'Creating Spiritual Spaces with Children and Young People' Conference, Tuesday 18th May 2010 at St Mary’s Conference Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield - We (Spiritual England) are holding our 2010 conference in Sheffield! Our conference will be on the same topic our 2009 national conference which was held in London. We are delighted to be organising the Sheffield conference in partnership with the Sheffield Faiths Forum and the event will have a strong multi-faith flavour. But it will also include spirituality that is not faith based. If you would like a conference flier and booking form then please email: info@spiritualengland.org.uk

 

Resources list for Schools

This list has been put together by Spiritual England researchers to start you off on your journey of making schools more spiritual places!  Please note that you need to check out the resources for yourselves to make sure they will be acceptable and appropriate for use in your schools.  

 

Quotes

Spiritual England Director, Anna Lubelska – ‘Spiritual England has created the ‘At the Heart of Our Schools’ campaign to bring some stillness and peace into our children’s lives at a time when concerns about young people’s mental health are escalating. Children and young people are bombarded with information, advertising and are under all sorts of other pressures too.  We believe that there should be dedicated spaces at the heart of our schools where pupils and students can be quiet and reflect, meditate and/or pray’.

Felicity Kaplan from Maharishi Foundation®, an educational charity which offers Transcendental Meditation™ in schools thinks it is essential for children to find inner peace and happiness through meditation. She says: “The Spiritual England campaign to bring stillness and peace into children’s lives is inspiring and timely”.

A teacher - ‘Life for our young people is very busy, crammed with activity and information. It is vital not only that we create opportunities for stillness and reflection for our young people, but that we also teach them how to be still.’

Ofsted, ‘Promoting and evaluating pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development’, March 2004 - ‘Schools are required by law to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and inspectors are required to inspect it.’ ‘Spiritual development is the development of the non-material element of a human being which animates and sustains us and, depending on our point of view, either ends or continues in some form when we die. It is about the development of a sense of identity, self-worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose. It is about the development of a pupil’s ‘spirit’. Some people may call it the development of a pupil’s ‘soul’; others as the development of ‘personality’ or ‘character’. 

U Thant, former Secretary General of the United Nations - ‘Spirituality is a state of connectedness to life. It is an experience of being, belonging and caring. It is sensitivity and compassion, joy and hope. It is the harmony between the innermost life and the outer life, or the life of the world and the life universal.’

Sir George Trevelyan (regarded by many as the grandfather of the movement for spiritual regeneration in Britain) - ‘Out of the confusion of a crumbling society, will emerge individuals who are touched by higher guidance. These will inevitably flow together with others of like inspiration, and a new quality of society will begin to form. This is the true adventure of our time.’

Blaise Pascal, 17th Century French mathematician, philosopher and physicist - ‘All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.’

Professor Ursula King - ‘The development of a balanced, wholesome spirituality which relates to our political, economic, scientific, educational and cultural activities, as well as to our personal lives, is the most urgent task that humanity has to address in the new millennium.’ 

Penny Moon- ’ A Quiet Place has independent research evidence that shows that this work changes children’s behaviour for the better.’

Derek Casells from the Maharishi School ™in Lancashire asserts that meditation in schools has a huge affect on the way children think and act. At Maharishi School they have ten minutes meditation at the beginning and end of every day. Derek Casells believes meditation should be something that takes place within every school. His school has been practicing meditation since 1986. He says: ’It’s not just children that meditation has an impact on, but also teachers and administration staff. It creates a peaceful and good working environment. Over six hundred research studies have been done on using this system and it has also been proven to help children with ADHD. It also enables children to put more depth into their work’. A young person, aged 12 who has been meditating for three years, quoted in the Transcendental Education (Transcendental Meditation™)brochure, said: ‘I never thought I could sit quietly for ten minutes with my eyes closed, but meditating is easy and fun’.

Allan Kirkman from Still Learning regularly visits schools to teach pupils about Buddhism and life as a Buddhist. He also gives tours around the Sheffield Buddhist Centre, where pupils appreciate the calm atmosphere of the shrine rooms.  Allan explains that as part of their workshops they lead pupils through a stilling exercise (short meditation), which is aimed to develop inner peace, calm and positive emotion. Allan says: ‘the overwhelming feedback we get at the end of the exercise is that the vast majority of pupils really appreciate the opportunity to be still and tune into their emotional experience’. Teacher from School, Allan visited:  ‘Life for our young people is very busy, crammed with activity and information. It is vital not only that we create opportunities for stillness and reflection for our young people, but that we also teach them how to be still. There was a wonderful calming atmosphere in your session and students told me how much they enjoyed the chance to be quiet and to reflect.’

