We would love to see you there online or in person. If you are unable to attend on the day, we have heard from the organisers that a recording will be available if you have signed up for a pass.

The workshops are in collaboration with key contributors to the field of mindfulness in education: 

(Left to right)

• Richard Burnett (Co-Founder of MiSP)
• Esther Ghey (Director of Peace in Mind)
• Faiy Rushton (Education Training and Development Manager for MiSP)
• Sarah Silverton (Director of The Present Courses CIC)
• Emily Slater (CEO of MiSP) 
• Jason Steele (Founder and CEO of Raise the Youth)
• Professor Katherine Weare

Plus a chance to hear from the children and young people who are benefitting.

We are excited to be sharing:

• The latest research overview from Professor Katherine Weare

• Insights from children and young people themselves

• An overview of lessons learnt in the development of school-based mindfulness

• MiSP’s new framework for educational communities offering diverse entry points and a range of paths to introduce and sustain mindfulness in your settings and intentionally develop a whole school culture that embodies the values, qualities and attitudes of mindfulness.

• Esther Ghey will be joining us with reflections on her recent inspirational work, to fund the mindfulness training of a teacher in every school in her late daughter Brianna’s home town of Warrington, as well as raise awareness of mindfulness with media and decision makers. 

Plus:

• Experience tasters of MiSP’s newest curriculum for 3-6 year olds and The Present for Schools, with an opportunity to hear directly from The Present Director and curriculum author, Sarah Silverton, as part of sharing a new official collaboration between the two organisations.  

We would love to see you there!

Until now, International Conference on Mindfulness (ICM) conference organisers needed people to commit to all 5 days. However, there is now the option to attend the MiSP-facilitated day only, either via livestream (£50) or in person (£100).  Please note your ticket can be used for one of three workshops that day and “Mindfulness for Future Generations'”is the MiSP-facilitated one to select.

TUESDAY 6th August 2024, 9am for 9.30am-5pm (UK time)

The post Join us at the International Conference on Mindfulness 2024 appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

An introduction to The Present for Schools and our collaboration

with Sarah Silverton & Faiy Rushton

Monday 8th July 2024 – 7pm to 8pm (UK time)

What to expect?

As part of the MiSP Speaker Series for 2023/24 and to celebrate our new collaboration, you are warmly invited to hear Sarah Silverton, Director of The Present CIC, and our Education & Training Development Manager, Faiy Rushton, discuss The Present for Schools approach and how it works with the MiSP curricula.

As a highly influential international figure in the field of mindfulness, we are thrilled and honoured that Sarah (see full biography below) will be sharing the principles and opportunities of The Present Approach and and how it might complement the MiSP curricula. She will also be discussing the collaboration with MiSP and the potential benefits both organisations feel this will bring to the field of educational mindfulness.

There will also be an opportunity for Sarah and Faiy to answer questions. If you personally have a question for Sarah or Faiy, please email support@mindfulnessinschools.org one week before the event (i.e. by 1st July 2024). We will try to ask as many of these as possible during the session.

This session is set to provide thought provoking reflections from one of the leaders in the field. It will be a chance to come together as a (global) community, including warmly welcoming any familiar and newer faces!

Who is invited?

The webinar is open to ALL so please do invite colleagues and friends.

We are very grateful to Sarah for donating her time to support this MiSP fundraising Speaker Series.

The post Speaker Event appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

A perspective from Professor Katherine Weare

22nd November 2023 – 7pm to 8pm UK time

Watch the recording of this event here.

What to expect?

We are thrilled and honoured that Professor Katherine Weare will be sharing what for her have been key learnings for mindfulness in schools over the years and what the future may hold…

There will also be an opportunity for Katherine to answer questions.  If you personally have a question for Katherine, please email support@mindfulnessinschools.org one week before the event (i.e. by 15th November). We will try to ask as many of these as possible during the session.

This session is set to provide thought provoking reflections from one of the most informed and preeminent mindfulness in schools experts. It will be a chance to come together as a (global) community, including warmly welcoming any familiar and newer faces!

Who is invited?

The webinar is open to ALL so please do invite colleagues and friends.

We are very grateful to Katherine for donating her time to support this MiSP fundraising Speaker Series.

The post Speaker Event 22nd November 2023 appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

20th September 2023 – 7pm to 8pm UK time

Watch the recording of this event here.

