A new report has revealed Redditch has one of the lowest wellbeing rates in the UK. 

The UK Wellbeing Report, carried out by the World Wellbeing Movement, shows a quarter of Redditch residents live below the Happiness Poverty Line. This is double the national average of 1 in 8. 

The World Wellbeing Movement created the report using ONS data on UK-wide satisfaction levels with 320,000 people across the country being asked to rate their level of life satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10. 

Those who scored their level of life satisfaction below 5 are classified as living below the Happiness Poverty Line. 

Managing Director of the World Wellbeing Movement, Sarah Cunningham, said: "The data from our report is alarming. The number of people living below the happiness poverty line has increased tremendously since the pandemic and although these figures look to level off soon, it's doing so at a higher level than before the pandemic. 

"Life satisfaction scores, that is to say people's self-reported wellbeing, have proved to be strong predictors of people's physical and mental health as well as longevity."

The report also reveals steep wellbeing inequalities across the UK with as many as 1 in 4 people living below the Happiness Poverty Line in some areas, including Redditch, and as high as 1 in 20 in other parts of the country. 

The World Wellbeing Movement said many factors can contribute to poor wellbeing including a lack of adequate housing, poor access to green spaces, long GP waiting times and a lack of good, local social care providers. 

The movement also believes traditional metrics of societal success, including GDP, focus too much on economic progress. 

Ms Cunningham added: "The current system for measuring progress and development is outdated and doesn't reflect modern society. Systematic change is complex but possible. 

"By refocusing our metrics of success, we can build a society where the wealth of a country is measured not just in economic terms but in the health, happiness and fulfilment of every citizen." 

For more information visit www.worldwellbeingmovement.org