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A selection of events and activities “simplyhappy” is involved in and/or facilitating with more are being added all the time, so please keep checking the website and get in touch if you’d like more information:

2019

I’ve been so busy doing so many great things this year that I’ve neglected updating this part of the website!  Here are a few exciting things for 2019!

 

BREAKING NEWS!

Friday 8 November – Bristol

I am hosting a one day conference, supported by the RSA, for young people aged 16-19 exploring pro-social leadership and wellbeing for people and planet.

More details to come soon!

 

Tuesday 1 October 2019  @ 18:00 – 20:00 BST

RSA: Cardiff Event

Women on Purpose:Creating Change Together

Join us at this RSA Fellow-led event in Cardiff focusing on discovering and supporting female-focused or female-led projects that are tackling 21st-century challenges. This event is being run in partnership with Cardiff Urbanistas.

The event is being hosted by Michelle Preston FRSA, RSA Fellowship Councillor, Founder, Change Maker and Woman on Purpose, who will share the story behind her mission to support women to improve wellbeing and create a purpose-driven life (www.simplyhappy.org.uk).

The event will provide the space for women to “Connect, Create and Collaborate”, and highlights the importance and value of women working collaboratively to create positive change within their own lives, their communities and society. It will also enable participants to make new connections within the local Fellowship network and Urbanistas. During the evening a mix of ideas will be “pitched”, followed by an opportunity for you to ask questions, find out more from the people driving them forward and volunteer your support.

Want to pitch?

If you have a project tackling some of the 21st century challenges faced by women and girls and would like to tell those attending about it then why not apply to pitch? You get five minutes to share with the audience what your project is about and what you need to help it create more impact. If you’re interested in one of the ten slots available then please contact the event lead to apply by emailing: michelle@simplyhappy.org.uk.

Simply Women on Purpose

“Simply Women on Purpose” (SWOP) is a new project, launched last year and currently sits under the umbrella of “simplyhappy”, a purposeful business that provides positive psychology, coaching and consultancy to individuals, communities and organisations.

“SWOP” has been touring the UK, visiting cities, offering free workshops and planting the seeds of a brand new network for women, supported by an RSA Catalyst grant.

Urbanistas Cardiff

We are a network of disruptive and collaborative women whose approach to social innovation is based on the value of everyday urban life and experience. We thrive on the comfortable chaos of cities, and want to use this as the starting point for creating places that work better for everyone.

We believe that as businesses and cities are becoming increasingly social, women are best placed to lead and influence new ways of thinking and doing. Urbanistas is a place where women crowdsource support to get things done.

If you have any access requirements or require any reasonable adjustments, please let the team know: networks@rsa.org.uk. Please also let us know if you have any dietary requirements or severe allergies.

Location: Little Man Coffee Company, Ivor House, Bridge St, Cardiff CF10 2EE

 

13 – 15  September 

Network of Wellbeing Conference, Hawkwood College

The 2nd Building Wellbeing Together Weekend will be hosted jointly by the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) and Hawkwood College from 13th – 15th September 2017 at Hawkwood College in Stroud, UK.

I ran a workshop at their first conference in 2017 and will be attending this one with a different hat on this time, but more to follow on that exciting news!

How can we build wellbeing together – in our lives, with others and in harmony with nature?

Climate change, high inequality and rising levels of mental distress are just some of the challenges we face in today’s world. At NOW, we’re working to build the movement that’s embedding wellbeing in our businesses, policymaking, homes and communities.

This event will bring together thought leaders and practitioners, performers, artists and teachers from many disciplines to reflect, share and experience how we can build personal, societal and environmental wellbeing together. Our happiness and wellbeing depends in part on the health of the communities in which we live and work. This, in turn, depends on the fairness of society as a whole, and the long-term health of the natural world on which we all depend. At this event we will explore how we can live the good life and learn to live together in ways that support personal and collective wellbeing within planetary limits.

Everyone is welcome, whatever your personal or professional interest. You can expect high profile speakers combined with interactive sessions, opportunities to connect with others and time for deeper reflection. Come and learn. Come and share your experience and vision of how we can build wellbeing together! And take home a renewed commitment and a more practical, integrated vision for personal, community and societal wellbeing.

