About

Our story began in 2017 when a small group of eight local people, led by GP Dr. David Smart, decided to start a local Action for Happiness social movement to improve wellbeing across Northamptonshire. We started by running small courses to help people find more meaning in life, and by 2019, our local efforts were even being featured on the national news.

A huge turning point was moving our home to Delapré Abbey. By combining the beautiful outdoors and local heritage with the science of happiness, we created a unique space where thousands of people can now come to feel better.

When the pandemic hit, we focused on helping our community stay resilient through digital tips and newsletters, making sure no one felt alone. This led to our first fully funded "Year of Happier Living" campaign in 2024, where we began bringing our tools into schools, workplaces, and local health services.

Today, we have grown from that small group of volunteers into a network of over 4000 people. We are proud to be a national example of how local people can work together to help a whole community thrive.

Our Hub is brought to life by a dedicated team of local volunteers and staff who are passionate about the wellbeing of our county. This group includes community leaders like Dr David Smart, a local GP who helped start our movement, local councillors Farzana Aldridge and Miranda Wixon, who advocate for health and connection in our neighborhoods and Carl Dorney, who helps bring our resources into the heart of our local libraries.  We are supported by Matthew Bushell, an internatioanl mental health advocate, and Rachel Page, an award-winning community champion, who help to keep our movement active. 

Together, we combine our different skills to make sure everyone in Northamptonshire has the support they need to thrive.