Action for Happiness

The Brighton-based local group of the Action for Happiness movement was set up in March 2012. Since then its membership has grown rapidly to over 900, making it one of the largest Meetup groups in Sussex. It holds regular events, at the Latest Music Bar in Brighton, on wellbeing topics ranging from the neurobiology of happiness to laughing and singing your way to happiness.

Its most recent initiative is the creation of the UK’s first Happy Café at the Emporium, 88 London Road, Brighton, which has received very favourable publicity in the Brighton Argus and the Daily Telegraph. A Happy Café is a place where anyone interested in wellbeing matters can meet together with like-minded people to discuss ways of improving their state of mind based on the scientifically researched Ten Keys to living a happier life formulated by the Action for Happiness movement. These Keys include such actions as relating to others, giving to others, exercising, appreciating the small things in life, trying out new things, adopting a positive approach to life, being comfortable with who you are and becoming part of something bigger than yourself. They are set out in postcards, pamphlets and posters on display at the café and a range of books is available if you want to delve more deeply into these matters.

There are regular Saturday Morning sessions at the café which are advertised at the Brighton Action for Happiness Meetup site (along with events at the Latest Music Bar). At other times there are badges you can wear to identify yourself as someone who wants to converse with others wearing the badge at the café. The Happy Café network is being rolled out across the country by Action for Happiness members. Another one has recently been launched in Shoreditch, London at the Canvas Café. Action for Happiness is a movement for positive social change with nearly 40,000 members in 142 countries and about 250,000 social network followers. Its driving force is the researched finding that despite being much wealthier now as a nation we’re no happier than we were five decades ago. Indeed there have been worrying increases in levels of anxiety, stress and depression. Its main message is that we should focus on developing our all-round wellbeing rather than just our material wellbeing.

Details of the national movement can be found at actionforhappiness.org and of the Brighton groups’ activities at Action for Happiness Brighton