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804 Educators providing ETC courses

Raise Up Business Club (Silke Thistlewood)

raise up business club (silke thistlewood)

Cheshire

I (Silke Thistlewood, that’s me on the left with my 2 girls) set up a local networking group for mums in early 2017 after returning from (self employed) maternity leave and feeling decidedly isolated. I had lost my business mojo, felt pretty lonely, and couldn’t make any of the existing networking meetings (no babies allowed, too early, too late etc) so I decided to start my own. I called it Tonbridge Mums in Business and its facebook group grew to 500 members within just a few weeks (it surpassed 1,000 quite some time ago now). We’ve been having regular meetings ever since and the facebook community has grown from strength to strength, with the Thursday promotional thread having become a thing of legend. You have to see it to believe the amount of local talent! And now RuBC_LogoFinal_White_Rose.png In early 2019 I felt is was time to raise the bar and level up - in my own businesses and for the group. I had for some time been wanting to add more value for members - more structure, support and resources (mailing lists for meeting reminders, access to talks members can’t attend, accountability, goal setting etc). With 2 other businesses to run and young kids to look after this was logistically and financially not possible on a voluntary basis (paying for the yearly website subscription alone made my eyes water…..) so I made the decision to introduce a membership structure and a charge for the meetings. I very much hope that the pricing structure I have decided on reflects the value current members have gained from the group and the meetings, and the fact that most of us are working with small margins and reduced working hours crammed around child care and other responsibilities. To set the group apart from other networking meetings in the area, which are confusingly similar in name, the group has been re-branded and has a new name that I feel embodies what the group and community are - supportive, encouraging, non judgemental, inclusive, friendly and quite frankly, magical. I am blown away at each and every meeting by the friendships and kindness that members show each other. What you can expect Community, support, encouragement, friendship, collaborations, inspiration, education - online and in real life across both communities. Weekly check-ins, accountability prompts in the membership community to keep you on track, inspired and safe in the knowledge that this group of women will always have your back. We also co-work in real life and on zoom, go on walks together, discuss books and have coaching sessions with the one and only Action Woman. A wider community of businesses in the free facebook group with the chance to promote your business each Thursday, as well as getting to know others and forming friendships and a basis for collaborations. Someone will always have an answer to any questions you might have - business or otherwise. Regular networking meetings with expert speakers, mingling and cake and/or wine - and not an elevator pitch in sight (so no need to feel nervous). Easy going networking, without the need to “work the room” or hand out business cards at super sonic speed. Our meetings are informal but effective. Low key but inspirational, educational and supportive. Some kind words from business women in the community “There is always a warm excited, inclusive buzz within the group, with many friendships that have been formed over time and I know that some of us have started either using each other’s products or services – or formed collaborations with each other. It’s like a girls night out every month in Tonbridge! SAM HOGWOOD, ESCAPE FROM THE CITY This group has been very welcoming from my first step into my first meeting. I have found everyone in the group to be friendly and supportive of each other and encouraging of the development of one another's businesses. The facebook group and meetings have allowed for shared knowledge and experience in developing each others businesses. I have made great business links and come into work through the group, both paid and through joint collaborations. I have also made some lovely friends through the group which has been a really lovely added bonus CLAIRE READER, CAPTURE ME HAPPY PHOTOGRAPHY I started my Virtual Assistant business in the middle of last year and I am a regular on the weekly Thursday updates. These updates are great as not only do people learn how your business is growing but you can support and find out about other local businesses on your doorstep. I have not made it to one of the networking events that Silke kindly arranges yet, but I will, and when I do, I am sure it will be even more beneficial to my start up business than the group has been so far. EMMA HAGGART, KENT VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Since setting up my hypnotherapy business in 2018, I've found the support of this talented and diverse group to be wonderful. It's great knowing I am not alone in being new to setting up a business, and coming up against many of the same issues as others in the group. This is so reassuring, and I have really benefited from the shared knowledge, passion and experience of everyone in the group. Meet ups are friendly and dynamic, and the topics very fitting. I've made some good contacts and will always recommend fellow business owners where I can. Thanks to Silke this group has really grown and developed and I look forward to further collaboration this year.