From 13 to 15 September 2019 we’ll bring together leading thinkers and activists in the happiness and wellbeing movement. Together we’ll map how we can build a future of wellbeing for individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Join us at the second Building Wellbeing Together weekend event at the beautiful Hawkwood College in Stroud, UK.

 

Wednesday 28th August – Sunday 1 September

Campfire Convention Festival – nr Frome, Somerset

So excited to be asked to be part of this and run a session in the Trailblazers Tent!  I will be exploring ways to CONNECT: CRATE: COLLABORATE.  See you there!

“A five day gathering in the glorious Somerset countryside celebrating life. Join us for talks, panels, ‘how to’ sessions, games, cookery, alternative therapies, music, performance art, foraging and yoga. The vibe is hay bales, campfires, night skies, cinema, street food, picnics, glamping and much more.

We aim to combine a feminine intelligence with a masculine intelligence to explore ways we can dance together in a delicious oneness that can honour and celebrate these differences but also transcend them and harness the combined energy in a universal consciousness.

Bring what you expect to find!
Part of our programme utilises the open space format to allow radical participation – enabling all members to convene their own sessions. We intend to build a truly democratic festival to explore ways we can imagine a better world, and then empower ourselves to actually make it happen.”

Book here at £75 for adult 5 day tickets and limited weekend tickets at £40 adults / £15 children. We have a very small number of free ‘Campfire Bursary’ tickets available to those who can’t afford to pay for their ticket – apply via contact@campfireconvention.com.

You can now download or view our full 5 day programme

Thursday 8 August 

 “The Power of People for Transformative Change” – One Day Conference (RSA Supported) – Bristol

I am delighted to be hosting my next RSA supported Conference, this time in Bristol.

What are the differences between community, network and movement?

How do we harness the power of individuals to enable them to respond to the huge challenges we face on an individual, community, societal and global level? 

And how can we ensure that we all play a more active role in co-creating solutions and that this feeds into the work that we do, the communities we support and the organisations we work in

Join us at this one day conference to explore and understand how connected communities, nurturing networks and meaningful movements provide opportunities for us all to “connect: create: collaborate”. This way of working is a key element of the RSA Local Areas Team strategy with the Fellowship towards creating networks.

The day will look at how connections with others can have an impact on everything from our individual happiness to the way in which we live and work together as a society.

What to expect at this event:

The day will be led by Michelle Preston (PG Dip Applied Positive Psychology), FRSA and Fellowship Councillor for the South West, and who is committed to the wellbeing of people and planet.

  • Michelle is the Founder of SWOP (Simply Women on Purpose), a project and network in the making, with the aim of helping to support women to improve their wellbeing and create a purpose-driven life. Offering low-cost, community-based events and workshops, presentations, interactive activities and networking underpinned by positive psychology. Creating true connection at all levels, women are provided with practical tools for positive transformation and for living an authentic life filled with purpose and meaning. Michelle will talk about how this new network came into being and what community means to her and the power of people to create positive social change.
  • Michelle will be joined by Pete Lawrence FRSA, founder of the Big Chill Festival, independent record label Cooking Vinyl and organiser of many online and offline events.  Michelle will be “in conversation” with Pete to talk about his life and his latest project “Campfire Convention”- a new kind of social network for people seeing new ways of developing ideas within an empowering community with heart and soul and shaped by its members.
  • Also joining us will be Roger Higman, Director of The Network of Wellbeing, a registered charity working with individuals and organisations to build a network of partners committed to wellbeing. “NOW” believe that a person’s wellbeing depends on the wellbeing of the community in which they live and work, while the wellbeing of their community depends on the wellbeing of society as a whole, and the long-term health of the natural world on which we all depend. Roger will talk about the creation and development of the Nework of Wellbeing from a small local project in Totnes to a charity with national support and a growing online community.

There will be conversations and presentations around the theme of communities and networks as models for social change, but with lots of audience participation. We will also be using a “campfire model” to ignite conversations alongside Michelle’s “connect:create:collaborate”  format to ensure we create the sparks to ignite meaningful and dynamic dialogues.

The event will be an opportunity for attendees to explore the differences and benefits of community – network – and movement – which of these work best and why?  We will explore how we take learning from each, and begin to weave these into a new offer that will encompass the best of all of these things and enable people to mobilise and create new and innovative community based solutions to long established social problems.

