By embedding wellbeing into your projects, you can create long-lasting positive impacts on both individuals and communities. Whether you’re a funder, a project designer or a community organiser, the tools and guidance below will help you place wellbeing at the heart of your work.
Embedding and evaluating wellbeing in your projects
Investing in happiness has been Spirit’s mission and that of our grantees since the beginning. Whether you’re working on connecting people, improving mental and physical health, or social action – wellbeing provides a common goal for seemingly different activities and events.
You can read about the impact Spirit’s investment has had on wellbeing in this evaluation from Renaisi here.
With over a decade of experience funding and supporting wellbeing-focused initiatives, we’ve gathered insights and resources together here to help you integrate these principles into your work.
The following resources will help you understand what matters for wellbeing, build wellbeing pathways into your projects and measure your impact on wellbeing.
To get started on wellbeing, check out:
1Wellbeing lessons learned from Spirit projects
Our report: Creative Pathways To Wellbeing report distils key learnings from across a number of Spirit projects, illustrating how creativity can be a powerful tool for enhancing wellbeing.
Highlighting real-world examples, it includes a range of approaches to consider when designing and evaluating projects with a focus on wellbeing.
2Measuring and evaluating wellbeing
Evaluating wellbeing is just as important as embedding it. By measuring your impact, you can highlight the difference your projects make and ensure your work remains focused on meaningful outcomes.
This report from Pro Bono Economics offers practical guidance advice on how you and your funders can measure outcomes that really matter to the communities they support. It provides actionable steps and examples to help you focus on meaningful metrics and demonstrate the wellbeing impact of your funding decisions.
Watch: Learn more from wellbeing experts
We’ve also created some short videos featuring several wellbeing experts who share practical advice and guidance. These videos cover a range of topics, including how to integrate wellbeing into your projects, why it’s important, and how to communicate its value to potential funders.
1. Adam Blaze, Chief Executive at Activity Alliance
2. Sara MacLennan, LSE PBE and Visiting Research Fellow
3. Oscar Bingham, Assistant Director of Research & Impact · UK Youth
4. Ingrid Abreu Scherer, Wellbeing and Social Impact Consultant
See below for further wellbeing resources
1Wellbeing of your volunteers
Take a look at our report which explores the relationship between volunteering and personal wellbeing, offering evidence-based strategies for creating enriching volunteer experiences.
2Case study: Music and Wellbeing
This report demonstrates the role music can play in enhancing wellbeing and offers insights into designing music-focused initiatives that inspire and support your community.
3Power of Events Inquiry
Our Inquiry into the Power of Events sets out how events can support happier communities through participation, arts, culture and volunteering, and by creating shared positive memories.
