Every two weeks, the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) offers a summary of good news to highlight beacons of hope and inspiration as we navigate these times together.
In difficult times, it is easy to feel isolated and alone. When fearful, it is tempting to believe that others are not playing their part.That is why we, at NOW, think it so important to come together to celebrate and thank the very many ways people are responding to the times.
So, we’d like to say thank you. We thank the front-line workers doing their jobs in very difficult and often dangerous circumstances. We thank the volunteers who have set up neighbourhood groups or food banks and hotlines. We thank the millions of people who are helping less able or fortunate neighbours, friends or family. And we thank the millions of people who are complying with health guidelines – all of whom are sacrificing some of their freedoms to help save lives.
We are all building wellbeing together.
We’ve been speaking with other wellbeing organisations and keeping our ear to the ground to find online events and resources to support you at this time. We’ve found things to read, watch, and listen to, as well as online events to join, as highlighted below.
Resources and events featured share:
- Ways to support mental health and wellbeing
- Innovative community wellbeing responses
- Positive, wellbeing-focused ideas about how society could look after covid-19
- Plus, regular wellbeing-related events you can join
Our intention is to support and connect those working on happiness and wellbeing.
Please share your story or event with us (via email or social media using the hashtag #TheGoodNewsIs and tagging us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram).
Regular / Ongoing Wellbeing Events
- The Happiness Pulse: The Centre for Thriving Places (formerly Happy City) has made its Happiness Pulse tool free for all. Take your pulse today!
- Lockdown kitchen with Chef Natalie Coleman: Eating well on a budget and supporting food in your community. Every Wednesday at 5:30pm on Facebook Live, courtesy of Hubbub.
- Project 5: Thousands of coaches and mental health practitioners have signed up to offer evidence-based support for front-line workers in the NHS.
Supporting Your Mental Health and Wellbeing
READ:
- Resilience tools for free in a time of Coronavirus Crisis: Chris Johnstone’s introduction to his free online course as part of the College of Wellbeing.
- How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help us preserve our wellbeing and be more resilient in difficult times, via our recent webinar with Shamash Alidina.
- Movements of Mass Mindfulness: Mass meditation at noon (local time) on 10th May to inspire like-minded and like-hearted individuals.
Innovative Community Responses
READ:
- Guidance for groups to run events online, via Action for Happiness: New guidelines for people bringing communities together online at this time.
- Mini course for those running their first Zoom meeting or webinar: This free offering from Happy Start Up School is very helpful for those bringing people together online for the first time. .
JOIN:
- Learning from lockdown: Community wellbeing responses Covid-19: A free NOW #WellbeingTogether webinar on 12th May at 7.30pm BST, with speakers from the Active Wellbeing Society, Carnegie UK Trust and Eden Project Communities.
Finding new perspectives
READ:
- The Great Pause by Amanda Janoo and Gemma Bone Dodds of We-All – the Wellbeing Economy Alliance
- The polls say we don’t want lockdown to end too early – and when it does, we’re up for big changes by the Alternative UK
- 14 Community-minded books to read during the 2020 quarantine, from Shareable
WATCH:
- COVID-19, Climate, and the Clean Economy: Gigatrends Changing the World with Andrew Winston, author of ‘The Big Pivot: Radically Practical Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer, and More Open World’.
- The Flip: from coronavirus to climate safety with George Monbiot, Caroline Lucas and Faiza Shaheen. Directed by Franny Armstrong who made McLibel and the Age of Stupid.
- The Regenerative Activism Series: deep change: A series of workshops organised by the Advaya Initiative throughout May.
- Bridges to the Future: An online series of talks organised by the Royal Society of Arts to help us make sense of this moment; respond to its challenges with compassion and good judgement; and chart a path to a more resilient collective future.
Looking further ahead:
Later this month, we’re also looking forward to:
- Positive Futures: An opportunity to connect with others interested in young people, the arts, creativity and mental health organised by Arts and Health South West on 20th May as part of Creativity and Wellbeing Week
- What’s love got to do with it? A discussion, on 20th May, organised by Buurtzoog UK as part of its Caring Places – Building Healthy Communities webinar series.
- William Morris: wealth is what nature gives us: An online conference organised by the Schumacher Institute on 21st May.
- The Love Revolution: love is the answer – what is your question? An online talk on 27th May by NOW Trustee and the Editor Emeritus of Resurgence, Satish Kumar.
Share your own events & resources via #TheGoodNewsIs:
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about some of the good news out there right now. We’d love this blog to be part of a wider conversation and sharing on beacons of hope and positivity in these challenging times. Please share your good news with us using the hashtag #TheGoodNewsIs and tagging us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.