The day will also provide delegates with the opportunity to share their own experiences and learning. There will be plenty of time throughout the day to network and to “connect, create and collaborate” with one another.

 

Monday 11th March 2019 at 18:00 – 20:00

RSA Engage: Bristol

The Annexe, We the Curious, Bristol

Join us at RSA Engage in Bristol to discover and support projects that are tackling 21st-century challenges, make new connections within the local Fellowship network, and contribute to the mission of the RSA.

A mix of ideas will be “pitched”, followed by an opportunity for you to ask questions, find out more from the people driving them forward and volunteer your support.

RSA Engage events are a mix of short project pitches and facilitated networking. Each pitch will conclude with a call to action, encouraging the audience to share their skills and experience to help further the project. In between project pitches, there are short bursts of networking where you’ll be able to spark new connections and talk to the project pitchers about how you can support their work. There will also be opportunities to find out more about the RSA, our main areas of work, and how you can engage with our network of 29,000 Fellows.

We welcome non-Fellows who support the work of the RSA and anybody interested in finding out more about Fellowship to attend.

2018

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:

“Simply Women on Purpose”(SWOP) –  The UK Roadshow

March to May (venues and dates tbc)

“The Simply Women on Purpose” (SWOP) Roadshow is kindly Supported through a Catalyst Grant from the RSA(Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) (https://www.thersa.org)

The mission of the RSA  is to enrich society through ideas and action.

They believe that all human beings have creative capacities that, when understood and supported, can be mobilised to deliver a 21st century enlightenment.

Supported by their 29,000 Fellows, they share powerful ideas, carry out cutting-edge research and build networks and opportunities for people to collaborate, helping to create fulfilling lives and a flourishing society.

Take a look back at the impact they made in 2017.

Through their support, I will be taking “Simply Women on Purpose” around the UK offering a series of free events in the following locations:

Truro, Bristol, London, Birminghm, Cardiff, Manchester, York, Carlisle, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Belfast.

What is “Simply Women on Purpose”?

“Simply Women on Purpose” (SWOP) is a new project supporting women to improve wellbeing and create a purpose driven life.  Placing authenticity and integrity at the core of the “Simply Women on Purpose” model of feminine leadership and creating true connection at all levels.

SWOP enables women to harness their personal power to drive forward change in their communities, their workplaces or in their own lives using the themes of “CONNECT, CREATE & COLLABORATE”.

SWOP is designed to provide women with the tools, knowledge, and network to develop ideas for positive change and provide
practical tools for transformation and for living an authentic life filled with purpose and meaning. Through authentic dialogue and
meaningful interaction, women are filled with an expanded sense of possibility and are able to nourish themselves, their career, and
their community and also learn how to become their own change maker.

 SWOP is already working co-creatively with women on an individual basis as well as those in the private and public sectors, social enterprises and the voluntary and community sector.

SWOP is also able to work in partnership with businesses and organisations to support and develop women within the workplace, improve subjective well-being and increase positive contributions.

The “Simply Women of Purpose(SWOP) roadshow will focus on the power of women to drive forward change in their communities, their workplaces or in their own lives. A series of free workshops highlighting the importance and value of women working collaboratively to create positive change within community and society.   The focus and theme of the events will be “collaboration not competition”.

The purpose of the SWOP Roadshow is to raise awareness of the core themes and concepts of Connect, Create, Collaborate” and allow women to engage with the unique format used via the workshops being offered. By running these workshops in cities around the UK, the seeds of SWOP are planted and after the initial free workshops, the follow up events will be on a low cost but paid basis.

January – December

I’m at Engine Shed in Bristol (https://www.engine-shed.co.uk/about/) on the first Monday of each month in my role as Fellowship Councillor for the South West.

Join our monthly drop in sessions with the RSA’s South West Fellowship Councillors and South West area manager to discuss the latest RSA projects, areas you’d like to get involved with, and how the RSA can support your ideas for creating thriving local communities for change.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rsa-bristol-first-mondays-tickets-43084218056

January

“Simply Women on Purpose – Passion and Purpose for 2018!”

Saturday 6 January @ The Canvas Cafe, London https://www.thecanvascafe.org

Make sure you start 2018 with passion, purpose and meaning by co-creating this new year with a group of like minded women

This FREE workshop will support women to improve wellbeing and create a purpose driven life using a combination of presentations, interactive activities and networking underpinned by positive psychology.

