Action for Happiness Northamptonshire Hub Marks 10th Community of Practice (COP), with challenge to engage 1000 people in free course
Action for Happiness Northamptonshire Hub (AfHNHub) has reached a pivotal tipping point in its mission to build a “Happier, Kinder, Northamptonshire, Together”. Now in its eighth year, the hub recently held its 10th Community of Practice meeting at Delapre Abbey, bringing together 52 cross-sector leaders to mark the hubs shift from a grassroots project to a more established part of Northamptonshire’s prevention infrastructure.
We are delighted to welcome Farzana Aldridge as our volunteer Chair of the executive board and Rachel Page as our Operational and Delivery Lead.
Charlie Hastie Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities spoke of the benefits to health of small behaviour changes especially if in Altruistic August we do them together. He shared his personal interest in relationship with health, nutrition and mood and importance of the new science of gut biome.
Small healthier changes in diet, movement and happiness would have impact on our local communities if we take action together.
Cllr Hastie shares: “ We recognised the importance of prevention, Earley support and strong community networks and improving Wellbeing. We are proud to support Action for Happiness in Northampton show Ann and it’s Community of practice which brings together organisations and community leaders who share a common goal of helping people thrive.
The enthusiasm and collaboration demonstrated through this program shows what can be achieved when local partners work together. We encourage anyone interested in improving their own well-being, or supporting others, to get involved with the free www.10daysofhappiness.org challenge”
The evidence of impact of the AfHNHub was celebrated, sharing the recent University of Northampton Evaluation with statistically significant change in wellbeing for people staying in contact and using the free evidence-based resources this and other resources are available on the AfHNHub resource directory https://linktr.ee/A4HNorthants
The local AfHNhub purpose is to bring the science of happiness to support local people being happier and kinder in accessible ways. This is through both digitally and face to face communications, meetings and events. It uses the memorable GREAT DREAM 10 Keys to Happier Living framework available on the free app www.actionforhappiness.org
Miranda Wixon chair of the VCFSE Assembly shared experiences of hyperlocal community work with champions and volunteers in the Happy Brackley programme, building on learning from work with Moulton Parish Council, with emerging work in Towcester and Brixworth.
This brings partner organisations together with a focus on wellbeing and social networks.
Miranda Wixon shares “Action for Happiness is a glue that brings different organisations and small often overlooked local groups together. Happy Brackley has enabled the happiness and hard work of volunteers to shine and opportunities appreciate each other – what’s not to like of being happier together. Let’s see where this ripple leads”
The AfHNhub is funded through:
Happier Families project in Towcester funded by Northamptonshire Community Foundation
Coordinator and backoffice costs through a National Lottery Grant
Happiness Clubs for children and young people, in partnership with schools and libraries funded by Prevention Pillar of the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Collaborative.
Parish Council partnership funded by Brixworth Parish Council
Happy Brackley partner project with Food for Thought
The COP celebrated recent award of 2-year Community of Practice funding from West Northamptonshire Council
A New AfHNHub website
The AfHNhub is the national exemplar of Action for Happiness charity which has international reach. The new site can be accessed at the bottom of the Take Action tab of the national charity, under “Action for Happiness Hubs” tab https://actionforhappiness.org/take-action Gill Wallace from Northamptonshire Sport spoke at the meeting of the partnership with Action for Happiness and the Year of Happier Living campaign https://sites.google.com/actionforhappiness.org/northamptonshire-hub/YearofHappierLiving with the common strap line of “Move Northamptonshire: Active, Happier, Together” as she described the “no-brainer” opportunity to encourage movement and happiness together, both bring health and together this is amplified.
Getting in touch
1. Sharing the experience together of the www.10daysofHappiness.org course. Seeing if we can engage 1000 people in “Altruistic August” This free, evidence based programme is an online coaching programme, with a daily 2 minute video, followed by opportunity to write your own reflection – it takes no more than 5 minutes a day.
It is appropriate for teenagers upwards, who have phone or email. August is labelled
Altruistic August in the Action for Happiness Calendar, and our goal is for this to be a shared experience – giving an even bigger boost of happiness.
2. https://actionforhappiness.org/take-action has many personal options including access to online and face to face groups (under the “Groups” icon), the AfNHub website can be accessed via “Northampton” icon under “Action for Happiness Hubs”
3. We run 3 hour Champions training available to anyone who wants to make Action for Happiness resources more available in their communities https://tr.ee/XUO6gGCO1q
4. We have a local resource directory https://linktr.ee/A4HNorthants with links to case studies, evaluation and useful resources to share.
Next Community of Practice; Thursday 26th November, 2:00–4:30pm, at Delapre Abbey, Northampton.
By taking local action together, we continue to build a kinder, more resilient Northamptonshire.