Pratistha from Byoma Kusuma Buddhadharma Sangha is empathetic towards the pressures surrounded by children today. She said: ‘Meditation is a great tool for children, it enables them to relax and creates a conducive environment for them to be themselves’.

Jenny Mosley Consultancies:  ‘We believe that children need space and time dedicated to being still and peaceful, as part of their own natural growth and development and also as an 'antidote' to some of the pressures that they come across in their daily lives’. 

Stella Von Thun from Heal Your Space works with children in schools to bring reassurance and peace into their lives as she believes that schools can be a scary and daunting place. She said: ‘The challenge we face is getting teachers to agree with such techniques and some people are very closed when it comes to getting children more involved with who they are’.

 

Publications

Glimpses youth work and spiritually - Resources and ideas to aid exploration and reflection by Steve Bullock and Nigel Pimlott.  Published: February 2008 by The National Youth Agency.  This pack uses visualisation techniques and aims to get youths to look into the basics of day to day activities, covering a variety of aspects such as reflections, atmospheres, essences, stations and breaths. It encourages philosophical debate and helps young people to consider the importance of other peoples’ actions as well as their own. The resources will enable you to explore a variety of different subjects using tried and tested approaches. Mission with young people at risk | Frontier Youth Trust

International Journal of Children’s Spirituality - Editors, Clive Erricker, Jane Erricker, Cathty Ota. Published: November 2008 by Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. The journals encourage debate across cultures, childhood and adulthood, nationhood, ethnicity and religious identity.  Articles aim to stimulate further awareness and debate in the field, and to encourage the development of research and the academic study of spirituality in children and young people. www.tandf.co.uk/journals/carfax/1364436X.html

‘Don’t just do something, sit there’ - Developing children’s spiritual awareness by Mary K Stone. Published: December 1995 by RMEP. This handbook enables children to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings. It encourages spiritual development.  Mary Stone explains in detail about how teachers can help a class not used to ’just sitting there’ to learn the skills of being physically and mentally still, yet alert and able to concentrate through creative visualisation techniques.

The Living Classroom - Teaching and Collective Consciousness by Christopher M. Bache.  Published:  August 2008 by State University of New York Press. Christopher M. Bache explores the dynamics of collective consciousness in the classroom. He examines the subtle influences that radiate invisibly around teachers as they work - unintended, cognitive resonances that spring up between teachers and students in the classroom. Described as a joy to read with a new vision for educators.

The Search for Spirituality: Our Global Quest for Meaning and Fulfilment, by Ursula King.  Published: 30 March 2009 by Canterbury Press. This publication discusses the rich and diverse spiritual landscapes of our world and asks whether we are experiencing a spiritual renaissance, revival, or revolution.  It explores the search for the spiritual life in religious traditions and examines what spirituality means in different faith and cultures.  Click here to listen to an interview with Ursula King.  www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/02/2009_14_thu.shtml

Meditation in Schools, Calmer classrooms - Edited by Clive Erricker and Jane Erricker (Main Contributor: Gina Levete) Published: March 2001 by Continuum International Publishing Group.  This introduction to meditation in education is written as a resource and practical guide for class teachers. Parents will also find it valuable, though its main focus is on using meditation in schools. The purpose of this publication is to inspire and to provide concise, practical and general information and techniques that can be explored before introducing primary or secondary students to meditative experience.

Spirituality To Go - Ritual and Reflections for Everyday Living by Olive M. Flemming Drane. Published: April 2006 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd.  Olive Drane considers our day to day rituals and offers inspiring thoughts, ideas, prayers and stories.  A wonderful book that you can carry with you anywhere for reassurance and guidance whether read from start to finish or simply just a tool to use for daily ritual in itself. Whichever, this book guarantees enlightenment and comprises a wealth of grounded wisdom.

The Joyful Child by Peggy Jenkins, Ph.D. Published: April 1996 by Aslan Publishing. An uplifting and motivating book that encourages families and classrooms to take an alternative look into the general wellbeing of children. This book is full of joy, art, music, philosophy and movement, which are all positive aspects to self-programming and attaining a positive attitude in life.

A Good Childhood, Searching for Values in a Competitive Age by Richard Layard,  Author of ‘Happiness’,andJudy Dunn. Published: February 2009 by Penguin Books. A clear-headed and compassionate book that argues whether childhood really is as it should be, or whether it has been spoilt by broken homes, junk food and alcohol. It takes a look at society as a whole and questions the lifestyles of children and parents.