Creating true connection at all levels, participants are provided with practical tools for positive transformation and for living an authentic life filled with purpose and meaning.

Women will leave the workshop with an expanded sense of possibility, more able to nourish themselves and clarity on how to become their own change maker in 2018.

A half day workshop highlighting the importance and value of women working collaboratively to create positive change within community and society. The focus and theme of the event will be “collaboration not competition”.

This is a FREE WORKSHOP allowing women to “Connect, Create and Collaborate” highlighting the importance and value of women working collaboratively in 2018 to create positive change within their own lives, their communities and society. The event is a combination of presentations and experiential exercises, with time for discussion around:

The benefits of purpose and meaning for wellbeing

• The call to action, what this means and how this translates into everyday life

• Women in community and society

• Living an authentic life and creating meaning in the work women do

“Women on Purpose” is designed to provide women with the tools, knowledge, and network to develop ideas for positive change and provide practical tools for transformation.

The three themes of “CONNECT, CREATE & COLLABORATE” will be explored through a mixture of presentations, interactive workshops, networking and creativity.

February

Tuesday 27 February at 6.00pm

Free Webinar: How Positive Psychology Can Help You to Connect With Your Purpose

I am thrilled to have been asked by the Network of Wellbeing https://www.networkofwellbeing.org to host this FREE Webinar on Purpose & Meaning.

Are you keen to find more passion, purpose and meaning in your life but not sure where to start? Or do you have a strong sense of purpose but you often find yourself too strained and stretched to fulfil your mission in a positive way? Then we’d love you to join us for a free interactive webinar with the wonderful Michelle Preston, who is Founder of Simply Happy and Simply Women on Purpose and is also an expert in Applied Positive Psychology.

Register here for this free webinar >>

This webinar will explore some of the practical tools we can use for getting in touch with our purpose and experiencing positive transformation. As a result of attending the webinar you will have:
– An introduction to some key concepts in positive psychology;
– A sense of how positive psychology links to finding and following your purpose;
– Some suggestions for practical and positive next steps.

This webinar is a pilot for a series of online events run by the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) exploring how we can build wellbeing together in our own lives, in our communities and in harmony with nature. We plan to interview people and organisations working on happiness and wellbeing related projects once every month.

https://www.networkofwellbeing.org/index.php/events/event/free-webinar-how-positive-psychology-can-help-you-to-connect-with-your-purp/

March

Tuesday 6 March @ 7.00pm – 9.00pm, Gloucester

RSA Event – “A Mission Led Bank for the West of England”

Join us in Gloucester to discuss the social, economic and environmental case for regional banks and the development of Avon Mutual, a co-operative bank dedicated to the West of England

Establishing regional banks was one of the key recommendations of the RSA’s recent Inclusive Growth Commission, which was designed to find practical ways to make local economies across the UK more economically inclusive and prosperous.

We are now supporting Avon Mutual (which covers Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Bristol, Bath & North Somerset) as part of a wider movement led by the Community Savings Bank Association to develop a UK-wide network of customer-owned, regional banks. By pursuing a different business model these banks will bring a range of social and economic benefits to the region, including:

  • Tackling financial exclusion through providing universal access to banking facilities for all citizens
  • Increasing productivity by investing in SMEs, with well informed decisions made by local branch managers
  • Creating new local jobs with Head Offices based in the region rather than in London

Avon Mutual will be an ethical and sustainable alternative to the big banks and will support small local enterprises focussed on issues such as building zero carbon homes and developing sustainable food and farming for the bioregion.This will fill a gap in the UK investment landscape which is well served by community banks across Europe.

This event is being held in partnership with GFirst LEP and will bring together key stakeholders in Gloucestershire who are interested in the development of a mission-led bank that will drive inclusive growth in the region.

GFirst LEP, University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester, GL2 9HW

For tickets please follow this link:

https://www.thersa.org/events/fellowship-events/2018/03/a-regional-bank-for-the-west-of-england-gloucester

Monday 26th March – “Wellbeing as a Tool for Social Change” – One Day Conference (RSA Supported) – Plymouth

I am delighted to be hosting my next RSA supported Conference, this time in Plymouth and this time also in partnership with the Network of Wellbeing.

