Supporting staff through mindfulness and compassion training
Added: 09/01/2024
Leeds Mindfulness Cooperative CIC
Mindfulness for staff– supporting staff through mindfulness and compassion training.
Leeds Mindfulness Cooperative CIC work in community settings to meet the needs of diverse marginalized groups. We often work with people living with social disadvantage, experience of marginalisation, chronic health conditions and long-term mental health difficulties.
We are starting the year by offering a new fully funded mindfulness for stress course to Third and Public sector workers who are working to address mental health inequalities in people from minority ethnic communities. We want to recognise and support the invaluable work amidst great challenge that staff and volunteers do.
We know that at this time we live in a racialized world and that whilst many of us experience a range of difficult experiences, the way we arrive at those challenges can look very different depending on our ethnicities. In our work we strive to acknowledge the distinct differences in our life experiences including those that are a function of our racial identities.
We are offering a free, in-person 8-week mindfulness for stress course, based on the Breathworks mindfulness program which we will adapt to the specific needs of the group eg living with co-occurring pain, fatigue, chronic physical health needs. We will respond to cultural diversity and recognise the complex stressors that impact mental health including racism, sexism, homophobia, and poverty.
Sessions are from 10:30am-1pm The course begins on 14th May and takes place at the Reginald centre. To reserve a place complete this booking form. Booking is essential.
We particularly welcome and prioritize bookings from people who are from, or who work to support mental health with, people from ethnically diverse communities. Volunteer staff are also welcome to apply.
Our work is person-centred and develops embodied skills, it is learning based, delivered in a trauma-sensitive way that creates a sense of connection and warmth. This approach invites participants to learn new skills and to listen to their body, thoughts and feelings. We introduce mindfulness through simple practices to help develop these skills. These include a combination of short meditations, group discussions, mindfulness activities (including mindful movement) and compassion-based practices along with ideas from CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy such as the 3-emotion regulation system.
This is a great opportunity to support personal wellbeing as well as a chance for some high quality CPD for those who would like to know more about how mindfulness can help support mental health. Participation in a course taught by accredited teachers such as this one is a prerequisite for accredited mindfulness training programs.
Here are some comments from last years course to show how valuable people found it:
“This has been a very far-reaching experience for me personally and professionally. It has given me a range of tools and models of thinking that will help me to connect developed provision for others but more importantly it has developed my own mindset and self-perspective.”
“I have gained skills and understanding which I can pass on to others, it was easy to learn and understand, very well delivered.”
“I had struggled with burnout at work. This course has greatly helped me to modulate my stress levels. It has decreased my anxiety and depression.”
“The course has been invaluable in helping me to deal with chronic pain. I have had an injury to my pelvis since childbirth 13 years ago and this course has helped me to accept the pain and reduce the tension in my body that can make it feel worse. The eight weeks have greatly reduced my overthinking.”
“This course is amazing! it helps you see and process the world in a calm, peaceful and caring way I can’t recommend it enough.”
100% of participants on the 2023 Addressing Mental Health Inequalities in minority ethnic groups staff course, said their mental health and well-being had improved.
Leeds Mindfulness Co-op are grateful to be able to offer this course as part of a city-wide project to address mental health inequalities in minority ethnic groups, funded by Leeds Community Foundation, Leeds City Council and the NHS.
Visit our website here to find out about a range of fully funded community courses across Leeds.
