‘It was a beautiful day, in a perfect setting, bringing hundreds of people together who are all committed to such important work.’
We were delighted to host 631 delegates at our ‘A Million Minds Matter’ conference held in London in April 2019. The event showcased some of the fantastic work going on in schools around the country and we heard from teachers and young people about the impact of mindfulness in their schools and in their own experience.
We had an impressive line-up of speakers who captivated the audience with their insightful and informative talks:
- In an extremely entertaining slot, acclaimed performer Ruby Wax spoke about her own mindfulness journey and why good mental health is so important.
- Caroline Lucas MP put the case for mindfulness in schools to enable a greater appreciation of our environment so that young people are not only motivated to work harder to protect it, but equipped with the strength to confront the true scale of the climate crisis.
- Actor Jerome Flynn gave a highly personal account of mindfulness in his own life and why he supports mindfulness being taught in all schools.
- Our Youth Panel was hosted by Radio One DJ Cel Spellman, who expertly crafted a conversation with a group of young people whose lives mindfulness has changed.
- Vidyamala Burch, founder of Breathworks, presented a highly informative overview of mindfulness field in the context of current mental and physical health issue statistics.
- Founder of Raise the Youth, Jason Steele, described the impact of mindfulness on him and his organisation.
- Dan Edwardes, parkour expert, explained how having an awareness of the body, noticing and managing fear, is vital for all humans who are designed for movement.
- Industry expert Parham Vasaiely presented a strong case for mindfulness as a crucial tool for workers of the future, giving them the right mental tools to flourish, and teaching them agility of mind, in an ever more complex working environment.
- Musician Martha Wright led a wonderful musical practice and explained the work she does in schools using music and mindfulness in the classroom.
- And Emily Brierley, victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack, told the rapt audience about the wonderful work she has been doing to support other victims of terror and to promote mindfulness to other young people.
96% of attendees who completed a post-conference feedback form felt the conference was ‘very positive’ (75%) or ‘somewhat positive’ (21%).
We look forward to welcoming delegates from all backgrounds to our next conference ‘Teaching Mindfully’ :
Saturday, 20 June 2020
The Greycoat Hospital School | Greycoat Place | SW1P 2DY | London | UK
In 2020 we will be coming together for a day of discussion and practice
around the theme of ‘Teaching mindfully’.
Our expert speakers will explore the challenges and rewards of teaching mindfulness to young people in primary schools and secondary schools.
We will be running mindfulness sitting groups throughout the day and providing an opportunity for networking with other teachers in our community to share experiences, and tips for teaching mindfully.