The Lonely Tree by Nicholas Halliday. Published: June 2006 by Halliday books. This book has been described by Stephen Fry as ‘utterly, completely and splendidly charming. Originally illustrated and delightfully told’.  A beautiful, positive and imaginative story that takes you on a journey through the nature of life and its changing seasons thus dealing sensitively with the subject of  death.

 

Schools and Universities

Consciousness Based Education - a programme offered by the Maharishi Foundation for stress free schools and academic excellence. It is said to improve achievement within schools along with developing inner happiness and confidence and reducing stress and anxiety. This ultimately creates a harmonious working environment for both children and staff.

Maharishi Foundation, Maharishi Golden Dome, Woodley Park Road, Skelmersdale

Lancashire, WN8 6UQ Tel:  Felicity Kaplan 01394 421084 or 01394 420634

enquiries@consciousnessbasededucation.org.uk   www.consciousnessbasededucation.org.uk

www.tmeducation.org/

Maharishi School - believes in creating peaceful and harmonious atmospheres for children in order to increase their concentration levels. Creativity and Intelligence are systematically developed with a few minutes of Transcendental Meditation at the beginning and end of every school day.  Ofsted has reported that the school provides an outstanding quality of education for all pupils that is well tailored to their individual needs. 

Maharishi School, Cobbs Brow Lane, Lathom, L40 6JJ Tel: 01695 729912 enquiries@maharishischool.com  www.maharishischool.com

Brockwood Park School, Nr Alresford, Hampshire - is a private school and is based on the teachings of J. Krishnamurti the educator, philosopher. Founded in 1969, the school has around 65 students, aged 14 and over. Brockwood recognises that the young are inheriting a complex world where rapid technological progress goes hand in hand with environmental, social and political crises.  Brockwood Park is known for its secure and friendly surroundings and students are encouraged to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings and actions and on those of others.  Krishnamurti on Education states that ‘Education is not merely the acquisition of technical knowledge, but the understanding with sensitivity and intelligence of the whole problem of living…. The whole structure of human existence.’

Brockwood Park School, Bramdean, Nr Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0LQ

Telephone: 01962 771744  Email: admin@brockwood.org.uk

Steiner Education is based on the work of Dr Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher, social thinker, architect and esotericist.  He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he founded a new spiritual movement, Anthroposophy, as an esoteric philosophy growing out of European transcendentalist roots with links to Theosophy.  The first Steiner school opened in Stuttgart in 1919 for children of workers at the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory. Steiner Education works for all children irrespective of academic ability, class, ethnicity or religion; takes account of the needs of the whole child, including the soul qualities of the child; is based on an understanding of the relevance of the different phases of child development and develops a love of learning and an enthusiasm for school.

Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship Ltd, Kidbrooke Park, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JA. Tel: 01342 822115   E-mail: mail@swsf.org.uk  www.steinerwaldorf.org/contact.html

University of the First Age, Birmingham (UFA) was founded in Birmingham in 1996 by Professor Tim Brighouse. It is a national education charity which aims to create an ‘open university’ for people aged 5-25 so they can access a range of learning opportunities in and beyond their school. The UFA believes that being part of a ‘university’ at a young age helps to raise their awareness’s and increases their aspirations so they can lead a successful and fulfilling life in both their education and employment.  The UFA works creatively with local authorities, schools, organisations, communities and individuals to enrich and extend learning for young people.

The University of the First Age, St. Paul's Cottages, 59-60 Water Street, The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B3 1EP.  Tel: 0121 212 9838  Email: ufa@ufa.org.uk  www.ufa.org.uk/

 

Organisations

Quakers, children and young people’s programme – Look on their website www.quaker.org.uk/cyp to find out what they do.  The have materials about young people and spirituality and ‘Spiritual Development’ a booklet for training youth workers.

Jenny Mosley, Quite Circle Time (QCT), has created successful classroom management modules over the past eighteen years and is the author and co-author of many uplifting texts, including the best-selling ‘Turn Your School Round’, ‘Quality Circle Time (QCT) in the Primary Classroom’ and ‘More Quality Circle Time’.  Jenny’s aim is to enhance self-esteem by building positive relationships in school communities.  QCT takes a democratic and creative approach to support teachers and other professionals in managing a range of issues that affect the whole learning community: teaching staff, children, support staff, parents and governors. Jenny's five-step Quality Circle Time model is designed to help pupils meet up, enjoy each other's company, practice social skills, speaking, listening and problem-solving.  Step 4 of the model is always a 'cheering up' activity, like celebrating each other's achievements and Step 5 of the model is always a calming activity.  Here Jenny uses calm breathing techniques, visualisations or any other 'stilling' activities that help to calm children down after their circle time session and to help prepare them for whatever their next activity is.  Jenny writes her own guided visualisations and also has a catalogue of resources and this includes nature CDs and rainsticks for calming times.   

