March 2021
Maximising Local Area Wellbeing
With tailored support for local authorities

Knowing ‘What Works’ to maximise wellbeing is important; but it is only part of the journey. It is also important to know how it works and, most importantly, how to use and implement it.
With this project, we seek to gain a better understanding of wellbeing policy making across different focus areas and local needs.
To explore how to prepare local government policy in a way that maximises local wellbeing, we are testing a range of tools and techniques to:
- Define what wellbeing means in local areas.
- Gather wellbeing data and assess wellbeing needs.
- Source evidence of what works to improve wellbeing and review how this applies in each area.
- Select measures to understand wellbeing impact.
- Effectively review and evaluate policy.
Supported by our dedicated local authority lead, Joanne Smithson, the programme provides tailored support for local authorities to place wellbeing evidence at the heart of policy.
The local authorities and their wellbeing areas of focus are:
Local authority | Area of focus |
---|---|
Southampton City Council | Employee wellbeing |
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council | Mental wellbeing & inequalities |
East Devon County Council | Recovery & resilience |
Walsall Council | Wellbeing in all policies |
Sutton Council | Helping Early Strategy |
Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Council | Wellbeing strategy |
The City of Edinburgh Council | Wellbeing programme |
Westminster City Council | Employee wellbeing programme |
Redcar & Cleveland Council | Wellbeing strategy |
Kirklees Council | Inclusion Commission |
If you would like to register your interest in potential future cohorts, get in touch by emailing info@whatworkswellbeing.org