How can we ensure that we all play a more active role in improving our well-being and that this feeds into the work that we do, the communities we support and the organisations we work in?

And how can wellbeing be used a way of promoting group flourishing and begin to influence the decisions made by governments, policy makers and civic society and helps to create a more equal society?

Join us at this at this one day conference to explore and understand how our wellbeing, mental health and connections with others can have an impact on everything from our individual happiness to the way in which we live and work together as a society.

There are things we can all do to better care for our individual wellbeing, but it is vital to acknowledge that there are also wider structures in our society which determine our ability to care for ourselves and each other. The aim of this event is to explore ways that we can work collectively to support group flourishing by placing the wellbeing of people and planet at the heart of all that we do.

What to expect at this event:

We will be bringing together examples of best practice from established Fellows and individuals, organisations and projects.  There will be a mixture of keynote speakers, all leaders in their fields who will share examples of best practice, and practical group discussions around relevant themes using a world cafe format, plus the opportunity to network with like minded professionals who are attending.

The day will be led by Michelle Preston (PG Dip Applied Positive Psychology), FRSA and Fellowship Councillor for the South West, and who is committed to the wellbeing of people and planet.  Michelle is currently working on several new projects supporting the wellbeing of women, girls and young people one of which is being supported by the RSA.

The event is also in partnership with The Network of Wellbeing (NOW) whose vision is of a world where everyone’s wellbeing needs are met within the planet’s natural limits.“NOW” believe that a person’s wellbeing depends on the wellbeing of the community in which they live and work, while the wellbeing of their community depends on the wellbeing of society as a whole, and the long-term health of the natural world on which we all depend.

Keynote speakers confirmed so far include:

  • Karen Creavin, who worked to establish city-wide inclusive community wellbeing programmes across Birmingham as Head of the City Council Wellbeing Services and now CEO of the newly established Active Wellbeing Forum.
  • Liz Zeidler, Chief Executive of Happy City who are commited to creating conditions for flourising and helping to demonstrate best practices in wellbeing measurement.
  • Roger Higman, Director of The Network of Wellbeing, a Registered Charity working with individuals and organisations to build a network of partners committed to wellbeing.

The day will also provide delegates with the opportunity to share their own experiences and learning. There will be plenty of time throughout the day to network and to “connect, create and collaborate” with one another.

https://www.thersa.org/events/fellowship-events/2018/03/rsa-plymouth-well-being-as-a-tool-for-social-change

August

Simply Women on Purpose Summer Retreat – Friday 3 August to Sunday 5th August – Hawwkwood College, Stroud

A Summer Retreat held at the beautiful Hawkwood College (https://www.hawkwoodcollege.co.uk)

Find your passion, purpose and meaning with excellent tutors and a group of like minded women in  beautiful summer surroundings!

This retreat will support you to improve wellbeing and create a purpose driven life using a combination of presentations, interactive workshops and networking underpinned by positive psychology, mindfulness, creativity and nature based work.

Creating true connection at all levels, you will be provided with practical tools for positive transformation and for living an authentic life filled with purpose and meaning.

You will leave the weekend with an expanded sense of possibility, more able to nourish yourself and with clarity on how to become your own change maker.

Alongside experiential sessions there will be unstructured free time allowing learning and experiences to embed, enabling you to re-connect with your inner wisdom.

https://www.hawkwoodcollege.co.uk/courses-and-events/well-being/simply-women-on-purpose-summer-retreat–michelle-preston

Autumn

Retreat for Women – “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life”
(Date and Venue tbc)

This will be a weekend retreat hosted by myself and an amazing nature based education practitioner who combines the scientific with the deep spiritual.  We will be creating a joint offering of positive psychology and shamanic wisdom over this weekend in a beautiful rural retreat.  An  opportunity to enjoy a digital detox and reconnect to the self, others and nature – it’s going to be amazing! Some of the areas we will cover include:

  • Our view of reality – how we perceive ourselves and the world around us  – how do we as individuals fit and how can we influence what happens to us.
  • Our life journey – stages and transformation – acceptance of change and acknowledging the significance of key life stages (lots of scope for exploring with women the aspects of Maiden, Mother and Crone and the gifts each stage hold for us)
  • Our relationship with the land, our place in the natural world and how to communicate with it.
  • The place of ritual – how we mark significance and the effect of not doing so in modern life;- creating ritual for everyday.
  • Mortality, immortality and death – this theme is ignored by most of us, but putting aside the fear of death releases you to a happier life.

