A NEW course in happiness has been launched for churches and workplaces by the UK's largest Christian disability charity, Livability.

The course, which is open to all, was sold out when it ran its first training day last weekend. It has so far been run in about 60 churches and workplaces, and is now being extended across the country.

Katharine Welby, Livability's community mission co-ordinator, spoke on Tuesday of a "great hunger for happiness in society today. So often we look for it in our jobs, money, appearance, etc. The media can teach us that this is the way to happiness, but statistics show that depression is the second most disabling illness in the world now.

"We have had people interested in running it in schools, hospitals, churches, work places, and have ourselves run it in offices during the lunch-break, and in churches, for both those who attend the church and the wider community."

"It does not have explicit Christian content, and is therefore great to do with those who perhaps come to your foodbank, or who you meet as a street pastor. Everyone wants to be happy."

The course was written by Andy Parnham, a church leader from London, who worked previously as a doctor. It says it will address "the meaning of happiness, forgiveness, gratitude, relationships, and success".

www.livability.org.uk