WHISKids

WHISkids offers children the opportunity to learn more about their emotional and physical health and life, and the choices they can make to keep well.

Why is it called WHISkids? WHIS is the WORLD HEALTH INNOVATION SUMMIT. WHIS holds summits around the world and as part of it's model of exchanging and collaborating across health and care it provides programs in the host global communities to encourage and support the local health system. WHISkids is one of these programs. For more information please visit www.worldhealthinnovationsummit.com

WHI

Skids is currently available to be delivered in Cumbria and Nottinghamshire with a digital manual available for self delivery elsewhere. So far in Cumbria we have run sessions with 1000+ primary-aged children focusing on emotional, rather than purely physical, wellbeing. We aim to help children understand their feelings, how to express them and where to go for support when they need it.

Gillene Sealby, who leads the project, said it is about helping them build up emotional resilience - a fundamental life skill that will help them to better cope with the challenges that come their way.

“WHIS Kids is about health and emotional wellbeing. It’s all about helping children to become more aware of themselves," she said.

“We talk about how they are feeling, their emotions and how they can self-manage those. It helps to build up resilience and makes them aware of the support that’s around them, who is there from them." To start, youngsters design and make their own colourful My Way Code 'avacars' to represent themselves. Each day they place that car on a numbered road to show how they are feeling, with 1 being low and 10 being excellent. Each session begins with a short yoga-based warm up session, followed by some group work. This looks at different emotions, how they make you feel, and how the children can deal with them. She urges children to think about warning signs of different emotions, such as anger, so they know how to recognise them. They then discuss support networks, and who children can turn to in different scenarios, such as at home or school. There are also some relaxation sessions and linked creative projects. Development - the WHISkids manual
In order for as many children to benefit from this life enhancing programme we have developed a manual with all the information anyone would need to run the programme with groups of primary-aged children in their local area or school. Whether you are a facilitator of wellness programmes or work in education, you can now run the sessions yourself. Please contact us for more info.

17/07/2026

Dear Friends,

The wait is almost over. The world’s largest social prescribing event goes live! World Health Innovation Summit

Today, we bring together global leaders, healthcare practitioners, community organizations, and policymakers from over 45 countries. We aren't just here to talk; we are here to finalize the shift from reactive "sick-care" to a proactive, prevention-led global health system.

📌 Quick Details:

Start Time: 09:30 AM BST sharp - Full Agenda: https://whis.world/gspa-summit-2026

Your Link to Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imBKjGpnFYE (Feel free to ask questions and we'll do our best to answer them - don't forget to let us know where in the world you are joining from!)

🗺️ Today's Summit Agenda at a Glance:

09:30 | LIVE Opening & Welcome (Gareth Presch) LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imBKjGpnFYE

09:45 | Keynote: The Future of Person-Centred Health Globally (James Sanderson) LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imBKjGpnFYE

10:30 | Global Panel: Lessons from every continent - LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpijPVN62Wo

11:45 | Fireside Chat: Gareth Presch with Peter McGahan & Nikki West - LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RIM6Xm1BAI

12:30 | Global Insights: Digital tools, grassroots initiatives, youth & mental health - LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRV_DVKVH1M

14:30 | Global Case Studies: Real-world examples from the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, & Nordics LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4y0wZE1TzU

15:45 | Future Vision Panel: Next steps for global partnerships & prevention as health investment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRDpvGm0ws0

Get Social: Use the hashtags , , and to share your breakthroughs throughout the day!

11/07/2026

Speaker Spotlight: How Rini Laskar is Pioneering Holistic Womens Healthcare in the GCC

As we count down to the world's largest social prescribing event the Global Social Prescribing Summit 2026 on 17th July the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) is thrilled to introduce one of our phenomenal international speakers: Rini Laskar.

Social prescribing is fundamentally rewriting the healthcare playbook by shifting the focus from "what is the matter with you" to "what matters to you." No where is this holistic, person-centered approach more vital than in women's health and fertility.

Rini Laskar, Founder of the Hiya (هي) Women’s Wellness & Fertility Network and owner of Dubai’s long-standing The Doctors Hub Polyclinic, joins our global lineup to share how she is bridging the gap between corporate innovation, cutting-edge technology, and compassionate, community-based care.

From the City of London to Healthcare Transformation
Great innovators often bring fresh perspectives from outside traditional medicine. Rini’s trajectory is a masterclass in driving large-scale change. Before diving into healthcare, she spent years leading high-stakes digital and technology transformation programmes as a Director at global financial giants like UBS and Citibank.