There will be plenty of time for quiet reflection and relaxation, good food, great company and quality sleep……. go home feeling relaxed rejuvenated and ready to move forwards from a new place of personal power.Michelle will be assisted by Sophia Knock (https://www.holistichomeopath.co.uk) who  lives in Glastonbury in the beautiful county of Somerset. As a Natural Health Care Practitioner, she is a fully qualified and registered Homeopath, Flower Essence Producer, Practitioner and Tutor with the BFVEA.

Please email to register your interest.

 

Some Highlights from 2017

10 May 2017 – RSA Street Wisdom Event, Cheltenham

What is it? At the centre of Street Wisdom lies the idea that every moment is extraordinary and every street is full of inspiration – that there’s no such thing as an ordinary street, just ordinary thinking. Few of us give ourselves time or permission to really focus on the world around us but the urban landscape is full of signs and signals that we normally ignore; rich stimuli that can help us learn something new. In just three hours of walking and wandering, participants have resolved problems that have dogged them for years, found new business ideas, changed careers, discovered new directions, and learned how to deal differently with life and love.

Who is it for? It is relevant for anyone struggling with the day-to-day personal stuff, tackling a challenge in the workplace, figuring out what’s next, or seeking a creative breakthrough. Once experienced, it can be easily replicated on a personal basis, taken into the workplace and used to inspire teams and colleagues, or used in a professional capacity by therapists, coaches, and urban planners.

What do you bring? An open mind, good walking shoes, and clothes for all weather. A question you’d like answered: not too big (‘what is the meaning of life?’), not too small (‘what shall I have for lunch?’), but somewhere in the middle – a burning issue to which you’d like fresh answers.

 

25 May 2017 – RSA Street Wisdom Event, Bath

Learn how to access the urban environment and find fresh answers to personal or work-related questions with Street Wisdom: a powerful, three-hour guided experience that uses the streets as an invisible university.

This is an inspirational tool adopted by corporations, businesses, and social groups across the globe that produces profound results.

 

June 2017 – RSA Street Wisdom Event, Bristol

Learn how to access the urban environment and find fresh answers to personal or work-related questions with Street Wisdom: a powerful, three-hour guided experience that uses the streets as an invisible university.

This is an inspirational tool adopted by corporations, businesses, and social groups across the globe that produces profound results.

 

22 June 2017 –  “Women on Purpose”, Exeter (supported by RSA)

“simplyhappy” have created this one day event which will highlight the importance and value of women working collaboratively to create positive change within community and society.

The conference will act as a catalyst for women already involved in the voluntary and community sector, social and ethical businesses and for those who would like to move into this sector or have an idea for a project – to come together, share learning, best practice and provide opportunities for networking, the promotion of partnership and collaborative working and opportunities for this to take place.  The focus and theme of the event will be “collaboration not competition”.

There will be a programme of key note speakers, women who are leaders in their chosen field who will each present their own stories and weave this into their presentation and areas of expertise, with real examples of the challenges, obstacles and rewards of working in this way and in these sectors, thus ensuring that these presentations are brought to life and engaging.

The event will also provide break out focus groups and workshops that will provide participants with skills and tools to develop their ideas and the work they do further or help them to clarify their next steps and signpost them to the appropriate organisations that can help them further.

 

22, 23, 24 September – Network of Wellbeing Conference, Hawkwood College

The Building Wellbeing Together Weekend will be hosted jointly by the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) and Hawkwood College from 22nd – 24th September 2017 at Hawkwood College in Stroud, UK.

I am delighted that I have been asked to present a 90 minute “simplyhappy” workshop/presentation on “Personal Wellbeing”! 

This event will bring together thought leaders and practitioners, performers, artists and teachers from many disciplines to reflect, share and experience how we can build personal, societal and environmental wellbeing together. Our happiness and wellbeing depends in part on the health of the communities in which we live and work. This, in turn, depends on the fairness of society as a whole, and the long-term health of the natural world on which we all depend. At this event we will explore how we can live the good life and learn to live together in ways that support personal and collective wellbeing within planetary limits.