For the first time since the inception of Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) in 2009, we invite Chris Cullen and Richard Burnett, MiSP’s co-founders to share those early days – what gave them the idea to set up MiSP, where their personal mindfulness journey started from and where has it taken them to this point…

The post Speaker Event 20th September 2023 appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

Our theme ‘Including All’ was chosen to reflect conversations that have been going on in communities across the world, and it was wonderful to hear the thought leadership and lived experience from the practitioners, teachers and academics who generously gave us their expertise and their time.

Here are some of the recurring themes that our speakers brought to the day:

Ubuntu: ‘I am, because we are’ – we are all connected

There was a real emphasis on the interconnectedness that we have as individual human beings, with each other and our environment. We exist in relationship with each other within communal, social frameworks that we can effect and impact, and which effect and impact us.

Inclusion is a process

Inclusion is not a one-time activity that we ‘do’ and ‘complete’. It is a process over time which encourages continual collaboration and the development and expansion of relationships, and we can all promote inclusion.

I am an agent of change

We were invited to reflect on what it is in an environment that makes us feel welcome, included and able to thrive? What is the ‘flavour’ of inclusion, and how might we create this in our schools? What one thing can I do, however small, to support and foster a community of inclusion? And within this, what are my own biases and assumptions? The practice of mindfulness helps us identify and come to terms with our own cultural backgrounds and experiences.

Walk gently with others to go further

And then, how can I work with others to support them becoming a better friend to themselves for the good of our whole community? When we emphasise our common humanity, we can normalise diverse experience and reduce self-criticism, shame, fear and prejudice, and help promote inclusion. We can bring kindness and compassion to that work to have more impact on our journey.

Identify barriers to participation

Inclusion is concerned with the identification and removal of contextual barriers to participation. By adopting a ‘quizzical social mindfulness’ we may become more aware of our own social conditioning and preferences, and be better able to see social and political norms that create and preserve exclusive monocultures. Let’s notice and interrupt dominant powers that lead to suffering.…

Create safe spaces for dialogue

By creating spaces where we can really engage in dialogue with each other. When we successfully encourage individuals to participate and engage, where their voices are valued, heard and included, we can develop authentic relationships with the young people and adults in our schools.

Co-learning through co-creation

Let’s also recognise that we must learn too. Adults in schools can, and must, also learn from their students. This can be achieved by co-creating lessons, activities, and being in dialogue with children and young people to develop a unifying language and to connect with all members of the community.

Bridging the gaps between people and cultures

Mindfulness can help us move from ‘me’ to ‘we’, bridging social differences and creating alliances and shared experiences. It sits outside differences of religion, class, gender, sexual preferences and other social divides as a tool, accessible to all people from all backgrounds and traditions.

Release from the powers of habit and conditioning

Mindfulness brings ancient wisdom that enables us to become aware of our habits and our conditioning, and release us from the power they have over us. This enables us to promote and protect the value and dignity of each individual.

Conference slides and videos will be available for free for all Hub members.

Join us at our Guest Workshops to hear more from some of our speakers.

The post Themes from our 2021 Conference appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

The session was delivered by Catharine Driver,  an independent consultant and trainer for EAL with over 30 years’ experience teaching pupils with English as an additional language, speaking on behalf of NALDIC.  This was an fascinating and informative introduction to the issues children and young people with EAL face, and the practical support that schools can provide. Here are some overview notes from the session:

What is EAL?

Who are EAL learners?

Initial Assessments

Acquiring Proficiency

Further information

We are very grateful to our supporters Towergate and The Education Broker, whose support enables us to provide these sessions for free, and who are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of young people and staff in the education sector. Please visit their websites to learn more about what they do or call on 01438 739626 to discuss your insurance, risk management and health and wellbeing requirements.

If you are a member of our Hub you can view the recording of this webinar.

Not a Hub Member? Find out about the benefits of membership.

We hope that you can join us at the next webinar in this series.

The post Strategies to Support English as an Additional Language in Schools appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

On Wednesday 18^th November 2020 we hosted the first of our ‘Inviting the Experts…’ series of webinars. This is a series of CPD sessions which we have set up recognising the incredible work that is going on in schools right now in particularly challenging circumstances and the need for school staff to have access to informative, practical advice from experts.

The session was delivered by the charity Winston’s Wish, the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity, which has been supporting bereaved children and young people since 1992. Winston’s Wish leads the way in providing specialist child bereavement support services across the UK, including providing expert support for teachers and school professionals who are supporting a bereaved pupil. Associate Director Suzannah Phillips provided us with a huge amount of really excellent information and guidance about supporting a child or young person who is dealing with the death of a loved one or a member of their community. Here are some key items from the session:

UK Statistics

Impact of bereavement on children

What do bereaved children need?