Her leadership and advocacy have earned her widespread international recognition, including being named:

One of Brummell Magazine's Most Inspirational Women in the City of London (2019)
One of Yahoo Finance's Top 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders (2020)
A Top Power Woman in Data, Analytics & AI in Dubai (2025)

When Rini turned her corporate acumen toward healthcare, she did so with a deeply personal mission. Inspired by her own IVF journey, she recognized that the clinical path to fertility and wellness can often feel isolating and transactional. She knew women deserved an ecosystem that cared for the whole person—not just the medical chart.

The Vision: A Tech-Enabled, Women-Led Ecosystem
Through the Hiya Network and The Doctors Hub, Rini is actively building the future of healthcare that the GSPA champions. Her work perfectly mirrors the core pillars of social prescribing by integrating:

Preventive Medicine & Diagnostics: Catching health and fertility challenges early.
Behavioral & Emotional Health: Validating the mental toll of health journeys.
Data-Driven Personalization: Using technology to tailor care to the individual.
Community Support: Nurturing wellness by connecting women to a shared network of lived experience.

"Rini’s work perfectly demonstrates how we can use modern technology to scale human connection. By embedding community and behavioral support into clinical settings, she is paving the way for social prescribing across the GCC." — Gareth Presch, Founder, WHIS, CEO of GSPA & Noora Al Suwaidi, WHIS GCC Lead

Continue reading: https://whis.world/f/rini-laskar-is-pioneering-holistic-womens-healthcare-in-the-gcc

17/06/2026

The Healing Power of the Outdoors: Why Green Social Prescribing is the Future of Healthcare

When we think about modern healthcare, we often think of clinics, prescriptions, and medical terminology. But what if one of the most effective tools for restoring our mental fitness isn't found in a pharmacy, but right outside our front door?

Enter Green Social Prescribing the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based activities to improve their health and wellbeing. From guided wilderness walks and community gardening to outdoor mindfulness sessions, connecting with the natural world is proving to be a game-changer for preventative health care.

A Global Movement with Local Roots

This isn't just a niche wellness trend; it is a globally recognized paradigm shift in how we approach healthcare. By shifting our focus from simply treating illness to actively cultivating wellness within communities, green prescribing bridges the gap between clinical care and lifestyle medicine.

Gareth Presch, CEO of the World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS) and CEO of the Global Social Prescribing Alliance, encapsulates this perfectly:

"Green social prescribing is a foundational pillar for the future of global healthcare. By connecting people back to nature and their local communities, we aren’t just treating symptoms—we are unlocking a sustainable, preventative model of wellbeing that empowers individuals and relieves immense pressure on our traditional health systems."

Proving the Impact: The Data Behind the Magic

While the feeling of peace you get from a walk in the woods feels instinctive, backing it up with hard data is what moves the needle for healthcare integration. This is where organizations like Mind Over Mountains are leading the charge.

By delivering dedicated wellbeing walks and residential retreats, their recent impact reporting shows exactly how transformative green interventions can be:

Substantial Wellbeing Gains: Participants experienced an average wellbeing improvement of plus 6.6 points on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). In clinical terms, a plus 6.6 change indicates a highly substantial, positive effect on an individual’s mental state.

Clinically Significant Reductions: Independent evaluations alongside university partners noted statistically significant reductions in anxiety and depression using standard clinical metrics (GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales).

Rapid Scaling: In the first half of 2025 alone, they hosted 26 events supporting 230 participants, on track to reach 500 individuals by the end of the year—a 44% increase in reach compared to 2024.

Whether it is helping people manage anxiety, transition back into "work mode," or rebuild lost self-confidence, stepping onto a trail alongside trained counselors and a supportive community offers deep, lasting restoration.

Hear from the Experts at Our Global Summit

If you want to dive deeper into the mechanics of nature-based therapy, find out how to address systemic barriers like transport or confidence, and learn how we can scale these models into mainstream healthcare, we have some exciting news.

We are thrilled to announce that Ian Boyd, CEO of Mind Over Mountains, will be speaking live at our upcoming Global Summit on 17th July.

Ian will be sharing firsthand insights on building robust evidence frameworks, expanding inclusivity within the outdoors, and pushing the boundaries of what green prescribing can achieve for underserved populations and emergency responders alike. Don't miss the chance to learn how we can collectively make nature-based mental health support the standard, not the exception.

Would you like to register or view the full agenda for the July 17th Global Summit?

Full article: https://whis.world/f/the-healing-power-of-the-outdoors

19/05/2026

Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected and treating them separately simply doesn't work.

