Case Studies

Uscreates worked with South London and Maudsley and residents from across London to design and develop a DIY Happiness game. The project was funded by Well London and the Big Lottery Fund.

“We have a long and fruitful relationship with Uscreates. We have basically had little seedlings of ideas which they have helped grow into huge oaks. Their creativity, flexibility, vision and innovation has provided sustenance to create such amazing projects such as a happiness game to be played accross London. Their co productive approach and knowledge of health promotion using effective and meaningful methods has enabled us to reach people across London, working together to improve the wellbeing of some of its poorest communities. "
Marie Clough. South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

The DIY Happiness Game was co-designed and piloted with Londoners from start to launch. It consists of a pop-up game touring London to offer tips on how to improve mental-wellbeing. The tips fall under six theme areas:

• body (be active)
• mind (keep learning)
• spirit (give)
• people (connect)
• place (take notice)
• planet (care)

Taken together these areas create a circle of happiness.

The game uses dice and cards, and players win happiness tips, ask other players to share tips with them, and swap cards to collect a full set of six tips, one from each of the themes.

The game has toured 13 locations in London to date, and the tips shared throughout the touring games are contributing to a growing bank of tips going out from Londoners to their fellow Londoners.

DIY Happiness is supported by a blog and other social media platforms that circulate tips from the bank by encouraging players to sign up to receive one-tip-a-day by email (hello@diyhappiness.co.uk), Facebook, Twitter, and/or text messaging.

The DIY Happiness Game was invited to be part of the Action for Happiness launch event in London on the 12th of April 2011 where it was covered by national and international press. A celebration event of the game took place on a boat on the Thames on the 23rd of June.

By July 2011 the game had already engaged over 7000 Londoners either face-to-face or through social media interactions. In early July, the game was handed over to NHS South London and Maudsley, who are currently sustaining the touring games and social media platforms, following training from Uscreates.