** Please read our main COVID-19
policy before this **
With our world in the grip of crisis ... our
actions matter.
Having reviewed the current situation and medical
advice, Action for Happiness is recommending we postpone all our
face-to-face courses, meetings and public events for the immediate
future.
We are doing this because:
- We know that face-to-face meetings pose a health
risk to organisers and participants and contribute to the
general spread of COVID-19.
- We are aware that it is likely soon to be government
advice to cancel such meetings.
- We know our organisers are concerned about the
situation and want a recommendation from us on what to do about
it.
Below we list out what this might mean for you in different
situations (which we will update as things progress and we learn
more):
1. I want to run a course in the near future
We are currently no longer accepting applications from, or
processing course applications for, courses that start before
SEPTEMBER 2020. This might seem far away, but work and promotion
for September courses actually begins in June/July and this seems
to be the most sensible time to plan for given current advice.
If you were planning a course to run between April-August we ask
that you rethink it and instead submit an application for a course
starting September onwards (need to submit by start of July for
start of September to allow for set-up and promotion).
www.actionforhappiness.org/apply
2. I'm a leader of a course that hasn't yet started
If your course is due to start before September we
strongly recommend you postpone it till the Autumn
term. Even if you were to go ahead, it is likely that
changes in government public health policy will demand it be
cancelled anyway. We will, of course, refund your participants and
let them know when a new course is organised.
We ask that you instead submit an application for a course
starting September onwards.
www.actionforhappiness.org/apply
3. I'm leading a course that is currently running
This is the most tricky of the scenarios as it depends
where you are, how many weeks you have left of your course and how
safe your participants feel to continue. It is likely that the
government will call for a close of public meetings within the next
week or two (though we don't know for certain). If you live in an
area with no current cases and have one remaining session this
week, or early next, you might be able to proceed but would need to
ensure that everyone in the group has read our COVID-19 policy
[link] and actively consents to being there.
However, should you choose to follow our advice of
postponing there are 3 possible options open:
- Delay your remaining sessions until the advice
changes (likely sometime between June-September) and continue with
your course then.
- Postpone your course completely and start
again in September (attendees will be refunded and informed of the
next course).
- Continue by holding sessions digitally on Zoom
(we are currently investigating this as an option - please contact
us to find out more).
In all cases, Action for Happiness remains committed to
supporting you and will cover any agreed expenses incurred - though
if there is anything you can do with your venue to avoid
cancellation fees etc. please do investigate - it would help a
great deal.
4. I'm taking part in a course being postponed
We are really sorry that this has happened!
We are such big believers in the power of face-to-face
experiences, it is a terrible shame to see so much effort and
opportunity go to waste.
- Refunds - we will be in touch soon to offer
all participants of postponed courses refunds for the sessions that
will be cancelled.
- Courses restarting - we are encouraging our
leaders to move their courses (or restart them) in the Autumn term
starting in September 2020 and will be in touch to let you know
when a place becomes available.
- Non-face-to-face materials - in the meantime
we recommend checking out our app, monthly action calendars and following our
newsletter to find ways to stay involved - and we have some other
great digital offerings coming up too!
It's ok to feel disappointed, we are too!
A huge amount of intention, hard work, time, hope and excitement
go into each course - invested by participants, organisers and our
team. We are all feeling shocked that so much has to change so
quickly to respond to the wider wellbeing need, and we can also see
the need to do our bit.
As a movement that focuses so strongly on bringing people
together, it has been an exceptionally difficult call to make to
cancel so much activity --- but since lives may genuinely be saved
by doing so, we know we must take action.
Reasons to stay hopeful
1. By taking action now we can hopefully all return to
normality sooner than if we delay.
2. Taking a break from supporting face-to-face courses over the
next few months means we have the capacity to work on some
very exciting new projects (including digital
offerings you can use in the meantime), including:
- We have an exciting 10 Keys email coaching programme we are
testing.
- We are discussing having a series of webinars with expert
speakers (replacing our London events).
- We are working on a BRAND NEW version of the course with
updated content and materials and hope to be ready to bring you
soon!
3. As members of the Action for Happiness movement we are needed
more than ever in our families, communities and society as a
source of positivity, connection and wise action -
however that may adapt to the circumstances we are in.
Thank you so much for being part of this amazing movement. Let's
see what creativity and positive responses this situation brings up
… even if it does require a brief pause first to find them.