Course Information

Specialist Training: Mindfulness in a Youth Context

When: 13 Mar 2024 - 1 May 2024
Where: Online Event
Tutors: Jem Shackleford, Uz Afzal

Mindfulness can be beneficial for young people when introduced with an accessible and inclusive approach. Mindfulness needs to meet young people where they are at, and the mode of delivery is key to engagement in youth settings. This six-week specialist training is for those who have both a foundation in the essential competencies of mindfulness-based teaching and an interest in bringing mindfulness to young people.

The training will develop participants' skills and experience in guiding practice, conveying course themes, facilitating inquiry and holding the learning environment in a way that is specific to working in youth settings. Some might choose to combine this training with a Curriculum Specialist in order to teach a particular Mindfulness-based Programme. Others may choose to complete this training in order to gain a better sense of how to bring a more mindful approach to their work in a variety of youth settings.

Through this six-week training, participants will work closely with highly experienced trainers to create and deliver a plan for implementation that is specific to their setting and develop the skills needed to respond to individual needs of the young people they work with.  


Who is it for? 

Those interested in bringing a mindfulness-based approach to young people in a variety of contexts.Those who have previously trained to teach a mindfulness-based program curriculum that want to learn how to deliver it in youth settings.Organisations, such as schools, youth clubs or sports teams wanting to implement a mindfulness-based approach


Learning Aims:  

  • Learn ways to deliver mindfulness in youth settings.
  • Understand specific considerations for working with young people, including implications for guiding practice, and leading inquiry.
  • Explore ways in which systemic change might support the integration of mindfulness to support young people and their teachers/carers

Pre-requisites for attending:

  • Participants need to have been meditating regularly for at least six months using practices that are compatible with mindfulness-based approaches.
  • Participation in an eight-week mindfulness-based program would be of benefit and is a requirement for anyone teaching a mindfulness-based program curriculum.
  • The Essentials / TTR1 or equivalent

Nb. This training is not curriculum based. If you want to teach Mindfulness-based Program curricula as part of this approach, you will also need to complete the relevant Curriculum Specialist (such as MBSR, MBCT).

Participants must commit to the entire online training. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, we are unable to negotiate late arrivals or early leaving.  If this is not possible, please contact us to discuss before submitting an application.

Please note this training involves a commitment to interim between session home practice and peer group work.


About the trainers:

The trainers specialise in this approach and engage in a rigorous ongoing process of training and supervision.


Location:

This will be an online event - a zoom link for the whole training will be sent out prior to the start date.

In order to participate in the training, you will need:

  • A room where you can close the door and engage in the training away from family distraction. It may be helpful to use headphones.
  • Log in via a computer which is resting on a hard surface and which has audio and webcam. Please don’t use handheld devices to log in.
  • When you are not speaking, please turn on mute to reduce background noise.

What to bring/wear:

Please wear comfortable clothing with layers. Mats, cushions, stools would be helpful to have available to support your practice space at home.


Dates & Timings:

The training will be delivered via six 2.5 hour sessions on Wednesdays 13th, 20th, 27th March & 17th, 24th April, 1st May (6 weeks of training - 2 week break after week 3) at 6.30-9.00pm

Please note all times are UK: GMT for session 1 to 2 and BST (British Summer Time) for session 3 to 6.


Our rates:

Our rates have no hidden extras:

Standard rate – £368

Bursary-assisted places are available on this event until three months before the event starts. If it is less than three months before the start date of the event, please get in touch to discuss if an application is possible.  When applying for a bursary-assisted place, please first register on the event and select the fee ‘I’m applying for a bursary-assisted place’. Once you have registered for the event you will also need to complete and return a bursary application form.  

To find out more about our bursary schemes, criteria for bursary applications and to complete the bursary application form please visit: https://home.mindfulness-network.org/bursaries/  

Employer's rate: Recognising the large administrative overhead of dealing with employers, there is a £50 surcharge if the employer is paying directly; where possible we would advise applicants to pay themselves and reclaim on expenses to avoid the charge. 


The application process:

Our application and payment process involve the following steps:

  1. We receive your application form and assess it to ensure that this event is suitable for you. We endeavour to make assessments within a week.
  2. Upon offering you a place, we will then invoice for the full amount.
  3. Your place is confirmed once we receive your deposit or full payment.
  4. We will email you the joining instructions in advance of the course.

Payment and cancellation policy:

Please read our Terms and Conditions for information regarding payments and cancellations.


Other information:

Please see the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA) for good practice guidelines and other information for mindfulness-based teachers.

Certificate of Attendance. Please note that we give a Bangor University Certificate of Attendance that details the nature of the course and the hours involved. However, this does not constitute an authorisation to teach mindfulness-based approaches. The development and interest in the potential of mindfulness within a range of settings is rapidly growing and training processes are therefore becoming more structured. Within the UK, though, there are currently no formal qualifications/certification processes which regulate competency in teaching mindfulness-based approaches. This requires those of us working in this developing field to inquire deeply into our own practice, our integrity and our intentions, as well as the boundaries of our skills, competencies and understandings. 


Contact us:

Please feel free to email us at training@mindfulness-network.org to discuss any questions you may have about the course or whether it is appropriate for you at this time. We will ensure that your query reaches the correct person. 


Click here to sign up to this event.