Join us today May 19 at 1:00 PM BST for the second World Health Innovation Summit CIC (WHIS) Talks webinar, hosted by WHIS London. We're bringing together changemakers and community leaders for a vital conversation on how mental health impacts physical wellbeing, healthcare outcomes, and access to care.

Why This Conversation Matters:Around 1 in 4 people in England experience a mental health problem yearly.People with severe mental illness die 15–20 years earlier than the general population.Nearly 30% of people with long-term physical conditions also struggle with mental health. Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually.

Meet Our Expert Panel:
Roxanne Lavie (Qassandra / WHIS London) – Healthcare advocate and facilitator
Lady Julie Jaye Charles CBE (WHIS London / Start Change) – Community leader and strategist
Isaac Samuels OBE – Joint CEO, author, and national leader in disability, inclusion, and equity
David John Kerr – Advocate for patient-centred solutions and systemic health equity

Together, we'll explore community-driven approaches that can transform health and care systems.

How to Watch:Tune in live and join the discussion on the official World Health Innovation Summit Facebook or directly on YouTube.

Youtube stream - https://www.youtube.com/live/ARFHcN1Jb3k?si=Tk87OsO3nGPdoIu3

09/05/2026

Join us for our next WWorld Health Innovation SummitWHIS) Talks – “Say it as it is!”

Hosted by WHIS London - in partnership with Global Social Prescribing Alliance
Date: Wednesday May 19
Time: 1:00 PM BST
Theme: Mental Health and Its Relationship to Physical Health and Care

WHIS Talks hosted by WHIS London returns for its second webinar, bringing together leaders, advocates, and changemakers for an important conversation on how mental and physical health are deeply interconnected—and why this matters now more than ever.

This session will explore how mental health impacts physical wellbeing, healthcare outcomes, and access to care, while also addressing inequalities that continue to affect communities across the UK and globally. Through lived experience, leadership insight, and practical discussion, the panel will highlight how community-driven approaches can transform health and care systems.

Why This Conversation Matters (Key Stats)
UK Context:
- Around 1 in 4 people in England experience a mental health problem each year.
- People living with severe mental illness die 15–20 years earlier than the general population—often due to preventable physical conditions.
- Nearly 30% of people with long-term physical conditions also have a mental health condition, complicating treatment and outcomes.
- NHS data shows that mental health-related demand has risen significantly post-pandemic, especially among young people.

Global Context:
- Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.
- People with chronic illnesses are 2–3 times more likely to experience mental health challenges.
- The World Health Organization identifies mental health as a leading contributor to the global burden of disease.

These figures reinforce a clear message: mental and physical health cannot be treated separately.

Meet the Speakers
Roxanne Lavie (Qassandra / WHIS London) – Co-host, healthcare advocate and facilitator
Lady Julie Jaye Charles CBE (WHIS London / Change) – Co-host, community leader and strategist
Isaac Samuels OBE – Joint CEO, author, and national leader in disability, inclusion, and equity
David John Kerr (DJK Global / WHIS Ireland ) – Advocate for patient-centred solutions and systemic health equity

Together, they bring a wealth of experience across community leadership, inclusion, healthcare reform, and lived experience advocacy.

What Attendees Will Gain:
- A deeper understanding of the mental–physical health connection
- Insight into health inequalities and systemic challenges
- Real-world examples of community-led change
- Inspiration to take action within their own communities and organisations

LIVE streams on Facebook, Linkedin and Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live/ARFHcN1Jb3k?si=n_0ZxU8Tg3L1FigE

Please share and join us.

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10/03/2026

🌍 Exciting news for global health innovation.

The World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS) is proud to announce the expansion of WHIS USA into Illinois and Chicago, strengthening our commitment to international collaboration around prevention, community wellbeing, and inclusive health systems.

This next chapter will be led by Dr. Patricia Welch Saleeby, a globally respected expert in disability, social work, and health policy. Her work with the World Health Organization on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and her leadership in social work education make her uniquely positioned to help drive impact across communities.
Chicago provides an incredible ecosystem of universities, healthcare leaders, and community organizations. The city continues to attract innovation and investment, consistently ranking among the top U.S. locations for business expansion and global collaboration.

As we expand WHIS in the United States, our focus remains clear:
✔ Prevention and population health
✔ Disability inclusion and social innovation
✔ Connecting research, policy, and real-world impact
✔ Building partnerships that improve health and wellbeing

“Expanding WHIS into Illinois and Chicago strengthens global collaboration around prevention, community wellbeing, and inclusive health systems. With Dr. Saleeby’s leadership, we can connect innovation with real community impact.” Gareth Presch, CEO, WHIS

This is an exciting moment for WHIS and our growing global community.

