Centre for Well-being at nef
I started the well-being programme at nef (the new economics foundation) in 2001. Since that time we have grown to six, soon to be eight, of us. This is how we describe our work:
“The Centre for Well-being at nef seeks to understand, measure and enhance people’s experience of their lives. In particular, we aim to answer the question “how would policy look if its main aim was to promote equitable and sustainable well-being?”
Grounded firmly in the latest scientific research, our understanding of well-being is nuanced and dynamic. We aim to influence all levels of policy and practice, from developing innovative new indicators for national governments and international agencies, to helping practitioners understand how to promote well-being in the most effective and sustainable ways.”
I couldn’t put it better myself!
nef (the new economics foundation)
I first volunteered for nef in 1990 and have been associated with them ever since. However it wasn’t until about 2003, when it was clear that the well-being programme was going to be viable, that I really became a neffie! nef was founded in 1986 when the G7 summit came to London. A group of people held in parallel a very vibrant conference they entitled “The Other Economic Summit” (affectionately known as TOES). It addressed the twin issues of entrenched global social & financial injustices and environmental degradation & climate change. nef was the legacy organisation of TOES and still address these issues together with people’s well-being. We are at our best when we work across these interconnected three issues: social justice, sustainability and well-being. In 2007 nef won the ISQOLS “Betterment of the Human Condition” award in recognition of our work on the Happy Planet Index.
nef consulting
I have worked with nef consulting to create a software tool that assesses employee well-being and feeds back the results to the organisation via an interactive clickable database. It is all very intuitive & tactile. Running workshops with organisations to interpret the results together is one of my favourite elements of my working life. It is amazing how creating numbers that point to issues that are felt but not previously measured really supports an organisation to change for the better.
Halloran Philanthropies
I am an adviser to this group of philanthropic organisations, who have been exceptionally generous in their support of the centre and myself. They have an exceptionally inspiring vision of together ‘creating a world we all want’ – I have used this phrase extensively since meeting them as it so neatly sums up what our work is about.
New Economics Institute (USA)
In 2010 nef joined together with the Schumacher Society in the USA to found a new think tank to be based in New York. It will seek to work with existing US organisations, individuals and funders on similar issues that we work with in the UK.
Action for Happiness
I am on the board of a new organisation called Action for Happiness. AfH was founded by Richard Layard together with Wellington headmaster Anthony Sheldon and former Tony Blair adviser Geoff Mulgan. There is still much to be sorted out with the campaign but it will seek to create a fundamental cultural change to a happier more altruistic society. We expect to launch the campaign fully in April 2011.
Gaia Foundation
I am a trustee of the Gaia Foundation. I love what Gaia stands for – literally Mother Earth – and the organisation, founded by my good friends Ed Posey and Liz Hoskins, focuses on promoting cultural and biological diversity.