Why Wellbeing?

Wellbeing is increasingly recognised as the ultimate goal of community and development programmes and public policy. This poses questions not only about what is good for individuals and communities, but also the nature of the good society. Its distinctive orientation is:

• Positive
• Holistic
• Person-centred

Being positive places the emphasis on what people have, can do or hope for; rather than seeing people and places in terms of their problems, deficiencies or what they lack.

Being holistic gives a rounded understanding of quality of life that sets conventional material indicators in the context of other things that matter to people.

Being person-centred recognises the importance of social and personal relationships and people’s own perceptions, including the way these are shaped by culture, values and meaning.