Mark Swift is the Founder and CEO of Wellbeing Enterprises CIC, a social enterprise established in 2005 to tackle the social determinants of health and empower communities to shape better futures. Over two decades, he has led pioneering work in community-centred health, social prescribing, and place-based prevention, supporting tens of thousands of people, strengthening local infrastructure, and informing policy at both local and national levels.
Mark’s work is grounded in the belief that social justice, wellbeing, and climate action are interconnected and must be addressed collectively. He leads initiatives that bring together communities, public services, universities, anchor institutions, and grassroots innovators to co-create solutions that enable healthier, more connected, and purposeful lives. Key examples include WE Connect, a large-scale social prescribing programme in Halton, and the emerging Liverpool City Region Imaginarium, which fosters civic imagination, participatory system change, and co-developed social innovations.
Alongside practice, Mark contributes to research and policy as a Local Policy Innovation Partnership Fellow at the University of Birmingham and a Fellow at the Heseltine Institute, exploring how community power and civic imagination can reshape systems for equity and justice.
He emphasises relational practice, dignity, and integrity as central ethical principles, believing that sustainable change depends on strong relationships, mutual trust, and transparent, equitable processes. His approach combines participatory design, cross-sector collaboration, and reflective, long-term strategies to embed justice and wellbeing at the heart of communities.
Through the Practice-Builders’ Network, Mark aims to share practical insights from his experience in community-led health and social innovation, contribute to cross-sector learning, and collaborate with peers committed to creating joined-up, sustainable, and socially just futures.