The Summer of Wellbeing Festivals are one of the things Well One is most proud of. Not because of the bouncy castles, though those were a hit, but because of the thinking behind it.
Too often, community events happen in one place and expect people to come to them. We wanted to do the opposite. So we took the festivals to where people already are, to parks, housing estates, and community centres right across east Tower Hamlets, from Bow in the north to Isle of Dogs in the south. The idea was simple: if we make it easy enough, more people will come. And they did.
2022 Festivals
The first Summer of Wellbeing festivals took place across July, August and September 2022.
It was the first proper summer after the Covid lockdowns, and the timing felt important. People had been isolated for a long time. Coming back together as a community wasn’t just nice to have, it felt necessary.
Across nine events, more than 5,000 people came out to enjoy live activities, children’s entertainment, face painting, soft play, and food, alongside local health and wellbeing organisations who were there to reconnect residents with the services and support available to them. From Bow to the Isle of Dogs, the festivals brought the community back together.
After just the first nine festivals in 2022, here's what we achieved together.
- 9 free festivals across east Tower Hamlets
- 5,000+ residents attended
- 50+ partner organisations involved
- 1,000+ health screenings carried out or booked
- 130+ Covid-19 vaccinations administered on site
- 1,500+ smoothies made on our smoothie bike
- 700+ wellbeing surveys completed
- 37 people signed up to cycling projects
- 13 families signed up for football sessions
- 25 new community projects formed as a result
2023 Festivals
In 2023 we did it again.
Eight more festivals, building on what worked the year before and reaching even more of the borough. More partners, more activities, and more people discovering what was available on their doorstep.
By the end of the two years, we had delivered 17 festivals across east Tower Hamlets, visited housing estates, parks, and community centres, and welcomed thousands of residents who might never have come to a single central event.
Two summers of festival fun!
The people that made it all possible
None of the events would have happened without the organisations who came along and gave their time, expertise, and energy. Health services, sports clubs, arts organisations, community groups, and food charities all played a part in making the festivals what they were. A brilliant cross-section of everything that east Tower Hamlets has to offer.
Watch this space
The Summer of Wellbeing Festival is coming back in 2025. We’re planning four festivals across east Tower Hamlets, one in each area we cover, starting in late July. Nothing is confirmed yet, but follow us on social media or keep an eye on this site for updates as they come.
