Molly Haywood Newberry is the new Network Development Manager at the Network of Wellbeing. Here, she tells the story of what led her to join us and how she wants to build a Warrior Wellbeing Family.
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In the summer of 2017, I discovered what the root of community and wellbeing means to me.
During a month and a half volunteering for Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK) in Calais, France, I was swept into a powerful rhythm of purpose, connection and unconditional compassion. A shared mission bonded us, a group of unconnected strangers, into a family preparing and distributing over 2,000 meals a day. I worked alongside people who radiated generosity, grit and joy. Despite exhaustion and occasional resistance from authorities, the spirit of the place and the people in it created an unwavering sense of belonging. No matter who you were or where you came from, if you were there to help, you were family.
In the midst of that bustling warehouse, stirring giant vats of rice with metre-long paddles and chopping onions alongside new friends, I came to a life-changing realisation: my wellbeing is intrinsically linked to the wellbeing of others, the health of our environment and our sense of connection to our wider human family. This understanding has shaped everything I have done since.
Fast forward to today and I feel incredibly lucky to now bring my passion and experience to the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) as your new Network Development Manager. What a privilege!
So, who am I and how did I get here?
Well, I am a community weaver, a lover of bold ideas and big-hearted people and someone who has pedalled over 20,000 kilometres for a cause I believe in. (More on that in a minute.)
I spent three years working for Eden Project Communities, where I supported grassroots changemakers across the UK to bring their community-led projects to life. As a Community Network Developer from 2020 to 2023, I designed and facilitated wellbeing-focused resources, events, workshops and peer-to-peer learning programmes, all rooted in an asset-based, values-led approach.
My focus was always on connecting and helping people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, to build confidence, access support and know they were not alone in their mission to make a difference. Whether it was one-to-one coaching, strategic partnerships or collaborative events, my goal was to help changemakers feel seen, supported and part of something bigger so they could create the change they wanted to see in their local area. Working with the NOW team on joint campaigns and online events was always a highlight, so it feels like a full circle moment to be joining the Network of Wellbeing now.
But before Zoom calls, community events and planning meetings … there was a bicycle.
From 2017 to 2020, I co-led a self-organised project called Cycle for Love, a 20,500 kilometre fundraising expedition across 22 countries to support grassroots refugee aid. Along the way, I built a digital audience of over 5,000, raised more than £13,000 and shared stories from the road to help humanise the refugee crisis. It was an adventure in resilience, connection and occasionally, creative roadside bike repair.
Cycle for Love is also where I first learned the power of storytelling, not just to raise money but to build bridges, spark empathy and create real, lasting change. That love for storytelling continues today and I am excited to bring fresh energy and creative ideas to NOW’s communications, from our website and newsletters to social media and beyond; always with a focus on inclusivity, community voice and fun. Because what is the point in serious change if we forget that joy is a serious force for change?
At the heart of it all, what drives me is the reciprocal relationship between people and the planet. People who care, who show up, who believe, despite everything, that a better world is still possible within ourselves, with each other and with our environment. I want to do everything I can to support those people doing the quiet, radical work of making that better world a reality.
As Margaret Mead so perfectly said (and yes, it is a classic quote for a reason):
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
I am beyond excited to meet and support the inspiring changemakers in the NOW network and to work together to amplify the extraordinary work already happening across the UK.
Whether you are running a local project, nurturing connections in your community or simply curious about what “wellbeing” really means to you, I would love to connect.
Let’s grow something beautiful together. No matter who you are or what your soul desires, to feel healthy, to find purpose, to feel connected, you are meant to be here.
Let’s build a warrior wellbeing family! Together, we can change the world.
