• Wirral West ranks in national top 10 for life satisfaction and not feeling lonely
• Liverpool Riverside lowest in UK for neighbour familiarity
• Westmoreland & Lonsdale lead nation in finding connection in third spaces such as pubs and bars
• A third of people in some areas feel poorly represented by politicians

London, UK, 30 April 2026 – Wirral West is a rare bright spot in a divided North West picture for belonging and social connection, a new study by the Belonging Forum published today (30 April) reveals.

Analysis from the Belonging Forum’s 2026 Belonging Barometer finds where you live in the North West can shape how connected, happy and represented you feel.

Wirral West stands out as one of the region’s – and the country’s – strongest areas for belonging. It ranks highly on the Belonging Index which combines measures such as life satisfaction, loneliness, safety and connection to place to show how strongly people feel they belong in their area.

Wirral West is among the ten areas in the UK with the highest levels of life satisfaction and the lowest levels of loneliness. Almost three-quarters of residents say they are satisfied with life, placing the area ninth nationally (74% vs 67% across the UK), while more than half say they rarely feel lonely, placing it eighth nationally (51% vs 45%).

Chester South and Eddisbury also sits in the national top 10 for life satisfaction (74%). More than four in five residents feel safe after dark near home (81% vs 67% nationally) – placing the area as perceived to be the ninth safest in the UK. Westmorland and Lonsdale ranks in the top 10 (ninth) for feeling safe during the day near home (91.9%) and tops the national list for spending free time in high street venues – highlighting the role of everyday social spaces in building connection.

However, the wider picture in the North West is much more uneven.

The Belonging Forum found that a quarter (25%) of residents in Liverpool Riverside report life dissatisfaction, placing the constituency as fourth lowest nationally. Meanwhile, 38% of residents report feeling frequently lonely – one of the highest rates in the UK.

Liverpool Riverside also ranks lowest in the UK for neighbour familiarity – with just 49% saying they know their neighbours well, compared to an average of 57% nationally.

Manchester Rusholme also records high levels of loneliness, with 39% of residents feeling lonely often or some of the time.

Blackpool South ranks in the bottom 10 nationally across all key measures — including life dissatisfaction (24%), having no close friends (13.5%) and attachment to the local area (48% vs 38% nationally). More than half (51%) also say they do not know their neighbours well.

The Belonging Forum’s research also points to a divide in how people feel represented by those in power.

In some of the North West’s lowest-performing areas, residents are significantly more likely to say they feel badly represented by their local councillor or MP. By contrast, in stronger-performing constituencies such as Wirral West and Chester South and Eddisbury, residents are more likely to report feeling well represented.

Together, the findings highlight a disparity in the North West in how connected people are to other people and the place they live, and how well people feel their communities are supported and represented by local leadership.

Kim Samuel, Founder & Chief Architect at Belonging Forum, said:

“This research highlights a postcode lottery for belonging across the North West — but it also shows what’s possible when the conditions for connection are strong. In places like Wirral West, people are more likely to feel satisfied with life and connected to those around them.

“Across the region, the findings underline the importance of everyday factors like safe streets, trusted local services and welcoming shared spaces in helping people build relationships and feel part of their community.

“Decision makers should look at the key differences in environment and infrastructure between areas that show stark difference, and create roadmaps to make positive change to social spaces and community infrastructure.

“Strengthening these foundations can play a vital role in supporting wellbeing and creating places where more people feel connected and able to thrive.”

The 2026 Belonging Barometer is the Belonging Forum’s third annual report examining belonging in the UK, looking at people’s connections to others, to the places they live, to the institutions and systems that shape their lives, and to meaning and purpose in everyday life. The findings draw on a nationally representative survey of 10,000 adults conducted by Opinium.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITOR

For media inquiries and interviews, or further information, please contact: press@belongingforum.com

About the Belonging Barometer:

• The research was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Belonging Forum and surveyed a nationally representative sample of 10,001 UK adults. The survey was conducted between 1^st and 17^th December 2025.
• The polling analysed figures from the general population and is broken down by demographics including gender, age, socioeconomic status, and working status.
• The full findings of the third edition of the Belonging Barometer can be viewed here.

About the Belonging Forum

The Belonging Forum is a global non-profit advancing the right to belong – a birthright that connects us to one another, to the places we call home, to the systems that shape our lives, and to a shared sense of purpose.

We bring together research, advocacy, and action to ensure belonging is embedded in policies, institutions, and everyday life. Through collaboration with thought leaders, community builders, and changemakers around the world, we turn ideas into impact and build a world where everyone can flourish.

The Belonging Forum was founded by Kim Samuel – activist, author, educator, and leading voice in the global movement for belonging.