St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School

st wilfrid's catholic primary school

Sheffield

We process personal data to provide public services. Personal data is information about living identifiable individuals. It can be a name, address, contact details, photograph, sound recording; it can be details of someone’s behaviour, lifestyle, physical or mental health needs; it can be a unique number, such as a vehicle registration plate, National Insurance number, etc. We decide what personal data we need and how to use it, so we are a Data Controller and registered as such on the Information Commissioner’s Register of Data Controllers. When we collect personal data, we are required to make sure you are clear what data we need and why, what we intend to do with it, what your individual rights are, and who you can contact for enquiries or concerns about the use of your personal data. This is called a privacy notice and we can do this verbally or in writing. This page is our general privacy notice and we have included specific privacy notices below for the services that process large amounts of personal data, for example council tax, planning, parking, elections, licensing, housing, etc. Why we collect and use personal data We collect and use personal information to: provide, plan and manage our services carry out our regulatory, licensing and enforcement roles carry out any other tasks which we have to do by law make and take payments and grants and spot fraud listen to your ideas about our services tell you about our services evaluate and improve services We might collect your personal data directly from yourself, from someone acting on your behalf, or from another third party. We might collect this data in person, over the telephone, in writing, or captured as an image, audio or film recording. We can only use your personal data if we have a lawful basis for doing so. The lawful basis will be recorded on the Council’s Record of Processing Activity and, where appropriate, on relevant service area privacy notices. If we rely on consent to process your data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. To withdraw consent, either contact the Service that you provided the consent to or contact the information management team. Sharing your information We share personal data internally within the council and also with external third parties so we can carry out our work. Internal sharing might include checking your eligibility for a service (eg free school meals) or keeping accurate records, whereas external sharing might be to ensure you receive the right service (eg social care support). Who we share information with depends on the service we are providing and your circumstances, but may include: healthcare, social and welfare organisations and professionals providers of goods and services financial organisations, including debt collection, tracing and credit referencing agencies elected members local and central government ombudsman and regulatory authorities professional advisors and consultants police forces, other law enforcement and prosecuting authorities voluntary and charitable organisations Disclosure and Barring Service Courts and Tribunals utilities providers When personal data is shared, only the minimum amount is shared and relevant contracts and / or agreements will be in place. Fraud prevention and detection We are required by law to protect the use of public funds and for this reason we share information with internal services and other bodies responsible for auditing or administering of public funds to detect and prevent fraud. This sharing includes, but is not exclusive to the Council’s external auditor, Department for Work and Pensions, other local authorities, HM Revenue and Customs, the Police, credit reference agencies. We also share personal data with the Cabinet Office for the National Fraud Initiative. This is a national data matching exercise, which takes electronic data from the private and public sectors to identify potential fraudulent claims and payments. The Cabinet Office stipulates the data that they need and subsequently provides us with details of the cases where the matching indicates an inconsistency or potential for fraud, so that we can investigate further. This data matching is carried out under the Local Audit and Accountability Act (part 6, Schedule 9) and does not rely on your consent. How long we keep information for This varies depending on the type of information, as well as the legal requirements and reason we are keeping the information. In some instances the law sets the length of time information has to be kept. We also have retention and disposal schedules which give details about how long we need to keep different types of information. Your data rights You have the following rights in regard to your personal information, to: access copies of any records we hold about you have any information we hold about you corrected have any information we hold about you deleted or destroyed restrict how information we hold about you can be used or shared object to information about you being held have any information we hold about you transferred to a third party challenge decisions relating to you made using automated decision making and profiling (currently we have no services that use automated decision making or profiling for decision making) Please note there may be times that we cannot fulfil these rights fully because of legal reasons, for example we cannot delete your data if we still need it. If you want to exercise any of the above rights, please make a subject access request. Make a subject access request Who to contact about the way your personal data is handled If you have any queries, concerns or complaints about the way we process your personal data, including the way we handle information requests, you can contact our Customer Services or the Data Protection Officer. If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are not processing your personal data in accordance with the law you have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Florence Culinary Art School