Jenny Mosley Consultancies, 28A Gloucester Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 0AA - Tel: 01225 767 157  circletime@jennymosley.co.uk  www.circle-time.co.uk/site/home

Byoma Kusuma Buddhadharma Sangha - is an organisation that uses Vippassana as a meditation. Its insight and calm abiding techniques are used to help children become mindful, aware and relaxed in the mind. Since children are more susceptible to learning things, Vipassana by itself can be used to help children become aware of their feelings; both emotional and physical.

Byoma Kusuma Buddhadharma Sangha, UK, 24 Canfield Drive, South Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6QW.  Tel: 0208-845-1251   Email: byomakusuma.uk@gmail.com  www.byomakusuma.org 

The Wrekin Trust – is an educational charity which was started in 1971 by Sir George Trevelyan Bt for spiritual education of a non-sectarian kind. Its main aim now is to advance education and learning across different faith and spiritual communities by creating safe meeting spaces for connections, dialogue, learning and social action. The Trust works by developing strategies for youth work based on ethical and spiritual visions of society and was involved in a demonstration project called the Stoneleigh Initiative.

The Wrekin Forum, Courtyard Lodge, Mellow Farm, Hawcross Lane, Redmarley d’Abitot,
Gloucestershire GL19 3JQ  Tel: 0845 017 9029  e-mail: connect@wrekinforum.org

 www.wrekinforum.org

WYSE offers an inspiring and challenging approach to education and has worked with hundreds of young people from over 100 countries since 1988. WYSE International cares about what’s happening in the world and is willing to do what they can to make a positive difference, promoting visionary leadership and education independently of political, religious or social backgrounds for evolving world needs.

Tel: 0207 372 7184 www.wyse-ngo.org   info@wyse-ngo.org

A Quiet Place, Penelope Moon trained as a yoga teacher and then became involved in complementary medicine, studying with various teachers across a range of therapies. She is a qualified Psycho/Hypno-therapist and is involved in training others. She developed 'A Quiet Place’ within mainstream education in schools across the U.K. including the Channel Islands and it is now recognised nationally as a Holistic Action Learning programme running in partnership with schools, children's homes and other organisations.

A Quiet Place Ltd, 26 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BX. Tel: 0151 708 6910

penny@aquietplace.co.uk  karen@aquietplace.co.uk

www.aquietplace.co.uk/index.html

Christian Youth Outreach is a youth and schools ministry serving schools and churches in the Colchester area. They have developed the Sanctum project which they take into schools to help children experience being spiritual. This organisation believes that every young person is created in the image of God and that we are all special and unique. The organisations works with schools, churches and local communities  which aims to help young people make the most out of their lives, giving them opportunities to explore the Christian faith themselves.

CYO, PO Box 9272, Colchester, CO1 9AX   Tel:  01206 863835

www.cyocolchester.org.uk/work.htm  mail@cyocolchester.org.uk

The Ringsfield Hall Trust, Ecostudy centre opened in 1972 as a centre for school children from city areas to spend time and experience and study the countryside along with youth groups, churches and families to use the facilities for group retreats, conferences and holidays during weekends and school holidays for day events.

Ringsfield Hall, Ringsfield, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 8JR. www.ringsfield-hall.co.uk/about_us.htm  Email info@ringsfield-hall.co.uk
Tel: 01502 713020

Working With Others –is a programme that realises that learning takes place in a social context where positive pupil relationships are essential. The programme is aimed to motivate pupils to learn effectively together, and this improves behavior in class, playground and socially.  It also aims to transform whole staff teams including senior management, office staff and teachers, re-energising as well as offering support and practical ideas.

Working With Others, 31 Vale Road, Portslade, Brighton BN41 1GD. Tel: 07817 363193

www.workingwithothers.org  Email: admin@workingwithothers.org

The White Eagle Lodge is a worldwide organisation (founded in 1936), based on a profound, gentle philosophy.  White Eagle’s teaching encourages a path of love, tolerance and service towards all life, towards the development of inner peace, and the awareness of our eternal, spiritual nature.

