Please note that What Works Wellbeing will close operations on 30 April 2024.  Read more

Please note that What Works Wellbeing will close operations in 30 April 2024. 

Our work

We find out ‘what works’ to improve wellbeing and how to use that knowledge with confidence to inform decision making.

As a collaborating Centre, we work with the research community, governments, policymakers, businesses and charity organisations to establish an extensive body of insights and resources, building on the UK Measures of National Wellbeing framework, and put this knowledge into action, creating a learning system for wellbeing.

Below are some of the ways we promote better understanding and practice of wellbeing in society to support people across the UK to live happy and fulfilling lives now and in the future.

Explore our projects and resources

“Your evidence reviews are like gold dust to us.”

SENIOR HEAD OF KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING, NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMUNITY FUND

Who we work with

We offer a number of services, tools and resources for central and local governments to help ensure good governance for wellbeing. This includes policy recommendations, Treasury’s Green Book Wellbeing Guidance training for analysts and economists, and convening experts to solve specific challenges.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your work by emailing info@whatworkswellbeing.org

Our workplace wellbeing work to date focuses on the effectiveness of the wellbeing strategies put in place by organisations and evaluates whether they are adding value, having a positive or negative effect and are cost effective.

We review these activities to ensure that they are safe, well intentioned and effective, and not simply a form of ‘wellbeing-washing’. We provide support, guidance, learning and measurement tools to support your organisations work.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your work by emailing info@whatworkswellbeing.org

We provide services specifically for third sector organisations including NGOs, charities and VCSEs including consultancy, knowledge transfer and learning, and measurement and evaluation.

To find out more about how we work with the third sector and how we could help your organisation, please email us at info@whatworkswellbeing.org.

We frequently partner with higher education institutions and research organisations to conduct qualitative and quantitative research to develop and synthesise the wellbeing evidence base. Explore our projects section for more details.

For information about working with us on future research, please visit our Work with us page.

“Your support and intellect has been invaluable.”

CIVIL SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ANALYSIS

How we help

Advisory roles

As leaders in wellbeing evidence, we hold several evidence and implementation advisory roles in academia, government, trusts and charities. 

Civil society sector advice

Our free one-to-one advice sessions is an opportunity for those working in the charity and VCSE sector to book a slot for personalised wellbeing advice. 

Find out more and book a slot on the civil society surgery page.

Convening business and research

Our Business Leaders’ Council brings together stakeholders from the business sector with a group of leading academics. These experts help to define the problems, scope the offer and implementation needs of private sector partners, and support the development of the Centre’s expertise and delivery in this area of work.

Find out more about the Council and how to join.

Data analysis

Find out more about how we’re accelerating access to wellbeing data about the Council and how to join.

Evaluation support

We support evaluations so that understanding is deepened and new insights are generated and fed back into the knowledge base, creating a wider learning system for wellbeing.

For questions around how we can support your organisation, please email info@whatworkswellbeing.org

To submit an evaluation and contribute to our learning system, please use the form below:

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Evidence reviews

So that global wellbeing evidence is easy to find, understand and compare, we produce high-quality synthesis reports and systematic reviews to collate existing evidence on the effectiveness of programmes and practices, map current practice to understand real-world application and establish where research needs to go next.

Expert guidance

We are experts at guiding and advising governments, organisations and the third sector on wellbeing strategies that work. We provide guidance, measurement tools and evidence to support your work.

Find out how we can add value with our expert wellbeing knowledge by emailing info@whatworkswellbeing.org

Knowledge-building and training

Providing training and education to businesses, organisations, leaders and teams about what works to improve wellbeing is core to what we do. As a vast field which affects all aspects of life and society, there are many aspects and areas to dive into. We run bespoke workshops and training tailored to individual needs, ranging from workplace wellbeing, and tackling loneliness, to policy design, and using the Treasury’s Green Book Wellbeing Guidance. 

To find out more about our workshops and training, get in touch on info@whatworkswellbeing.org

Get in touch

To find out more about how we can help you, your organisation or collaborate together, email us on info@whatworkswellbeing.org

“Thanks for your time and giving us assurance that wellbeing measures are a very doable potential measure of impact for us”

UK BANK