florence culinary art school

About FCAS Established in 1983, Florence Culinary Arts School (FCAS) is a professional institute with the mission to spread the excellence of Italian cuisine around the world, as well as to inspire international students to reach their full potential and accelerate their career growth. FCAS welcomes students from all over the world. The diverse background of FCAS’s students creates a rich multicultural community that promotes the exchange of ideas and viewpoints. The staff is multilingual and ready to assist overseas students wherever they attend our programs. FCAS offers the best culinary programs such as learning techniques for Italian cuisine cooking in a short period, gaining enough hands-on culinary experience in Italy, getting ready for opening up their own restaurant/cafe/shop, and so on. The school is situated in the very central area of Florence, Italy, an ideal location to enjoy the city. Florence – the capital of Fine Arts – is well known worldwide for its artistic heritage, and its numerous traditional art & craft laboratories, but also in the field of gastronomy it is blessed with a wide variety of ingredients, as Tuscany region is known as the heart of Italian culinary tradition. Tuscan cuisine has developed throughout history as the fusion of aristocratic gourmet food and simple peasant’s dishes. Transmitting the Italian Culture through Culinary Arts Food is one of the fundamental elements of a culture, representing the region’s culture, nature and climate, etc. evolving together with the transformation of the land. Florence is one of the most popular tourists’ destinations, and by taking one step out of the classroom, you will encounter countless foods, from traditional foods to foods of the latest trend. Foods offered to visitors and to city residents, foods offered at friends’ house, ingredients that cannot be found in your own country, and all of these diverse foods will give you hints to know Italian cuisine deeper, and to know Italia itself. Students are encouraged to learn from various experiences, not only to study in the school, but to go out and discover what is out there. Message from the Chief Professor Florence Culinary Arts School (FCAS) was founded in the city of Florence, which is renown as a gourmet city, with the mission of spreading outstanding Italian cuisine cooks all over the world. When I teach the students, I try to give them all the knowledge and techniques I have cultivated until now, so that they can understand the marvelous Italian culture, have curiosity for food, and feel the beauty of each dish realized by the love and pursuit for art. Florence is not only a great place to study culinary art study, but also a great place to stay. You can discover numerous globally recognized restaurants; visit markets full of fresh ingredients, and countless special experiences, and be immersed in the world of Italian cuisine. Let’s take a step forward and learn together the authentic Italian taste I wait for you in Florence! Prof. Francesco Coniglio Share this:

