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If Being Well Placed has inspired you to help shape a healthier future for yourself and future generations, there are plenty of ways to get involved!
Photograph courtesy of the Grainger Market.
Markets like Grainger Market, with their deep roots and rich history, are not just places to shop—they are the beating hearts of the community. They offer more than fresh produce and local goods; they are where stories are shared, relationships are formed, and ideas come to life. Being Well Place, located at the heart of Grainger Market, builds on this legacy by giving people a new way to connect—not just with each other, but now with their own health and well-being.
Markets: The Soul of the Community
For generations, markets have been where communities come together. They provide a space where people of all ages and backgrounds meet, talk, and support each other. This is why Grainger Market, with its 185-year history, is the perfect home for Being Well Place. It’s a place where people feel comfortable, where trust is built, and where health can become a shared community goal.
Nic Palmarini, Director of NICA, highlights this unique opportunity: “We believe in reversing the way research is traditionally done. Instead of keeping innovation locked away in labs, we are bringing it to the heart of where people live and gather. By placing Being Well Place in Grainger Market, we are giving people direct access to the tools, advice, and innovations they need to live longer, healthier lives—and doing it in a setting that’s familiar and welcoming.”
Photograph courtesy of the Grainger Market.
Community-Driven Innovation
What sets Being Well Place apart is its emphasis on community-driven solutions. The hub is not just a place to receive healthcare advice, but a space where people can contribute to and shape the future of health innovation. Through initiatives like the Young@Heart clinic, locals can engage with Newcastle University’s pharmacy students, receive health screenings, and share their thoughts on what their community needs to thrive.
Professor Lynne Corner, co-founder and Director of Voice (our global community of real people co-innovators) and COO at NICA, stresses the importance of listening to the community. “People know what they need to stay healthier and happier for longer. By bringing them into the conversation, we can make sure that the innovations we develop are truly aligned with their lives and aspirations.”
This is where markets play a special role. In a place like Grainger Market, where people naturally come together, it’s easy to start conversations. It’s easy to share stories about health challenges, hopes, and ideas for a better future. And it’s easy to feel connected to a larger community that cares about everyone’s well-being.
Photographs courtesy of the Grainger Market.
A Shared Responsibility for Wellbeing
One of the most powerful aspects of Being Well Place is how it encourages people to think not just about their own health, but about the health of others and the world around them. By using tools like the Community Toolbox, locals can learn about smart technologies that monitor personal and environmental well-being. These tools are freely available, helping individuals take control of their health while also fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the well-being of the entire community.
Dr. Jennine Jonczyk, Programme Lead at the NICA’s Internet of Caring Things® progamme at the heart of the Being Well Place sees this as a critical step forward. “We are thrilled to create a space where the community can explore how staying well isn’t just an individual goal, but something we can all contribute to. Whether it’s through technology, shared experiences, or simply having a conversation, Being Well Place is about building a network of care within the market and beyond.”
Photographs courtesy of the Grainger Market.
A Future of Health in Our Hands
Markets, with their rich traditions of gathering, sharing, and supporting local life, are perfect places to start these conversations. They provide the human touch that makes complex issues like health and longevity feel approachable. As Grainger Market continues to serve as a hub for commerce, Being Well Place adds a new layer to its role—making it a hub for community-driven health and innovation.
As Professor Hamde Nazar from Newcastle University’s School of Pharmacy explains, “By placing Being Well Place in such a familiar community space, we hope to break down barriers to healthcare, making it easier for people to engage with their own health and that of their Neighbours. It’s about creating an inclusive, welcoming space where health is seen as a shared, collective responsibility.”
Photograph courtesy of the Grainger Market.
A Vision for Collective Longevity
Being Well Place is a bold new step toward democratising longevity, but it’s also deeply rooted in the traditions that make markets so special. It’s about people coming together, not just to live longer lives, but to live better lives—and to help those around them do the same.
By bringing innovation into the heart of the community, this initiative is showing how health can be more than an individual concern. It’s a collective effort, built on relationships, trust, and the shared spaces that connect us all. Markets like Grainger Market have always been places where communities thrive, and now, with Being Well Place, they are leading the way in building healthier futures for everyone.
