continue in the UK.  The findings, which probe the perceptions of more than 2000 people across Britain, ask the population which activities are most likely to make them feel happier. The results of Make a Difference Day’s Great British Happiness Survey reveal that in the North West:-

• 90% of adults are feeling less happy or the same level of happiness than when the recession started

• 51% feel happier when the streets and parks around them are clean

• 50% feel happier when they help a neighbour or friend with a problem, rising to 67% for the over 65s across Britain

• 47% are happier when they’ve seen a reduction in crime levels locally

• 45% are happier when they simply sit back to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee

• 40% feel happier when they have undertaken some form of physical activity and 35% report an improvement in their mood when they do something to help the environment or wildlife

• 31% feel happier when getting to meet new friends, with this rising to 48% amongst 18-24 year olds across Britain

• 28% of the population feel happier when they are gardening

• 22% were happier when shopping. Shopping was highest amongst 18-34 year olds across Britain (38%)

The research comes in the build-up to CSV Make a Difference Day, which is the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 31 October. The campaign is looking to demonstrate how giving time through volunteering can lift the nation’s spirit when times are tough.

Commenting about the results, psychologist and broadcaster, Gladeana McMahon, said:- “Over half of all people say that volunteering to help others makes them feel happier. It's clear that keeping physically and mentally active can often improve your state of mind. There’s also a lot of fun to be had that is likely to put a smile back on your face.”

Pete Waterman, one of CSV Make a Difference Day’s ambassadors said:- “The feel good factor from giving time to benefit a cause or other people can be infectious. The effect can be caused by something as simple as a ‘random act of kindness’ such as baking a cake for an elderly neighbour or picking up litter on your street through to building shelters for wildlife or having a tea and chat with a homeless person.”

Alison Medlicott, 33 volunteered with CSV as part of a gap year helping homeless people in Blackburn. She is about to volunteer to help young people in the area where she lives. Alison said:- “Volunteering gives you a different perspective on your own life, especially when you encounter people with much bigger problems than yourself. Once you’ve tried volunteering you start to get the bug and you want to do more it. It’s definitely something that enhances your life and makes it more fulfilled.”

All of the activities that make people happier can be linked to volunteering. This year the campaign will encourage people to bake brownies to cheer up isolated neighbours or help with shopping for people who are housebound.  The campaign is also encouraging the nation to undertake Random Acts of Kindness from offering a seat to a stranger on a bus through to ‘guerrilla gardening’ when volunteers could plant wildflower seeds in derelict places to benefit bumblebees.

This year, anyone concerned about improving the environment can register to receive a free ‘How to’ guide to build homes for endangered hedgehogs. Many thousands of volunteers will also spend time planting bulbs to brighten up their neighbourhoods in readiness for spring.

This latest research builds on earlier research commissioned by Make a Difference Day about the positive impact of volunteering in Britain which reveals that:-

• 47% of all volunteers say volunteering improves their physical fitness

• 25% who volunteer more than five times a year say it helps them lose weight

• 48% of people who have volunteered for more than 2 years say volunteering makes them less depressed.

• Up to 63% of people say volunteering helps them feel less stressed.

• Up to 17% of volunteers say it improves their sex lives

CSV Make a Difference Day is on Saturday 31 October 2009, with activities taking place a week either side. To find out more visit:- csv.org.uk/difference or call freephone:- 0800 284 533 also you can use email.  

£860,000 improvements at rail hub

THE multi award-winning Liverpool South Parkway (LSP) transport hub has undergone a major revamp to the tune of £860,000.

The flagship Merseyside station, one of the UK’s pioneering examples of modern transport infrastructure, now boasts a new, fully accessible Travel Centre, comfortable passenger lounge and smart-card enabled ticket gates.  Work is also progressing on 60 new free park and ride spaces on the station footprint.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said:- “We’ve been a victim of our own success to some extent so these improvements are incredibly important. More than 4,000 now use Liverpool South Parkway every day; we’ve seen a ten per cent increase in the last year alone so we need to make sure that we can meet the expectations of our passengers.”

Neil Scales, Chief Executive of Merseytravel, added:- ““The station car park is full by 10am, sometimes earlier, every day, so we have also looked at ways in which we can deal with that and we have built more comfort into a station which has proved to be a runaway success story for us.  We are expecting passenger numbers to continue to rise so we are future proofing the station with these significant improvements.”

The £860,000 improvements have been wholly funded by Merseytravel.

The new air conditioned passenger lounge, with wi-fi facility, replaces the former cycle store, and new cycle storage facilities have been built outside the station building.  The new travel centre, accessible to all, includes new dual height ticket counters and is staffed from before the arrival of the first train until after the last train leaves.  New smart-card enabled ticket barriers, a set for the Northern Line and a set for the City Line, are aimed at deterring ticketless travel and are staffed throughout the day by Merseyrail ticket officers.

Bart Schmeink, Managing Director of Merseyrail, added:- "We know from independent research that passengers rate the facilities and our staff at Liverpool South Parkway very highly. So these additional facilities will make an excellent station even better and they set the standards for others to aspire to."

The £860,000 investment programme comes hot on the heels of series of new train services stopping at the station from December 2008, including the new East Midlands franchise trains to Norwich. Plans are also in the pipeline for TransPennine Express trains to Leeds, York and Scarborough to use the station.

A new fast-link 501 shuttle bus service from LSP to Liverpool John Lennon Airport was also launched this summer.  Operated by Arriva and supported by Merseytravel, it offers a non-stopping service with a journey time of just 10 minutes and runs Monday to Saturday every 20 minutes between 7am and 7pm.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER GOES THE EXTRA MILE

MERSEYSIDE Community Support officer Chris Ward from Southport Neighbourhood has gone the extra mile to assist an elderly member of his community.   The 88 year old resident, from Park Road in Southport had plants stolen from outside her flat in May 2009. When Chris visited her, she was understandably very distressed over the theft. Chris spoke to local businesses who agreed to replace her plants for free.  Chris also found out that the lady served in the WRAF during the war, so as a surprise, he managed to arrange tickets for the lady and a friend to visit the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, at this Southport Air show.  CSO Chris Ward said:- "It is really gratifying when I am able to do things like this. Unfortunately things don't always work out, but when they do, nit can make a huge difference to the victim. I really hope they enjoy the air show and I'll keep visiting to see that she's OK."

TEACHERS THANKED WITH FREE PENS

A leading stationery firm is celebrating World Teachers' Day on October 5, 2009 by offering inspirational classroom figures a free writing instrument.  Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK has made the donation in acknowledgment of their service to educate and guide our children, teenagers and adult learners. Whilst stocks last, any teacher who emails letters@connect-group.com will receive a free super smooth Jetstream pen, which will greatly assist them with their lesson planning and marking.

"We wanted to recognise the UK's teaching profession by giving them a free Jetstream pen. Teachers play a critical role in the upbringing of our children so it's important that we continue to invest in them." said Stuart Barker, marketing manager for Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK.