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The North West's
relationships under the microscope
A new study of more than
5,000 people has lifted the lid on the state of the UK's
relationships and found that 1 in 20 people in the North West has no
close friends. Published by Relate, the UK's leading
relationship support organisation, and Relationships Scotland, The
Way We Are Now 2014 is one of the largest studies of its kind. It
provides a window into the most important areas of our lives; from
couple and family life to sex, friendships and interactions with
colleagues and bosses.
The study finds some concerning statistics around how close we feel
to others, including 1 in 20 people in the North West saying they
don't have a single close friend and 15% of people in the North West
rarely or never feeling loved in the 2 weeks before the survey.
The Way We Are Now 2014 also finds a strong connection between our
relationships and our personal wellbeing. It seems that, even in
today's fast paced and ever-changing world, relationships still act
as shock absorbers when times are hard and also help us to achieve
our goals. Crucially, the study finds that people who enjoy good
quality relationships also have higher levels of wellbeing, whilst
relationships of poor quality are detrimental to wellbeing, health
and how we feel about ourselves.
Sarah Hall, Chief Executive of Relate Cheshire and Merseyside, said:-
"This new study examines the quality of our relationships,
showing a clear link between our personal relationships and our
wellbeing. Whilst there is much to celebrate, the results around how
close we feel to others are very concerning. There is a significant
minority of people who claim to have no close friends, or who never
or rarely feel loved; something which is unimaginable to many of
us. Relationships are the asset which can get us through good times
and bad, and it is worrying to think that there are people who feel
they have no one they can turn to during life's challenges. We know
that strong relationships are vital for both individuals and society
as a whole, so investing in them is crucial."
Below is a summary of the study's top findings. For more
information, statistics, Counsellor comment, top tips and infographics on each topic (including how Relate can help) please
click on the topic titles below. To see the full report about the
study, click here.
The changing face of family life:-
► 23% of people in the North West have experienced the breakdown of
their parents' relationship
► 65% think money worries are one of the biggest strains on a
relationship
Divorce rates have risen significantly over the last 50 years,
leaving generations of children, young people and adults working out
how to navigate family life after separation. But families of all
shapes and sizes can and do have good quality relationships; it
might just take some extra effort.
The majority (65%) say that money worries are one of the biggest
strains on relationships.
Partners - enduring love:-
► 86% of people in the North West have a good relationship with
their partner
► 15% of people never or rarely felt loved in the 2 weeks before the
survey
The vast majority of us in relationships feel close to our partners,
but there are also some concerning statistics in this section
including 15% of people rarely or never feeling loved in the 2 weeks
before the survey. But being in a relationship alone isn't
enough to enjoy good wellbeing; we found that the benefits of being
in a couple relationship for people's wellbeing were lost when they
were dissatisfied with how things were going.
Sex - a nation divided:-
► 21% of people in the North West are dissatisfied with their sex
life
► 22% of people report having an affair
With 21% of people in the North West being dissatisfied with their
sex life it's clear that, for many people, things aren't as good as
they could be.
The Way We Are Now 2014 included an additional survey carried out by
Relate of 250 Relate and Relationships Scotland Counsellors, who
listed 3 factors for a happy sex life: improving communication,
making time to be together and learning how to talk about sex with
your partner.
Click on the topic title above for advice and guidance from Relate
sex therapists.
Work - a delicate balancing act:-
► 37% of people in the North West say their bosses believe the most
productive employees put work before family
► 57% of people have a good relationship with their boss
The picture painted by the work section of the study is an
interesting one. Even though many of us enjoy good relationships
with our bosses, it's clear that work and family life seem to be
incompatible for a significant minority.
This is especially worrying
in an age where the boundaries between home and work are
increasingly blurred, with many of us working from home and being
connected to email out of normal working hours.
Trust is crucial for
successful relationships at work, but this is not always easy to
achieve when workplace attitudes and the practicalities of family
life clash.
Click on the topic title above for commentary from Professor Sir
Cary Cooper CBE on the importance of trust in the workplace.
Friends - I'll be there for you
► 94% of people in the North West have at least 1 close friend
► 77% of women describe their friendships as good/very good compared
with 81% of men
The vast majority of us have at least 1 close friend, but it is
significant that 1 in 10 does not. There are also some differences
between men and women when it comes to friendships: men are more
likely to have high quality friendships than women, which is
different from the UK norm, which finds 81% of women describing
their friendships as good or very good, compared with 73% of men.
The study finds a clear link between high quality relationships and
high levels of wellbeing. But simply being in a relationship doesn't
guarantee that people will feel good about themselves: single people
feel better about themselves than those in average, bad or very bad
relationships, suggesting it's the quality of the relationship that
has an impact on wellbeing and happiness.
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81 households at
risk of losing their home every day in the North West
EVERY day, 81 households in
the North West are at risk of losing their home, new analysis from
Shelter reveals. The research, based on data recorded by the
Ministry of Justice found that in the last year more than 29,700
homes in the North West are at risk of eviction or repossession, the
equivalent of 81 every day.
It also identified the latest hotspots across the region where
people are most likely to face losing their home, with Salford and
Halton topping the list. Other hotspots in the region's top ten
included West Lancashire, Manchester and Liverpool.
The housing and homelessness charity is warning that sky high
housing costs are pushing more and more families in the North West
to the brink. With finances stretched to bursting point, just one
thing, such as an illness or job loss, can be all it takes to leave
a family facing losing their home.
Shelter is currently struggling to meet demand for its services and
is calling for support so that it can help more people stay in their
homes. Since 2011, across the country the charity has seen the
number of callers struggling with rent arrears more than double,
while those calling about mortgage arrears rose by nearly a 5th.
Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said:- "81
households at risk of losing their home every day is 81 too many.
Each one of these will have had their lives turned upside down by
this experience, as they faced seeing their home, the foundation of
their life, ripped away from underneath them. Tragically we are
seeing more and more people coming to us for help, people who have
been struggling to make ends meet and then just one change of
circumstances has pushed them spiralling towards homelessness. We
urgently need people's support so we can help more people in the
North West avoid the nightmare of losing their home."
Public in North
West support slow speed technology first demonstrated by Living
Streets over 80 years ago
OVER 75% of people in the
North West are in favour of mandatory speed controlling technology
on commercial and public transport vehicles, a poll commissioned by
Living Streets reveals to mark 85 years since the organisation was
first formed.
Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) prevents a vehicle exceeding the
speed limit. The YouGov survey found 75% of British adults in the
north west region are in favour of it being compulsory for public
transport vehicles such as buses and coaches, and 78% in favour for
commercial traffic such as lorries and vans. The percentages are the
highest in the Country. As more local authorities move towards 20mph speed limits, ISA could be a useful tool to regulate traffic
speeds and make streets safer for vulnerable road users, says the
charity.
An early version of ISA was demonstrated over 80 years ago by the
secretary of Living Streets; then called the Pedestrians'
Association; which held its first meeting on 13 August 1929.
Living Streets interim Chief Executive, Phillipa Hunt, said:-
"Over 80 years ago one of our founder members, Mr E S Cope,
demonstrated his Tell Tale Lights system which alerted drivers and
other road users when vehicles exceeded the speed limit. Bear in
mind that when we were founded, there was no driving test, no
pedestrian crossings and little regulation. In 1932, 40,000
children were injured on Britain's roads and 1,200 lost their lives.
Over the years, our campaigns for slower speed limits, safe crossing
points and other measures to make walking on our streets safer and
easier have helped to reduce this shocking toll, but 80 years later
there were still 17,190 children injured and 61 child fatalities on
our roads. As part of a package of measures including 20 mph speed
limits where we live, work, shop and go to school, this technology
can help to make our original vision of streets safe for walking a
reality, and this poll shows that the public subscribe to that
vision."
During its 85 year history, Living Streets has successfully
campaigned for compulsory speedometers on public vehicles, speed
limits, pedestrian crossings, limits on alcohol consumption when
driving and the introduction of the driving test.
Phillipa Hunt added:- "Many prescient inventions which seemed
left field at the time have become part of our everyday reality.
Slower speeds make walking safer and easier for everyone whether
we're going to school, to work or to the shops."
Can you help the
NCA identify this man?
THE UK's National Crime Agency's Investigators
are appealing for help to identify a man wanted in connection with a
£12million cocaine haul. 2 separate importations totalling over 47
kilos have been uncovered as part of the 2 year joint investigation
with West Yorkshire Police. Following the discovery in Rotterdam of
approximately 45 kilos of cocaine in sacks of paprika in August
2012, investigators watched as 'dummy' sacks were
delivered via Tilbury Docks to a yard at the Liverpool Docks. The
unidentified man, who the NCA believe could be from Merseyside,
Greater Manchester or Lancashire, was spotted unloading a lorry
containing the sacks. 6 other men from Bolton, Liverpool and
Manchester were arrested and charged with conspiracy to import
cocaine.
All 6 arrested have since appeared at Manchester City
Magistrates Court this afternoon and were released on conditional
bail until 29 August 2014, when they will appear at Manchester Crown
Court. 4 of the men were also charged with a conspiracy, relating to
a seizure in April 2013, when 2 kilos of cocaine in boxes of milk
powder were sent to a virtual office in Bradford. Greg Mckenna, NCA
Branch Commander, said:- "Joint working with West Yorkshire
Police has prevented a huge amount of cocaine reaching the streets
and causing terrible damage to our communities. Now we need the help
of the public to identify and locate the man at Liverpool Docks.
There will be people who may know who he is and I am asking those
people to come forward and provide us with as much information as
possible." Anyone with information can contact the NCA on:-
0370 496 7622 or Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111. |
