MindfulnessFriday 24th October 2014

• A bit about Now Unlimited• What is meant by the term “mindfulness”?• Benefits of mindfulness• Why might it be relevant to the VCS?• How is mindfulness taught?• Learning opportunities

Session

Now Unlimited

• Social Enterprise• Improving the health, well-being and performance of

individuals, organisations and communities• Undertaking research and sharing the learning• Team of associates and volunteers

Current activity

• Local authorities – stress management, leadership, communications• Unemployed – 6 week programme• General public – adult and community learning and

mentoring• Primary School – 7 week programme for Year 6• Young people- social and emotional learning programme• Carers – emotional resilience programme

What is mindfulness?

• A way to train the mind• Buddhist in origin but now secularised – MBSR and

MBCT• Neuroscience – why it works• Adaptations – mindful eating, mindfulness and

addiction, mindfulness and cancer, mindfulness in schools, mindfulness in business• Cross – party parliamentary group

Benefits of mindfulness

• Improved learning and memory processes, emotion regulation and perspective taking• Improved psychological functions of attention,

compassion and empathy• Calms the stress response• Improves medical conditions• Improves psychological conditions e.g. anxiety

Why might it be relevant to the VCS?

• Improved resilience/ability to manage stress• Heightened emotional intelligence• Improved decision making and strategic thinking

abilities• Heightened ability to focus and enhanced creativity• Helps people to become more engaged• Increased ability to cope with change and uncertainty

How is mindfulness taught?

• Formal practices – body awareness, breathing, being with difficulty, the importance of self-care• Informal practices – adopting a more mindful approach

to everyday tasks• Moving away from autopilot and responding not

reacting• Stopping mind-travelling

Learning and development opportunities

• In house leadership and management development • Incorporating into other programmes• 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme

starting 2nd December• I day Introductions to the Application of Mindfulness• Underpinning coaching and mentoring

For more information

Maureen O’CallaghanT: 07939 845920E: maureen@nowunlimited.co.ukW: www.nowunlimited.co.ukFacebook and Twitter