1. What’s happening internationally? Lessons from four countries
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
What’s happening internationally? Lessons from four countries
Abby Roberts
Research Assistant

2. ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools

3. what do international partners say works;
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
The importance of the relationship with the school and pre-work required before delivery;
what do international partners say works;
what are the qualities needed to deliver mindfulness to young people and;
the question of who should deliver mindfulness in schools?

4. Pre-delivery - ‘the work before the work’.
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
Pre-delivery - ‘the work before the work’.

5. The role of the teachers
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
The role of the teachers
But of course there are major Challenges….

6. Having a separate, open space for mindfulness practice?
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
What works?
Using imagery
Having a separate, open space for mindfulness practice?
Explaining science, this is specifically of interest to teens
Deliverers having their own practice whether this is an outside practitioner or class room teacher, young people sense credibility
Asking young people to document their experience as a journal
Parents noticing the difference

7. What are the qualities needed to deliver mindfulness to young people?
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
What are the qualities needed to deliver mindfulness to young people?
Knowing what works for youth rather than pure mindfulness is a priority.
Being honest about your passion for working with young people. Its not easy to challenge and manage teen behaviour.
Courage and confidence to manage the unknown
Do not have expectations for a class, a deliverer of mindfulness needs to accept that they ‘may never witness the fruits of their labour’.
Compassion and empathy
Have the skills to work with ‘what shows up’. You need to be aware of the wider context of young people e.g. school instances, family life, negative experiences
Have a sense of humour and be able to read the energy in the room

8. The question of who should deliver mindfulness in schools?
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
The question of who should deliver mindfulness in schools?
Teachers
Practitioners
Young people
Young people lead change and demand positive mental health
Mentoring/buddy system
Enhancing relational intelligence
Wellbeing maintained in to adulthood
Credibility, levers and trust within school
Knowing context of the young person in relation to family and issues they may have
Momentum after the initial intervention
Personal practice
Different relationship from teachers and/or lesson time
Allows teachers to be part of process

9. What do these insights raise for me…?
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
What do these insights raise for me…?
There are some fundamentals that aid the successful delivery of mindfulness in schools however there is also some flexibility that aids successful embedding in the school culture
Is mindfulness trying to solve specific problems or be about whole school, systematic change to emotional wellbeing?
There is a tension between time needed to see change and the pressures of return on investment
Do UK schools need to develop a core, best practice model which is evidence based or respond more locally to the needs of schools within their context?

10. Thank you Any questions
ESRC funded project: Applying mindfulness to promote the resilience of young people in UK secondary schools
Thank you Any questions