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JOY LAB in Action: Inventing Happiness Together

Craig Bright

Over the past few weeks, JOY LAB has been popping up in all kinds of places - libraries, family hubs, primary and secondary schools, community spaces, museums, and within groups like Girl Guides and Brownies.

And everywhere we go, we’re asking one simple but powerful question: Can you invent something for happiness? The response has been incredible.

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Creativity for Everyone

One of the most inspiring things about JOY LAB so far is the range of people taking part.

We’ve worked with participants as young as 4, right through to people in their 90s. We’ve also been delivering workshops with SEND groups, adapting sessions to make sure everyone can take part in a way that works for them.

Because JOY LAB is built on a simple belief: everyone can be an inventor.

And when given the space, people don’t just come up with ideas—they come up with ideas that matter.

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Big Ideas, Everywhere

What’s been exciting is seeing how creativity shows up in different settings.

In schools, ideas often grow from friendships and everyday experiences. In libraries and community spaces, mixed-age groups share perspectives and build on each other’s thinking. In groups like Guides and Brownies, collaboration leads to wonderfully unexpected results.

Across every workshop, there’s a shared focus: finding ways to bring a bit more happiness into the world.

Our General Manager Craig Bright said:

We’ve taken JOY LAB into all sorts of spaces, and everywhere we go the response is the same - people light up. It proves that creativity isn’t something reserved for a few; it’s something we all have, and it can be a real force for kindness and connection.

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Small Moments, Big Impact

Many inventions focus on the small, everyday moments where a little lift can make a big difference.

We’ve seen ideas that:

  • Help someone feel less lonely
  • Turn boring routines into something fun
  • Spread kindness between strangers
  • Create calm in stressful moments

Some are simple and heartfelt. Others are bold and imaginative. All of them show how creativity can be a powerful tool for empathy.

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Inside the Workshops

Each JOY LAB session invites participants to think like inventors - starting with people.

We explore questions like:

  • What makes someone happy?
  • When do people need a boost?
  • How could an invention help?

Ideas take shape through drawing, conversation, and play. There’s no pressure to get things “right” - just encouragement to explore, imagine, and share.

Time and again, we see confidence grow as participants realise their ideas are valued.

Alt text Check out the JOY LAB Challenge