How you can help

Practical arrangements

When to seek further support

More Information

We are very grateful to our supporters Towergate and The Education Broker, whose support enables us to provide these sessions for free, and who are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of young people and staff in the education sector. Please visit their websites to learn more about what they do or call on 01438 739626 to discuss your insurance, risk management and health and wellbeing requirements.

If you are a member of our Hub you can view the recording of this webinar.

Not a Hub Member? Find out about the benefits of membership.

We hope that you can join us at the next webinar in this series.

The post Childhood Bereavement – Supporting CYP in Schools appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

Last Saturday I had the honour of making some closing remarks at our Teaching Mindfully conference. It is an interesting time to be leading a charity, with some significant challenges, and speaking at our conference gave me the opportunity to reflect on the times we find ourselves in, and what it might mean for our young mindfulness charity.

The opportunity for very mindful review.

There is no doubt that the global health pandemic has been devastating, bringing great tragedy and suffering across society. But by disrupting our usual routines, our expectations, our plans, the pandemic has also brought the opportunity for very mindful review, for both individuals and organisations: What is going on? What is important? What should we do? And, for me, the Black Lives Matter campaign has also asked these questions of our organisation. What habits do we have? How can we skilfully respond to our situation?

MiSP needs to be inclusive and accessible…

As an organisation founded on the values of mindfulness, we try to have integrity and be authentic, taking care in what we do and how we do it. We aim to be kind, to foster a sense of community and to remain curious, so that we are ‘being a charity’ mindfully. But as a charity we also need to be inclusive, accessible, relevant and to role-model our values.

So I think we should be doing more to reflect and include the children we want to reach. We need to engage with and learn from BAME colleagues, colleagues who work in areas of high deprivation, and also male colleagues working in schools – so that we can make what we do more accessible and more inclusive, reflecting everyone involved in the education system.

Relevant to both today’s world and tomorrow’s world…

And in order for mindfulness in schools to be relevant to both today’s world and tomorrow’s world, MiSP needs to collaborate even more widely with other experts working in and alongside the education sector. There is evidence and experience from specific experts in trauma, in behaviour, in the science of learning, in technology and in the world of work that we can build upon to ensure that our materials, training and services remain relevant and as beneficial as possible to our community.

Applying the values of mindfulness in our world today…

In addition, as a mindful charity I think we need to talk more about our values and how they might be applied in today’s world. Because for me, mindfulness does not mean inaction, or passivity or acceptance of things that are wrong. The mindfulness values of curiosity, non-judgement, compassion and kindness provide a framework against which to assess what is in front of us and, crucially, offers us choice to skilfully respond. As an organisation leading mindfulness in schools, I think it’s important for us to set out how we can apply the values of mindfulness in our world today, and what we should do with the choice that a mindful approach brings us.

By building connections.

And finally, we will develop and strengthen MiSP by building human connections that enable us to grow and flourish. It is our relationships with others that sustain and inspire us, both as individuals and within our organisation, enabling us to do what we can, now, and allowing us to dream what we might do tomorrow. I hope that delegates at our conference on Saturday got a sense of the possibility that comes from strong, mindful relationships. This will be the theme that guides our charity’s activities over the coming months, and I am grateful for the strength and support that the wonderful community of MiSP educators provides.

The post Being a mindful charity: why it is a good time to reflect on our values appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

Punctuating the day with some short mindfulness practices, we also had the chance to chat with others and listen to messages from some of the children and young people we have taught, fostering a warm sense of community and mutual support.

You will be able to access videos of the event in due course – but in summary there were some very clear recurring themes which were touched upon time and time again:

You make a difference.

A single individual can bring transformative change to the school environment by role modelling mindful presence, compassion and kindness. Our speakers agreed that it is ‘how you are’ that makes a (and often the) significant difference to your colleagues, your pupils, your parents and the wider community. Whilst you may not feel mighty, as a small part of a big (broken) education system, you can make a genuine difference to those around you. Start with yourself and be the change you want to see.

Authenticity is more important than speed.