All Silver Clouds Kmf

all silver clouds kmf

Decluttering to Get Organised With an extensive background in Interior Design and Contemporary Art logistics and installations I have a great eye for detail and plenty of solutions for organisation, styling and storage. I aim to create freedom from things and functionality in spaces that have ceased to fulfil potential. This extends to archiving materials such as photographs and documents; decluttering and packing in preparation for a move; unpacking and dressing a new space. My clients may aspire to a goal such as home decluttering with the view to redecorate afterwards. I really enjoy being part of this fresh start and so we can get stuck into the painting and finishing touches together. In the case of a commercial space, this is something I can organise as a service. I have an initial consultation with new clients to assess the job and needs and wants, and then I’ll go away and devise a plan of action. Once you are happy with the plan the exciting new journey begins. Clients may have suffered a bereavement and find it challenging to go through the emotional process of letting go. Other clients may have a tendency towards collecting, or hoarding, and find it challenging to let go due to the relationship between the items and memories. I manage this in my own life and so I have many techniques and fresh ways of re-looking at your objects and what they represent in your life. I will be sensitive and patient. Objects often unlock memories that you need to take the time to process before you let go and I understand that. We are working together towards success in your long-term goals Professional organising and one-to-one coaching are my passions Many clients choose one-to-one coaching. We spend time together focusing specifically on personal goals and ways of achieving them. With most of my clients I aim to introduce movement and light exercise, new hobbies (I teach calligraphy, digital photography, arts and crafts, writing and poetry, easy to follow dance workouts…), dealing with triggers and developing coping mechanisms (relating to conditions such as anxiety), building confidence, tackling difficult social situations and practical advice on areas such as overcoming anxiety before an exam, e.g. driving, job interview techniques, and managing stress. Don’t worry about the light exercise – it is all feel-good factor and nothing to do with training or learning routines. We are going to have fun together. I will make a programme tailored to you and you will be amazed where you can be in four weeks, three months, six months, a year... I have personal experience with PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder and depression. I know these conditions change your life, but they don’t have to limit it. Please do consult your doctor before making changes to your lifestyle. I always follow their advice and medical judgement. If you have any issues with mobility or certain environments (crowded places, loud noises etc.) please do let me know.

Arma Support Services

arma support services

Luton

ARMA is the leading trade association for residential leasehold management. WHAT WE DO ARMA was founded in 1991 to bring together professionals involved in private residential block management. We: Set high standards in residential block management Require our members to meet those standards Provide technical advice and guidance to our members Produce information and advice notes for leaseholders Run training courses on the leasehold system Promote professionalism in property management Campaign for improvements in relevant legislation and policy ARMA’S STANDARDS ARMA members work to high professional standards and must be part of an independent ombudsman scheme. They agree to comply with the RICS ‘Service Charge Residential Management Code’ and to abide by ARMA’s rules of membership. ARMA Accreditation (formerly known as ARMA-Q) is a real milestone for consumer protection in the residential leasehold sector. It is based on standards developed specifically for the leasehold property management sector and independent regulation. All ARMA members now have to comply with the Standards and a Consumer Charter. Find out more about ARMA Accreditation here. ABOUT OUR MEMBERS ARMA represents firms of managing agents. We do not represent individual property managers. Our members range from small family run businesses looking after a few blocks to national companies managing tens of thousands of flats across numerous developments. The types of buildings ARMA members manage can vary enormously in size and style; some are new build tower blocks, some are converted houses and others are purpose built mansion blocks dating back to the Twenties and Thirties. See benefits of becoming a Member here. OUR ASSOCIATES Associates are managing agents that are working towards becoming a Member, but do not yet meet the two-year trading rule, or who may have had their application for accreditation declined. This is a transitory category where maximum periods are set and they will either progress to Member, or if still not qualified to do so after the specified period, will no longer receive Member level benefits. OUR PARTNERS A partner is a company that is not directly involved in the block management of flats but whose services are essential for managing agents. This includes commercial service providers such as accountancy firms, solicitors, insurance, management services, debt collection etc. See benefits of becoming a Partner here ARMA NETWORK ARMA Network members are those not directly involved in the practice of residential block management or those who manages only their own portfolio of residential properties, and who wish to benefit from the technical support of ARMA. This includes developers, freeholders, corporate landlords, and housing associations. See benefits of joining ARMA Network here. RMC AND RTM CO. DIRECTORS RMC/RTM Directors is a membership category open to non-commercial companies involved in the management of Leasehold blocks of flats including Residents Management Companies, Right to Manage Companies and Residents Associations. See benefits of becoming an RMC/ RTM member here.

