The UK’s first National Happiness and Wellbeing conference was due to take place in Bournemouth from 17th to 19th April 2020. The idea behind the event is to showcase actions and interventions that can increase happiness and improve mental health and wellbeing in the home, the community and the workplace. Sadly, due to the Corona virus pandemic, the live conference was postponed and replaced by a video stream entitled HAPPY people, places, planet featuring our guest speakers.

See conference video stream:-

Conference Programme

Gerry Clarke and Chris Croft – welcome and introduction to HAPPY people, places, planet conference and video opener

Sir Anthony Seldon, co-founder Action for Happiness Movement talking about GREAT DREAM and the Ten keys to happier living

Chris Croft, author of “The Big Book of Happiness” talking about stress, achievement and the quality of life

Julia Seibold, on running the Action for Happiness Exploring What Matters course  

Dulcie Batt, on the success of Dorset’s first Happy Café

Lesley Lyle, Positive Psychologist talking about Surviving in Adversity

Meik Wiking, Head of the Danish Happiness Research Institute on Searching the World for Happiness – extract from a talk at the World Government Summit in 2018

Suzie and James Pawelski, authors of book “Happy Together” with a specially recorded item for this programme

Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, University of California and author of best-selling book “The How of Happiness”- extract from a conference recorded in 2016.

Lord Richard Layard, co-editor World Happiness Report – extract from his introduction to the report in March 2020.

We would like to thank all our contributors to this programme.

Keep up to date by subscribing to our free World Happiness Project YouTube channel at: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPbBkOGte5I-8cfsoPruh2w

Gerry Clarke – Conference Director

Chris Croft – Conference Host

==============================================================================================

The UK’s first National Happiness and Wellbeing Conference in Bournemouth

We are working with Bournemouth University and BCP to launch the UK’s 1st National Happiness and Wellbeing conference in April 2020.

HAPPY People-Places-Planet is a free event and will take place over a three day period from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th April.

The idea behind the conference is to showcase actions and interventions that can increase happiness and improve mental health and wellbeing in the local community and the workplace. It will also highlight why the new BCP region is becoming the happiest place to live in the UK.

A number of internationally recognised speakers will be giving presentations and talks related to Happiness, Mental Health and Wellbeing. Speakers include Sir Anthony Seldon, co-founder of the Action for Happiness movement, Dr Paul Litchfield, Chair of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing in London and various other authors and academics, including Meik Wiking, CEO of Danish Happiness Research Institute, Sonya Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology at University of California and well known American authors Suzie and James Pawelski. Closing remarks and a call to action by Lord Richard Layard, editor World Happiness Report.

There will also be a range of experiential activities and practical taster sessions on offer including yoga, meditation, pilates, various sports activities, dragon boating, forest bathing, laughter therapy, mindfulness, wildlife and nature tours, etc.

A mind blowing music concert in aid of Dorset Mind mental health charity will be held at St Peter’s Church Bournemouth on Saturday 18th April.

Register for free tickets at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/happy-people-places-planet-29797082671

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME:  HAPPY People – Places – Planet   


Friday 17th APRIL – Bournemouth University Fusion Building BH12 5BF 8am to 5pm FOR NHS STAFF ONLY

TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT

Aimed at professional people working in the Healthcare, Education, Social Care, Public Service and Local Government sectors.

The event will present evidence and showcase examples of happiness based actions and interventions that can be used to improve community mental health, happiness and wellbeing in the local Dorset area. Experiential activities including yoga, meditation, forest bathing, laughter therapy, mindfulness, etc.

Saturday 18th April – Bournemouth University Fusion Building BH12 5BF 8am to 5pm FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND BUSINESS PEOPLE

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLEclick here

Presentations on themes related to national and international Happiness, Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Community and in the Workplace hosted by Chris Croft, author of The Big Book of Happiness. Keynote Speaker: Sir Anthony Seldon, Author and Co-founder of Action for Happiness Movement on “Let’s stop talking about Happiness and do it!” Guest Speaker: Dr Paul Litchfield, Chair of What Works Centre for Wellbeing on “A Strategic Approach to Wellbeing in the Workplace”; International speakers including Prof Sonya Lyubomirski, University of California on “The How of Happiness”; Meik Wiking, CEO Danish Happiness Research Institute on his “Little Book of Happiness”and American authors Suzie & James Pawelski on their best selling book, Happy Together, by video link. Closing remarks “Can we be happier?”and a call to action by Lord Richard Layard, joint editor 2020 World Happiness Report.

Various other guest speakers include John Pearce from the Rotary South West Peninsula District, on Mental Health in Business, Suzy Dion on the impact of Northampton Happiness Hub, Julia Seibold on organising an Action for Happiness – Exploring What Matters course, and Dulcie Batt on the success of Dorset’s first Happy Cafe.    

Happy Info place and Exposition with introduction to experiential activities including yoga, meditation, forest bathing, laughter therapy, mindfulness, sports activities.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2020-02-09-at-10.40.01.png

Saturday 18th April – St Peter’s Church Bournemouth BH1 2EE 7.30pm to 10pm MUSIC CONCERT FOR EVERYONE

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE – click here

HAPPY MUSIC CONCERT IN AID OF DORSET MIND. TICKETS £10 with a donation, on the door.

An eclectic mix of mind blowing music by a variety of singers and musicians including Rachel More, Victor Chetcuti, Bournemouth Rock Choir, The Blue Tides, Harlequin, and the ever happy Revolution Club band,

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2020-02-09-at-10.40.01.png

Sunday 19th April – Branksome Dene Community Rooms BH13 6FB and various locations around Bournemouth – 7am to 1pm FREE ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE – click here

Beach sunrise gathering. Forest bathing experience. Dragon Boating. Meditation. Pilates. Laughter Yoga. Cycling Adventure with Beryl Bikes. Water sports. Exploring sea shore, local wildlife and Brownsea Island nature tours. Experiential activities and taster sessions related to happiness, mindfulness and wellbeing. Programme designed to highlight a range of local healthy living, fitness and wellbeing activities that illustrate why the new BCP region is one of the happiest and healthiest places to live in the UK.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2020-02-09-at-10.40.01.png

The conference is part of an ongoing project that will enable Bournemouth University to develop and collaborate with representatives from local and national healthcare, education, social care, public service and local community groups. The aim is to develop, test and evaluate a series of initiatives for the promotion of happiness and wellbeing in the community and workplace and establish the University as a hub of best practice and a place to share learning and experience through a series of ongoing events, workshops and conferences. 

Scroll to Top