Authenticity is crucial to teaching mindfully and to developing a mindful school. People (especially young people) can spot fakes! That is why there is no ‘quick fix’ to introducing mindfulness in schools. Our case studies speakers agreed that it is consistent, day-in-day-out authenticity that demonstrates the benefits of mindfulness to others ; this really is ‘teaching mindfully’ where others learn from how you are with them. So be prepared for a long haul: it is a marathon, not a sprint. Cultural change takes time to properly implement because it needs to be role modelled to be learnt. And it’s okay if some people aren’t keen to get on board: don’t force it, don’t ‘oversell’ and don’t expect everyone to want to be involved. Your school’s mindful journey will take several years to really embed, but keep going, and keep it real. Teaching mindfully will have ripple effects that can make a huge difference over time!

It’s relationships that matter in education.

Teaching mindfully is about being able to build authentic connections and trusting relationships with others, forming a strong foundation for learning. Teaching mindfully enables individuals in schools to listen without judgement, to respond more openly and kindly and to share a vocabulary about human experience. Mindfulness can therefore bring richer connections within schools which can be transformative for everyone involved. And when we asked our delegates why they wanted to teach or work with young people, and how working with young people nourished them, it was relationships that were the consistent theme to their answers. Here’s just a small selection:

“I am making a difference”

“To show love and grow self belief”

“They make me smile”

“Seeing the ‘ lightbulb’ moment”

“so they can be the best they can be whatever that may be.”

“To feel I am there to listen, in a way I was not listened to”

“helping holding their hand in any situation…”

“I want to teach because I love the relationships I develop with children and their families. It nourishes me because I feel my own life has value by giving to others.”

“they spark joy”

“The giggles of joy”

“Being lifted up, seeing the joy in my pupils eyes when they connect and learn things.”

“to believe in them”

“It’s fun!”

“Their enthusiasm is contagious”

If you missed our Conference there’s still a chance to catch up by purchasing access to the recorded version here, which will allow you to access the videos when they are ready.

The post Recurring themes from our Teaching Mindfully conference appeared first on Mindfulness in Schools Project.

Originally planned as a face-to-face event in London, we are moving our conference online to ensure as many people as possible will be able to attend and to protect the health of all delegates and speakers.

It will be a wonderful day where you can listen to our inspirational speakers, hear case studies from teachers in a variety of  settings as well as take part in some short mindfulness practices. Timetabled to include frequent breaks from your screen, we hope that this event will be a rich experience for our community and an exciting opportunity to hear from some of the field’s thought leaders and champions.

All proceeds will fund Mindfulness in Schools Project’s charitable work and tickets are available at the following prices:

• General Admission £25
• Hub Member £15
• Student £10

Buy your ticket now! Speakers already announced include:

Richard Burnett

Richard is co-founder of Mindfulness in Schools Project and co-wrote .b, MiSP’s flagship mindfulness course designed to engage adolescents in the classroom.

Richard is a teacher at Tonbridge School, the first school in the UK to put mindfulness on the curriculum, an event covered broadly by the media in 2010. Since then he has taught mindfulness to well over a thousand adolescents – in classrooms, science labs, libraries, theatres, carparks and fields, and at virtually every time of day.

Richard’s TEDx talk helped define the landscape of mindfulness in education and he was an expert witness at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness. He has appeared regularly at conferences, on TV, on radio and in the national and local press to make the case for mindfulness in education.

Having spoken to hundreds of teachers across the educational landscape about the challenges of implementation in schools, Richard will share a sometimes provocative top 5 list of insights for anybody who teaches or wants to teach mindfulness in schools.

Katherine Weare

Katherine Weare is Emeritus Professor at the University of Southampton and Honorary Visiting Professor at University of Exeter. Katherine is known internationally for her work on mental health and wellbeing and social and emotional learning, most recently focusing on mindfulness and compassion based approaches in education. She has published widely, engaged in cutting edge research projects and reviews of the evidence base for the field, advised the UK government, EU and WHO, and developed practical strategies across most European countries.

Katherine’s talk at our 2020 Conference will explore the lived experience of teachers who have allowed mindfulness into their lives, their classrooms and schools and discovered its profound and transformative effects, including on the very essence of what matters to them, their role, and their relationships. She will suggest that this experience may help show us the way to build on the current, and very useful, model of mindfulness as ‘an evidence based intervention’ and a ‘helpful tool’ to develop its radical capacity to cultivate presence, wisdom, compassion and ethics and to place these qualities at the heart of everything we do, and are, both as teachers and as concerned members of a society in crisis.