Harrow Courses

harrow courses

Services for schools The Government’s expectation is that schools and colleges will work towards the Gatsby benchmarks. There are 8 benchmarks which constitute ‘good practice’ in career guidance for schools and colleges, they are: A stable careers programme Learning from career and labour market information Addressing the needs of each student Linking curriculum learning to careers Encounters with employers and employees Experiences of workplaces Encounters with further and higher education Personal guidance. Harrow College is now offering a range of new services to local schools for students in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13. The College offer can be linked to the Gatsby Benchmarks as well as support the school to meet their commitment to the Technical and Further Education Bill's amendment passed in the House of Lords in February 2017 by Lord Baker. We provide support to learners to progress from schools onto further education and apprenticeships. We encourage awareness of the many career opportunities available to young people and the vocational or academic qualification route they may need to take to succeed in their chosen career. College staff can assist and work with schools to: • Provide vocational advice and guidance • Collaborate during Careers Events and Parents’ Evenings • Arrange visits to college for individual learners and/or groups • Organise workshops at the College or in your school for specific subject areas allowing students to get ‘hands on’ experience. Parents Evening and Careers fair - Our staff can attend Parents Evenings, Careers Fairs and Year 11 options evenings in your school, to offer advice and guidance to learners, their parents and guardians. Tour for learners and teachers - Our staff are on hand to offer bespoke tours of the College to your staff, learners and their parents. This often helps learners to get a feel for how studying in a college might be like and we will help you advise your learners appropriately. Taster days - We hold taster days throughout the year to engage learners. Taster days can be a half or full day depending on your school timetable and requirements, and most subject areas are available. Presentation and talks – Our industry experienced staff can come into your school and deliver informative presentations to teachers, learners and their parents/ guardians. We understand time can be an issue so we can also deliver presentations at a time and place that suits you. CPD for teachers - Throughout the year our staff host a range of events for teachers and careers advisers. These events are a great opportunity to visit the College, view facilities and hear from vocational teaching teams on the options available to young people. Our Senior Leadership Team is also available to deliver sessions on new policy developments in education, such as T Levels, Institute of Technology, SEND etc. If you would like further information on how Harrow College can work with your school, please contact Lee Janaway via email on ljanaway@hcuc.harrow.ac.uk

Jfk Educational Consultants

jfk educational consultants

Heathfield

At JFK Institute of Technology and Management (JFK-ITM), we strive to help under graduates, graduates & industry professionals to realize their potential and up-grade their skills through in-house customized training and management development programs taking advantage of state of the art technologies. Everything we do reflects this mission and the values that make it possible. Vision JFK-ITM is strategizing its operations to be a leader in the educational sector by focusing on students' innovation and efficiency to transform them into Human Intellectual Capital (HIC), through our management development programs and to provide career development opportunities to JFK-ITM staff. All of these elements will drive bottom line success and show that JFK-ITM is the only educational Institution which can fill the gap between university graduates' skills level and real life corporate world’s requirements. Our vision also includes collaboration with leading universities of the world for split degree programs and certifications. Values As an institution and individuals we value: To learn and develop new skills. Honesty, objectivity and dedication. Respect for our customers. Respect for time. Passion for technology. Openness to new ideas. Taking big challenges and seeing them through. Self improvement and personal excellence. Passion for quality. Passion for participating in the Nation Building Process. Passion for transforming our youth into HIC. Aim To provide affordable education, training, mentoring and supervision for students and professionals to upgrade their skills. To help fresh graduates to develop themselves into corporate fit executives. To assist fresh graduates to seek admission in foreign universities for higher education. To help research students to upgrade their research skills through our training programs. To mentor and guide under graduates, post graduates & doctorate candidates in successful completion of their thesis. Operational Objectives To help fill the skill gap between fresh university graduates and ever changing requirements of the corporate world through training and development programs. To provide management consultancy services to the corporate sector for process development and process re-engineering. To mentor and guide students to prepare them for various entry tests required for local and foreign universities and professional colleges including GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, SAT-I, SAT-II etc. To help and mentor research students in developing their hypothesis, select research methodologies, develop survey formats, design questionnaires, structure interviews, conduct need assessment, collect data for specific need, develop data entry formats, process data, analyze data, interpret data, draw conclusions, develop research reports. To create common platform between corporate sector and universities for brainstorming regarding academic curriculum development to reduce the gap between what is being taught at universities and what is required by Pakistan Corporate sector. To organize training on various packages including SPSS, Content Anylasis, Statistical Analysis, SQL, ORACLE, SAP, DBMS. To conduct feasibility studies for automization of organizational operations. To conduct Operational Research for big companies to re-engineer their process.

