Local Wellbeing Conference

Programme
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HOW CAN WE CONTRIBUTE TO HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING?

Chair: Professor Lord Richard Layard, LSE
10.00	Chairman's introduction: Professor Lord Richard Layard, founder and Director of LSE's Centre for Economic Performance, and author of 'Happiness: Lessons from a New Science'
10.10	Keynote address: Why is wellbeing an important topic – an international perspective? Enrico Giovannini, Chief Statistician, Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development
10.30	Why is wellbeing an important topic for local government? Lucy de Groot, Executive Director, IDeA

10.50 Refreshments and optional relaxation session (chair yoga) by Lotus Exchange

11.20	Ministerial address: Why is wellbeing an important topic for central government? Rt Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for Department of Work and Pensions
11.35	The Local Wellbeing Project Geoff Mulgan, Director, Young Foundation
Focus: Local Wellbeing Big Initiatives
Chair: Caroline Tapster, Chief Executive, Hertfordshire County Council
11.55	Promoting emotional resilience among 11-13 year olds. Can young people be educated to be happy? Dr Martin Seligman, Director of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Centre, and founder of Positive Psychology
12.25	Promoting emotional resilience to older people. Feeling better in later life! Dr Chris Williams, Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, University of Glasgow and author of 'Living Life to the Full' Diana Whitworth, consultant
12.45	Young People's progress through 16-19 year old transition – guaranteed apprenticeships Irene Lucas, Chief Executive, South Tyneside Council Dr Ian Johnston, Consultant
1.05	Questions and discussion – interactive panel session

1.30 Lunch and optional relaxation session (tai chi & massage) by Lotus Exchange

Focus: Local Wellbeing Underpinning Themes

Break-out sessions

2.15

How can we really measure wellbeing?
Professor Paul Dolan, Professor of Economics at Tanaka Business School, Imperial College
Nicola Steuer, Head of nef's Centre for Wellbeing, New Economics Foundation

Neighbourhood and community empowerment: does it really make us happy?
Mandeep Hothi, Associate, Young Foundation
Professor Anne Power, Professor of Social Policy and Deputy Director of the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE
Dave Barlow, Manchester City Council

Win:win situation. Parenting programmes and wellbeing
Professor Sarah Stewart-Brown, Chair of Public Health, Warwick University Medical School
Yvonne Roberts, Consultant
South Tyneside parenting group

Sustainability and wellbeing: how can we achieve both?
Rosie Milner, Positive Psychology Researcher, University of East London
local authority case studies

3.15 Refreshments and optional relaxation session (laughing therapy)
by Lotus Exchange

Debate and discussion

Chair: Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive, Turning Point

3.30

'This House believes local government has no business trying to make people happy'

For:
Claire Fox, Director, Institute of Ideas and journalist
Paul Ormerod, economist and author of "Why Most Things Fail…And how to avoid it"

Against:
Geoff Mulgan, Director, Young Foundation
Sir Richard Leese CBE, Leader, Manchester City Council

4.30

Keynote closing address:
How can we be happier?
Professor Lord Richard Layard, founder and Director of LSE's Centre for Economic Performance, and author of 'Happiness: Lessons from a New Science'

4.50 Final relaxation session (visualisation / meditation) by Lotus Exchange

5.00 Close

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