Katherine was a lead player in the influential Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme in the UK, and in the European Network of Healthy Schools, helping cultivate holistic and empathic approaches in education which put social and emotional learning and wellbeing at the heart of the educational process, for students and staff. She has been an advisor to Mindfulness in Schools Project since its outset, and was a co-author on an influential research paper that helped pave the way for the major Myriad project. Her recent book, co-written with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh Happy Teachers Change The World: A Guide to Cultivating Mindfulness in Education has been translated into five languages and is widely used in schools and universities across the world. She is has recently been appointed co-lead for Education Policy for the UK Mindfulness Initiative and is also Principle Investigator with Mind and Life Europe developing a new Community of Contemplative Education in Europe.

Adrian Bethune

Adrian is a part-time teacher at a primary school in Hertfordshire and delivers wellbeing-focused training in schools across Europe through his organisation www.teachappy.co.uk.

In 2012, Adrian was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal by Lord Richard Layard at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. In 2015, he was invited to speak at the Action For Happiness event, Creating A Happier World, on stage with the Dalai Lama.

Adrian is author of the award-winning, Wellbeing In The Primary Classroom – A Practical Guide To Teaching Happiness (Bloomsbury, 2018). He writes regularly for the TES and has contributed to several other books including Global Perspectives in Positive Education (John Catt, 2018), Children and Young People’s Mental Health Today (Pavilion, 2019), and Just Great Teaching (Bloomsbury, 2018).

At our 2020 conference, Adrian will address the question: ‘Could mindfulness be the key to changing the education system?’

Kevin Hawkins & Amy Burke

Kevin has worked with adolescents and young people in various contexts for over 30 years – as teacher, school head, and social worker in the UK, Africa, and Europe. He currently lives in Valencia, Spain and was previously in the Czech Republic where for 10 years he was Middle School Principal at the International School of Prague.

Kevin trained in mindfulness in Europe and the USA with Mark Williams (Oxford Mindfulness Centre), Jon Kabat-Zinn, Saki Santorelli and Florence Meleo-Meyer (UMass Medical School, Centre for Mindfulness), and with Dr. Amy Saltzman (Still Quiet Place) and he has taught mindfulness to students, teachers and parents since 2008. In 2012 Kevin co-founded MindWell, (mindwell-education.com) which supports educational communities around the world in developing wellbeing through mindfulness and social-emotional learning.

Kevin is a Senior Trainer for Mindfulness in Schools Project and a facilitator of the evidence-based CARE program (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Educators). He has also worked as a coach/mentor to school leaders and was lead consultant to the International Baccalaureate Organisation on SEL and mindfulness in 2015. Kevin is a regular speaker, writer and presenter on the topics of wellbeing, leadership, mindfulness and social and emotional learning in education. Kevin’s first book, Mindful Teacher, Mindful School: Improving wellbeing in teaching and learning, was published by SAGE in July 2017. He is currently working on a second book, also for SAGE/Corwin with Amy Burke which will be published in early 2021.

Amy is an educational consultant who spent 15 years as a high school teacher and guidance counsellor in Canada and The Netherlands. She holds a Masters Degree in Contemplative Education from Naropa University and in 2012 she co-founded MindWell (mindwell-education.com) whose aim is to support educational communities in fostering wellbeing through mindfulness and social-emotional learning.

Amy is a lead teacher trainer for Mindfulness in Schools Project and has completed curriculum training with Gina Biegel (MBSR-T) and Dr. Amy Saltzman (Still Quiet Place). Amy is also a facilitator for the CARE program (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Educators) from the Garrison Institute and supports the Community of Contemplative Education through Mind & Life Europe. She is also a Mentor for Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (iBme, UK) teen retreats. Amy works internationally in schools and universities providing workshops and retreats for educators, students and parents with a focus on self-care and stress management.

At our Conference Kevin and Amy will explore how ‘Being Mindful’ naturally leads us to ‘Teaching Mindfully’ and how we can nurture this ability to bring mindful awareness into our lives and our work. Drawing on research from social neuroscience and its implications for educators, they will focus on three areas of:

1. Slowing down
2. Optimizing the learning environment
3. Impacting individual students

By reminding us of the power and value of teachers and teaching they will point to the deeper changes that mindful approaches to learning help foster in our schools: A shift in the focus of education that can help develop students who are more aware, more reflective and more able to take care of themselves, each other and the planet.

We will be announcing additional speakers over the next few weeks.

Click to Buy Tickets

We very much look forward to seeing you there!

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