How Happyish began
Happyish grew out of my own experience of trying to return to work and reconnect with the world after lockdown.
Like many people, I found the aftermath of the pandemic unexpectedly difficult. Living alone, I became increasingly isolated, and over the past five years I've repeatedly struggled to return to work and social situations, developing social anxiety that I still experience today. At times, it felt as though something in my brain had simply gone offline. Things that once came naturally suddenly required far more effort.
During this period, I established AIGENCY LTD to help businesses integrate AI, digital tools and automated systems. But I realised business-to-business work wasn't where my heart was. I wanted to use my experience and technical knowledge to help individuals facing similar difficulties, including isolation, loss of confidence and digital exclusion.
That led me to rename the company HAPPYISH LTD and begin its transition to a Community Interest Company (CIC).
Recovery, connection and a way forward
As well as this, I have 25+ years in 12-step recovery, an experience that has shaped my understanding of confidence, trust, trauma and human connection. I'm also what I'd celebrate as being, neurospicy, and appreciate that people think, learn and communicate differently.
I asscosciate closely with psychotherapists and counsellors in a professional capacity and am currently undertaking a nine-week safeguarding course.
Happyish takes an informal, trauma-informed approach, grounded in safety, trust, choice and collaboration. There's no pressure to share personal histories or explain circumstances. People are free to ask questions, learn at their own pace and say when something isn't working.
Why Happyish?
Technology and AI have helped me organise my thoughts, rebuild confidence and find new possibilities. But technology alone isn't the answer. Having someone alongside you who listens and works with you, rather than telling you what to do, can make an enormous difference.
Happyish offers free, one-to-one mentoring to help people overcome digital exclusion, develop digital skills and confidence, and explore everyday technology and AI tools. We start with the individual and what would genuinely help them.
The experience I bring
I'm a designer with a background in electronics, technology and human–computer interaction. I completed two years of undergraduate study in Applied Psychology and Computing and went on to complete an MA in Sound Design for the Moving Image.
My work spans creative and technical disciplines, with a longstanding interest in how people interact with technology and how it can improve everyday life.
There's a saying from recovery that has stayed with me:
“We keep what we have by giving it away.”
That's the philosophy behind Happyish: using what I've learnt, personally and professionally, to help others find their own way forward.
Happyish is currently operated by HAPPYISH LTD, with its transition to a Community Interest Company (CIC) underway.