The world-renowned wellbeing and happiness researcher and author Nic Marks as well as the positive psychology expert Chris Johnstone will be part of our keynote speakers team.

Everyone is welcome, whatever your personal or professional interest. You can expect high profile speakers combined with interactive sessions, opportunities to connect with others and time for deeper reflection. Come and learn. Come and share your experience and vision of how we can build wellbeing together! And take home a renewed commitment and a more practical, integrated vision for personal, community and societal wellbeing.

 

10, 11, 12 November – “Simply Women on Purpose” Retreat, Dartington Estate, Nr totnes

A “Simply Women on Purpose” retreat highlighting the importance and value of women working collaboratively to create positive change within themselves, community and society.

Areas for discussion will include:

The call to action, what this means and how this translates into everyday life

Living an authentic life and creating meaning in the work women do

The benefits of purpose and meaning for wellbeing

The role of women in community and society

Positive Psychology for People and Planet

The retreat will have three themes: CONNECT, CREATE, COLLABORATE and these will be explored through a mixture of presentations, interactive workshops, networking and creativity.

CONNECT with one another to tap into your true power

CREATE partnerships and create positive change

COLLABORATE with other brilliant women who have bold ideas

Through authentic dialogue and meaningful interaction with women who have forged their own paths of change, women will leave with an expanded sense of possibility. Providing women with a weekend to nourish themselves, their career, and their community and learn how to become their own change maker.

“Simply Women on Purpose” is designed to provide women with the tools, knowledge, and network to develop ideas for positive change and provide practical tools for transformation .

 

 30 November- “Girls on Purpose”, Exeter (supported by the RSA)

How can we ensure that we not only prepare young people for the 21st century, but also provide learning experiences that will support them in shaping what the future will look like in productive, collaborative, sustainable, and positive ways?

Join us at this one day conference, focusing on the question “How can we engage and inspire girls throughout the education system and beyond, and ignite within them a sense of passion and purpose for the future?” We will be bringing together examples of best practice from established Fellows and individuals, organisations and projects.

Delegates will hear from a variety of keynote speakers, all leaders in their own fields, who are actively engaged in supporting girls and young women around the UK to become the best versions of themselves.

There will also be the opportunity to hear more about Girls on Purpose, a new project currently being developed and piloted by Michelle Preston FRSA. The focus is on enabling girls to become more engaged in their own learning process, develop self confidence, and increase self esteem, whilst equipping them with an emotional toolkit that will enable them to follow their own path with purpose. The project focuses on how students can make an everyday difference in their schools and communities and enables them to come together and create a purpose-filled future that they want.

The day will be led by Michelle Preston FRSA and will feature a programme of key note speakers, confirmed so far:

  • Nikki Giant – CEO and Founder, Full Circle Education Solutions and Girls Circle
  • Charlotte Young – CEO & Co-Founder, The Girls Network
  • Hasmita Chavda – Programme Development Manager, Ignite Futures Ltd; Trustee, The Mighty Creatives
  • Lucy Griffiths – Founder & Director, Sortyourfuture and The Life Design Foundation & We Are Lucky

The day will be a mixture of speakers, presentations, and discussion and will provide delegates with the opportunity to share their own experiences and learning. There will be plenty of time throughout the day to network and to “connect, create and collaborate” with one another.

 

4 December – RSA Gloucestershire Xmas Drinks and Networking Event, Hawkwood College, Stroud

Join Alicia Carey, CEO of Hawkwood, and Michelle Preston, Founder of simplyhappy and RSA Fellowship Councillor for the South West, for an RSA networking event in the library.

Mulled wine, mince pies, a log fire, and the opportunity to get into the festive spirit, to network with other like minded individuals, and to share the work you’ve been doing this year.

Alicia will also be updating us on key events from Hawkwood this year and some of the things to look forward to in 2018 and beyond.

Hawkwood is an ethical centre providing courses, facilitating training, and offering venue hire. It is also home to the Centre for Future Thinking. Located within an enchanting 19th century Grade II listed building surrounded by 42 acres of beautiful, sustainably managed grounds, Hawkwood offers a serene and characterful rural setting for residential courses, retreats, conferences, seminars, and away days, and yet is within easy reach of both the M4 and M5 motorways

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