Cambourne Comets

cambourne comets

We are a friendly and approachable DMT and Trampoline club based at Cambourne Fitness and Sports Centre, Cambridgeshire, who welcome bouncers of all ages and abilities from beginners through to National Competitors. We are registered with British Gymnastics through whom all our coaches and committee are trained and are dedicated to providing positive trampolining opportunities for all within Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas. How do we operate: Cambourne Comets is run by a committee of volunteers and we employ a number of coaches up to level 3. We believe in communication and accountability and are fully committed to the welfare of the children bouncing with us. Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To ensure the welfare and safety of our members the Club has adopted in full the British Gymnastics 'Health, Safety and Welfare' policy, Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy and their 'Child protection Policy' We have appointed welfare officers who are fully involved in the running of the club and with whom issues can be raised. What days do we train? Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. We also offer Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) sessions on Thursdays at 5.30 pm and 6.30pm. How much does it cost? Sessions cost £5.50 and run for an hour. You will be invoiced at the beginning of each term. We are happy to allow the payments to be spread over the term but ask all accounts are cleared before the last week of the term. We will assume membership is continuing unless we are emailed to confirm cancellation. Payment is done by bank transfer of which details will be sent with invoice. How are the sessions run? Sessions have either 2 or 3 classes running at the same time and bouncers are allocated a coach to suit their skills and needs. We provide one-to-one coaching to ensure we meet the individual needs of the member. Bouncers will take part in a five minute floor warm up at the start of the session, followed by a warm up on the trampoline bed and then they are all set to train. What should you wear? Suitable sports clothing without buttons, zips, toggles, hoods etc that may get caught on the bed Trampoline shoes or socks are a must. Jewellery, watches, badges and anything else that may catch must be removed. Long hair must be tied back. Club Membership: Regular bouncers will be expected to become members of Cambourne Comets Trampoline Club and British Gymnastics (BG). Fees are payable monthly thereafter preferably by standing order. Recreational club membership costs £45 and includes affliation to Eastern Counties Gymnastic Association (ECGA). Taster sessions: We offer a taster session so that you can "try before you buy" where you can come along and meet the coaches and train with other members. There is no charge for the trial session if you decide not to join the club. Holiday sessions: Holiday sessions are handled on a pay as you go basis and must be booked and paid for in advance.

