A COURSE backed by the Dalai Lama to make Bolton a happier and kinder place will start this month.

Exploring What Matters has been developed by Action for Happiness, a UK-based movement of people taking action for a happier world.

The Dalai Lama is the Patron of Action for Happiness, which has 60,000 members. He said: “I am delighted to see work being done to create a happier and more caring society.”

“I wholeheartedly support the Exploring What Matters course and hope that many people will benefit from it and be inspired to take their own action to help create a happier world

Analysis of the course has found that it leaves people both happier and more pro-sociable, with participants reporting increases in levels of life satisfaction, mental wellbeing, compassion and social trust. Many say the course is life-changing.

The Bolton course will run on Wednesdays from 10am at Silverwell House, Silverwell Lane, for eight weeks, beginning on January 18, with each session exploring a big question.

The first session will start with ‘What really matters in life?’

and then “What really makes us happy?”.

The following sessions will deal with adversity, having good relationships, caring for others, and creating happier workplaces and communities.

Joan Manville, from Time2 Communities, who is leading the course in Bolton said: “I’m very excited to be running this course because helping people to help themselves and others is what we do.

“The content of this course will help the participants do just this and contribute towards Bolton being a happier place to live, work and volunteer.”

Co-founder of Action for Happiness, Professor Lord Richard Layard said: “We hope to see this course happening in thousands of local communities to help like-minded people support each other in taking practical actions which are not only good for their own wellbeing but also contribute to the happiness of others around them too”.

The course is funded on a donation basis of ‘pay what you can’ with no minimum amount required.

For further details, please call or email Joan Manville on 07469 780255 or email joan.manville@gmail.com or register online at, http://bit.ly/2hPaYFA