To start their 2026 podcasts, Niall and Roy make a departure from their usual focus on the politics and management of the NHS, and explore the worrying state of our young people.  The awful reality is that youngsters in the UK appear to be unhappier than nearly all their European counterparts. 

Their first guest of the New Year is David Gregson an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has embarked on an ambitious and innovative programme called #BeeWell. Its aim is to improve the wellbeing of young people throughout the country, starting in Greater Manchester and a few other areas of England. Working with the Mayor, Andy Burnham together with schools, local authorities and the NHS, the architects of the #BeeWell approach already claim to be having a significant impact, affecting the lives of thousands of young people. 

But can this programme, which demands action and a mind-shift from statutory and voluntary services, really be the catalyst to change the prospects of the next generation? 

In a fascinating exchange, David Gregson points to weaker family relationships, restrictions on child freedom, and the fact that adults often no longer understand the world in which their youngsters live. He applauds moves by the UK government to raise the profile of youngsters’ wellbeing and its support for idea of conducting surveys in every school, but he wants them to go further and faster.

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