Roundwood Park School

roundwood park school

Hertfordshire

With Grammar schools in nearby St Albans, that meant that it was in reality a secondary modern school although as its pupils reached school leaving age (15 in those days) it soon became apparent that many wanted to stay on into the fifth year and take ‘O’ levels so that facility was provided. The school opened with three teaching blocks – still recognizable as ‘B’ block, ‘C’ block and the hall, gym etc. where the staff room and offices were. There were three forms, one in each of the second, third and fourth years and three first year forms, making a total of 179 pupils. There were ten teachers including the first head teacher – Mr Arthur Foxwell. The school was organised into four houses – Braille, Campbell, Grenfell and Nightingale – thus providing a competitive element for the popular Sports Day and, from 1961 when the town’s pool was opened, the Swimming Gala. After three years, the school had reached its planned maximum size but often exceeded that over subsequent years due to its increasing popularity with local residents as well as those in Wheathampstead and Redbourn. Now we receive many pupils from the other villages – Markyate, Flamstead and Kimpton. This is partly due to the closure of smaller secondary schools in Redbourn and Wheathampstead so that the ‘economies of scale’ can be taken advantage of, full comprehensive provision within Hertfordshire and also due to parental preference. Mr Foxwell retired in 1976 after 20 years as Headteacher and Mr Turnbull took over for 2 years, being followed by Mr Haydon Luke who stayed for 17 years. Andy Cunningham stayed for 6 years and was replaced by Mr Nick Daymond who also stayed for 6 years until he was succeeded by the current Headteacher, Mr Alan Henshall. At various times in between, the Deputy Heads have held the fort – Mr Lucas, Mr Surtees and Ms Linda Graham – all contributing to the continuity and stability that have been part of the Roundwood ethos. Roundwood21There have been many changes over the past 60 years resulting in upheaval and disruption – increasingly frequent times when the site appeared more like a building site as a new Sixth Form/Modern Foreign Languages block was constructed, soon to be followed by a new Maths/Music building and a Sports Centre. The school is also now an Academy. The changes have not affected the ethos of the school and Roundwood Park remains the same, continuing to educate local children in a caring and supportive way that encourages them to develop their best talents through a broad and balanced curriculum. This article is adapted from the original produced for the 50th celebrations by Ruth Martin & Christine Hood. UPDATE On 13 September 2018 Roundwood Park was proud to officially open a state of the art 3G artificial pitch on the school site. A joint venture with Harpenden Colts FC, and with a £500,000 grant from the Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund, it allowed us to replace the existing grass pitch, which was unsuitable for football during the winter months. The new pitch is used by all students and players from the school as well as Harpenden Colts FC, who operate around 60 teams across eight different training venues. Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust also use the pitch to deliver sessions for female and disabled football, as well as its use for regular summer holiday camps and coach education workshops.

Soulful Vision

soulful vision

SOULFUL VISION was born out of Steve Radley’s journey of healing as a military veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan and is informed by his training as a Priest and a Photographer. Is Mindfulness any good? We read a lot about the benefits of MINDFULNESS but chatting to people I discovered lots of us find it strange and not ‘my sort of thing’. It can feel quite inaccessible with all its talk of focusing on our breathing, letting go of our thinking and centring in the moment. I first came across MINDFULNESS whilst studying psychiatry at King’s College London and there can be no disputing the research – it’s good for us and is an ancient practice modern society has rediscovered. But I know what my people mean – it can feel hard to do because – well let’s face it – we have lots of things competing for our attention and spending time sitting cross legged meditating is not something we have the time or desire to do. Making Mindfulness accessible Through my photography training I realised this art form is an easy way into mindfulness. And this creates a wonderful possibility – we’re all taking pictures on our phones, so rather than teaching something completely new, we can simply adapt something we already do to access the benefits of mindfulness. SOULFUL VISION retreats and workshops take your photography (whether with a smartphone or camera) and help you discover how this can become a mindful activity, helping you find moments of calm within the demands of modern life. Wellbeing with a difference There are many excellent wellbeing courses and providers but many of the techniques taught are premised on self-care (eg. time management, boundary setting, kind non-judgemental thinking, etc). This is important but I believe it can only form part of the answer. There is a danger when the focus is purely self-care, that we can feel we have failed if we struggle in our life and work – we can feel we are not resilient. We will only thrive and find resilience if the environments we live and work support our resilience. Our relationships are of equal importance and we each need to support one another. For me the process of taking a picture can be both an activity of self-care and care for one another. This creates environments and cultures in which we can find resilience together, finding peace and enabling us to thrive in life. One writer on wellbeing called this a ‘virtuous circle of kindness’. Join us on a workshop or retreat. Learn a mindful approach to photography which is an act of self-care and how to share your images to learn about yourself and one another. By facilitating conversations with one another through your pictures I hope to create shared vision and understanding. This can help strengthen not only our own, but one another’s resilience and mental health as we develop a shared vision and learn about the different ways we each see life. My workshops are premised on the 5 Steps to Wellbeing, which is an approach endorsed by the NHS and described below We do not focus primarily on the technical aspects of photography. Steve will help if you get stuck! All you require is a camera you can use and an open mind to try.