The White Eagle Lodge, New Lands, Brewells Lane, Rake, Hampshire, GU33 7HY. Tel: 01730 893300

www.whiteagle.org/we_home.htm  Email: info@whiteagle.org

Godly Play is a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture.  It can be used in a variety of settings, such as churches, schools, hospitals, and care homes for the elderly.  It also invites listeners into stories and encourages them to connect the stories with personal experience. www.godlyplay.org.uk

Seeds of Hope Children’s Garden at Guildford Cathedral provides a vibrant living space for children to go to and reflect on their thoughts for those that have experienced loss. They can go there with their families, teachers and carers. The loss could be death, divorce, separate schooling or adoption. Here children can find different gardens for each season where they are able to explore their feelings and shape their thoughts creatively.

Guildford Cathedral, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7UP. Tel: 01483 547872

AND The Seeds of Hope Activity & Information Pack - for use with any garden or open space, activities and games suggesting ways in which to use Nature to help children and young people explore feelings of loss of all kinds. For a free copy, please email: seedsofhopechildrensgarden@yahoo.co.uk

www.seedsofhopechildrensgarden.co.uk

The Association for Children’s Spirituality seeks to support and promote research and practice in relation to children’s spirituality within education and wider contexts.  The association understands spirituality and encourages holistic approaches, paying particular attention to children’s voices allowing them to develop their own awareness’s and spirituality. www.childrenspirituality.org

The Quiet Garden Movement is an organisation seeking to initiate and resource local opportunities for stillness, silence, reflection and the appreciation of beauty. It draws upon the Christian contemplative tradition. Venues include gardens in private homes, churches, schools, prisons and hospital.

The Quiet Garden Trust, Kerridge House, 42 Woodside Close, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5EF.

www.quietgarden.co.uk  quiet.garden@ukonline.co.uk

Jigsaw4U is an organisation that helps young people put the pieces back together, providing skills for children who have suffered loss or trauma.  This includes the impact of parental mental illness on children and young people, significant bereavement such as the death of a parent or sibling, domestic violence, divorce, bullying and imprisonment.  Jigsaw have been working for over ten years in schools and other settings. 

Jigsaw4U, 40 Mill Green Road, Mitcham, CR4 4HY. Tel: 0208 687 1384  www.jigsaw4u.org.uk

Spirituality For Kids (SPK) is an educational curriculum which is based on the idea of sharing cause and effect and the universal human truths, as well as helping children to find their own individual voice and human spirit, regardless of personal faith.  An educational non-profit organisation that comes together with partners, educators,  schools and organisations to teach tools to assist children in making choices to benefit their future. They work in schools mainly in the London area. SFK. One world. Every child. | SFK

Heal Your Space - Stella Von Thun - works with children and schools to create a peaceful environment. A Certified Healing practitioner, Stella is impressed by the rapid and positive results healing can achieve. Healing works in all sorts of different forms and two aspects works with are colour healing and flower essences in order to help children feel reassured and gain perspective.  Stella works with children in schools to bring reassurance and peace into their lives  Welcome – From Stella von Thun – Heal Your Space « Heal Your Space

 

Affirmations cards and self-help for children and young people

Kids Time, Affirmation Cards for Children Ages 5-10, Louise Hay , Published October 2008 , Hay House

Magical Unicorns Oracle Cards, Doreen Virtue, PH.D. Published 2004 , Hay House

Guided Meditation for Children, Chitra Sukhu, Published January 2002

Guided meditation for manifesting, Journey into the elements Audio CD, Chitra Sukhu

Published January 2002

Positive Thoughts for Children, An affirmation CD at bedtime, Chitra Sukhu

Published January 2002

 

Churches and centres

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace - provides calm and unique spaces where people of different faiths can come together and explore differences, transform conflicts to build firm foundations for collaboration. The church also provides quiet time and reflection spaces so people without faith can use these spaces to reflect, find peace and mediate. 

The church is at 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG. Tel: 020 7496 1610

Email:  enquiries@stethelburgas.org     www.stethelburgas.org/index.htm

Sheffield Buddhist Centre – has a schools programme called ‘Still Learning’. The centre is run by members of the Western Buddhist Order who work to bring the benefits of Buddhist practice to people in the Sheffield area. They are part of a worldwide Buddhist movement, the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order which practices a type of Buddhism suitable for people living in the contemporary western world.

Sheffield Buddhist Centre, Howard Road, Sheffield S6 3RT. Tel: 0114 2349994   info@fwbosheffield.org   www.fwbosheffield.org

 

Speakers and performers

inspirationalspeakers4schools – a resource for inspirational speakers for schools and other settings where there are a few children and young people gathered together.  Inspirational Speakers 4 Schools

Mark Townsend - combines mind-bending magic with mythology, storytelling and a dose of zany humour. He has an inner belief that real magic is inside all people. Small and big gatherings for corporate and spiritual events.  www.magicofsoul.com

www.marktownsendmagic.co.uk/