What makes York happy?

The burning question of what makes us happy was the subject of a meeting of minds at the University of York.

Leading academics gathered last night for one of the key events in an ongoing study by the Office for National Statistics which wants to set up a measure of national wellbeing.

Aileen Simkins, from the ONS, said: “The National Wellbeing debate is for everyone across the UK and we want to encourage people to tell us what matters to them.

“The measures that are developed will be available for all Government and commercial organisations to use in the way which helps them make decisions.”

Last night’s event was hosted by Steve Hughes, the managing editor of The Press, and took place in front of about 100 delegates in the Alcuin Centre.

Speakers included Professor Jonathon Bradshaw, founder of the University’s Social Policy Research Unit, and Professor Kate Pickett, an author who claims that countries with a smaller gap between rich and poor perform better as a society. Despite gloomy headlines in the news, happiness is a big issue at the moment and this week has also seen the launch of the Action For Happiness Movement, an unrelated initiative but one which seeks to point out that material wealth does not lead to fulfilment.

Meanwhile, the ONS says that more than 8,000 people have joined its online debate so far and wants people in York to get involved. Professor John Local, pro vice-chancellor for research at the university, said: “The aim of the national debate is to develop better measures of well-being by gaining a greater understanding of what is most important to people.

“The university is very pleased to be able to offer people who live or work in the York area a chance to contribute to this important topic.”

What makes us smile?

Nicola Hebden found out what makes the people of York happy...

Chris Acey, 41, Pottery Lane, a York fishmonger, said: “Watching Man Utd winning makes me very happy. Pottering around in the garden, being with my family, eating good food makes me happy too.”

Father Stephen, 64, an Orthodox Monk at Saint Anne’s House, The Groves, said: “I think one’s attitude in life in general is what makes one happy. To some degree one makes one’s own happiness. It’s the way we relate to our surroundings, how we deal with events in our life. I had a friend who really hated someone with a passion, and that didn’t make them happy.”

Laura Oxford, 24, originally from Seattle, a writer who now lives at Bootham, said: “Being with loved ones, family and friends, makes me happy. I moved here to be with someone I love very much so that makes me very happy. I also like baked goods, so York’s a great city for that.”