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Paper short abstract:

This paper will explore how Tearfund developed its wellbeing framework, the Light Wheel, and how it is being used to inspire churches to be agents of holistic change in their local communities.

Paper long abstract:

Tearfund’s church and community transformation (CCT) approach involves equipping local churches globally to be agents of change in their communities. Their position within the fabric of society means they are often well placed to be part of crisis response and development initiatives. Over the last ten years, Tearfund has developed and rolled out a holistic wellbeing framework, the Light Wheel, which has proven to be an effective tool for inspiring churches to take a multifaceted view of their local community’s needs. When the Light Wheel is used, we see churches not only responding to people’s spiritual and physical needs, but also including less tangible aspects of wellbeing such as social, emotional and environmental factors. The Light Wheel toolkit also includes holistic, participatory data collection tools which enable CCT groups to themselves measure how change is taking place over time.

This paper will discuss the development of the Light Wheel and how it was first informed by the Wellbeing in Developing Countries research (WeD), as well as the lived experiences of communities globally. Case studies will be used to demonstrate the process and benefits of using the Light Wheel, including how it leads to more holistic outcomes and empowers communities to collect and own their data. We will explore how the Light Wheel methodology is now embedded at all levels of Tearfund’s work, from church and community initiatives to rigorous impact studies and strategies, in order to live out a fully holistic understanding of wellbeing across the organisation.