The Network of Wellbeing invites you to join facilitator Sherry Clark for “Happiness is Handmade”  – a weekend  of making and doing creative, purposeful and positive things with your hands, at Eden Rise, in Devon.


*Unfortunately this event has been cancelled*

According to research by Ofcom, UK adults now spend two and a half hours on their smartphones every day. That’s 17 hours a week.  And it’s not as if the time we spend on our phones replaces the time we used to spend watching TV. Statistics also show we’re still watching almost as much telly as we ever have. And more and more of us are desk-bound, earning our daily bread by staring at screens for more than 40 hours a week.

While many of us are too distracted to recognise the extent to which we’ve unwittingly handed (no pun intended!) our digits over to digital technology, we’re paying the price in terms of rising rates of depression and anxiety, a lack of purpose and feelings of inadequacy.

It doesn’t have to be like this.

As Matthew Crawford argues in “The Case for Working with Your Hands Or Why Office Work is Bad for Us and Fixing Things Feels Good”, working with our hands connects us with the real world. It gives us a sense of accomplishment, pleasure and purpose.

Even though we find it easier to binge-watch box-sets than make manual messes, research also shows that engaging with art “can reduce depression and anxiety, and increase confidence and self-esteem”.

That’s why the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) is inviting you to “Happiness is Handmade”. Over one weekend, from 19-21st October, in the glorious residential setting of Eden Rise, in Devon,  you’ll spend 17 hours doing playful, purposeful and positive things with your hands, supported by facilitator Sherry Clark.


For more details and to book your place contact mirella@networkofwellbeing.org and visit the Facebook event page here.


About the facilitator

Sherry started working life as a craft designer and fashion illustrator, before moving into public health and wellbeing. For 10 years, Sherry was the Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator for the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She is the originator of the Wheel of Wellbeing and now consults for friday.work. In 2015, she led the Wow your Wellbeing Workshop for NOW, in Totnes, and has recently delivered a webinar for us on wellbeing at work.

Facilitator Sherry Clarck

Sherry will get your creative juices flowing through a series of activities that incorporate the science of happiness with the art of conversation.

Over the weekend, you will explore:

  • how using our hands can improve individual and collective wellbeing;
  • ways to recycle and combine inexpensive materials to create sustainable treats and treasures;
  • how we can facilitate more creative connections within our workplaces and communities.

You need no special ‘artistic’ skills or talent, just a willingness to explore and contribute to helping us all use our time and hands more meaningfully.

You’re very welcome to bring your PhD (Projects half Done) to work on. If you are an artist or craftsperson, musician or maker of any kind, you’re warmly invited to share your gifts with other participants.

We aim to re-ignite your creativity, confidence, pride and passion – through spending time with others and refining your own personal recipe for sustainable happiness.

Happiness is Handmade Weekend practical details (unfortunately this event has been cancelled):

Date: 5pm on 19th October to 2pm on 21st October

Venue: Eden Rise, Totnes, TQ9 7LJ

Cost: £200 (£150 concessions). Course fees include a 2-night stay in shared accommodation with shared bathroom, and all vegetarian meals. Fees also include all materials, bed linen and teaching sessions.

For more details and to book your place contact mirella@networkofwellbeing.org and visit the Facebook event page here.