Read more about the expansion here:
https://whis.world/f/whis-usa-expands-into-illinois-and-chicago

08/03/2026

WHISTalks arrives in London — and our first conversation is one the city needs to have.

Something is beginning in London. On 2nd April, the WHIS London team is proud to launch WHISTalks — a live online, community-powered platform dedicated to the conversations that matter most to our health, our dignity, and our shared future.

This is not just a platform launch. It is a declaration of intent that London's communities deserve a space where their voices are heard, where difficult truths are spoken with care, and where knowledge is shared not just downward from institutions, but upward from the people who live with the consequences of how healthcare is delivered.

We begin, as any honest conversation must, with a topic that is long overdue: patient safety, dignity, and equity in healthcare.

Find out more: https://whis.world/f/london-its-time-to-talk

Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xRiJrlbiSelVcwRHplJI0uzytUHQmbIMHI7-0xum2GM/preview

WHIS London: https://whis.world/uk-1

World Health Innovation Summit

24/02/2026

🌍 From Carlisle, Cumbria in 2015 to a global health movement today!

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and excited for what’s to come. At World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS) USA, we’re committed to transforming health and wellbeing across the United States through collaboration, prevention, and innovation.
From New York City to Austin, Seattle, and Los Angeles, WHIS USA brings together healthcare professionals, community leaders, tech pioneers, policymakers, businesses, and citizens to co-create sustainable, scalable solutions that reduce health inequalities and empower communities.

Our focus areas:
🔹 Digital Health & Innovation – Leveraging AI and emerging tech to improve access, equity, and outcomes.
🔹 Social Prescribing & Community Care – Advancing community-based solutions that address social determinants of health.
🔹 Sustainable & Climate-Ready Healthcare – Building systems resilient to environmental and economic challenges.
🔹 Inclusive Collaboration – Bridging public, private, and non-profit sectors for meaningful, local impact.

WHIS USA supports the American healthcare ecosystem with holistic, preventative, and people-centred approaches aligned with local, state, and national priorities.

👉 Be part of the movement redefining health innovation, city by city, community by community. Learn more: https://whis.world/usa-1

22/02/2026

🌟 Building a Generation Equipped to Thrive 🌟

Children’s health and wellbeing is the defining public health challenge of our time. Rising rates of anxiety, depression, obesity, and social disconnection are putting immense pressure on families, schools, and health systems worldwide.

WHISKids, part of the World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), is changing the conversation — moving from reactive crisis management to prevention, capability, and resilience-building.

💬 Real impact from children who’ve participated:

“I have learnt that I could control my emotions. WHISKids helped me see that.” – Boy, Age 9

“To be more aware of people around me. Work together. I have enjoyed everything.” – Girl, Age 8

Pilot programmes in Cumbria reached over 2,000 children and WHIS Kids demonstrated a Social Return on Investment of £7.50 for every £1 invested — proving prevention works both socially and economically.

WHISKids is adaptive, evidence-led, and scalable, aligning with global standards like ISO 25553 and creating smarter, healthier communities for the next generation.

🚀 We are calling on partners, funders, councils, governments, public health organisations, schools, and businesses to get involved.

📩 Contact us: [email protected] | [email protected]

Learn more: WHISKids Policy Document – A Preventative Model for Lifelong Wellbeing https://whis.world/f/whiskids-building-a-generation-equipped-to-thrive

Prevention. Community. Capability.

21/02/2026

📢 We’re Live — Join the World Health Innovation Summit WhatsApp Channel! @
We’re excited to launch the official World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS) WhatsApp Channel — your direct connection to global health and wellbeing innovation.

By joining, you’ll get:
🌍 Global updates on social prescribing initiatives Global Social Prescribing Alliance
📅 Events, summits, and partnership opportunities
🎓 Student movement and leadership news
🤝 Collaboration and funding opportunities
📚 Resources, research, and best practice
🌎 Social Prescribing Day 2026 activities
💡 World Health Innovation Day updates
🏥 World Health Service initiatives
This channel is designed to connect leaders, practitioners, students, and partners working to advance prevention, community health, and health innovation worldwide.
👉 Join us here: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC9R883QxRxqKITwR0X
Please share with colleagues and networks passionate about shaping the future of health and wellbeing.

Address

Carlisle
CA25XW

Website

http://www.whis.world/

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