How happy are we? Join the debate

Over the past 50 years people in the Western world have become richer, live longer and lead healthier lifestyles – but are they happier?

A forum, Give Us Back Our Game!: Sport and the Community, will take place, with other guest speakers focusing on subjects ranging from Britain’s ‘happiest’ places, to how the arts can promote health and well-being.

Measurement of happiness, life choices, relationships, consumerism, leisure, wealth and healthcare are among topics which will be highlighted during the conference, which will be held in the University’s Centuria Building.

A wine and cheese evening with activities such as drumming, salt and sand painting and haiku poetry will be held at 6.00pm in the foyer of the Centuria Building on June 30, followed at 7.30pm with a conference dinner and ceilidh band at Al Forno restaurant, Southfield Road, Middlesbrough.

Professor Tony Chapman, Director of the Social Futures Institute, which is organising the event, said: ‘This conference will bring people together from a wide range of backgrounds to report on key factors which give people a real sense of well-being and how to tackle the problems which can undermine people’s happiness.’

The conference's main sponsor is IGNITE (Regional Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Communities), together with Middlesbrough Council, Association of North East Councils, North East Regional Information Partnership, Soccer Coaching International, Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust, Hartlepool Primary Care Trust, North Tees Primary Care Trust and the University of Teesside.

For further details and booking contact the University’s Social Futures Institute on 01642 342301.

---