The Mindfulness Initiative provides the secretariat for the UK Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group (MAPPG). The MAPPG was set up in 2014 with the stated purpose:

To review research evidence, current best practice, extent and success of implementation, and potential developments in the application of mindfulness within a range of policy areas, and to develop policy recommendations for government based on these findings.

All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal cross-party groups of UK politicians who join together to pursue a particular topic or interest area. They are essentially run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, although many groups involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities. 

APPGs must reconstitute following a general election, and as such the APPG on Mindfulness has existed in its current form with 12 officers from four parties since holding an 'extraordinary general meeting' on January 21st 2020.

Former Mindfulness APPG Labour Co-Chair, Chris Ruane, asks the Prime Minister a question about mindfulness

 

The mindfulness programme in the British Parliament has inspired similar initiatives in more 10 other national parliaments around the world. A summary of developments can be found in the 2019 Current Opinion in Psychology article 'Mindfulness in Politics and Public Policy' by Jamie Bristow.

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MAPGG Honorary President

Chris Ruane

Chris was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Clwyd North West up until 2019. Chris founded the APPG in 2014 and was Co-Chair for four of the six years up to 2019. He has been asked to continue his involvement with the Mindfulness APPG from outside Westminster by becoming its Honorary President.

MAPPG Co-Chairs

Jessica Morden MP (Labour)

Jess Morden was selected as the Labour Party candidate for Newport East in 2005 and became the first female MP in South East Wales. Before becoming an MP, Jess was General Secretary of Welsh Labour.

Tim Loughton MP (Conservative)

Member of Parliament (MP) for East Worthing and Shoreham since 1997. Member of the Home Affairs Select Committee. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families from 2010-2012.

MAPPG Officers

Vice-Chair: Tracey Crouch MP (Conservative)

  

Vice-Chair: Anne McLoughlin (Scottish National Party)

 

Vice-Chair: Caroline Lucas MP (Green Party)

 

Vice-Chair: Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne MP (Conservative)

 

Vice-Chair: Baroness Lorely Burt (Liberal Democrat)

 

Vice-Chair: Baroness Angela Harris (Liberal Democrat)

 

Vice-Chair: Baroness Anna Healy (Labour)

 

Vice-chair: Lord Alan Howarth of Newport (Labour)

 

Vice-Chair: Baroness Doreen Lawrence (Labour)

 

Vice-Chair: Baroness Ruth Lister (Labour)

 

Vice-Chair: Lord Tom Watson (Labour)

 

Register

Register of the AGM of the APPG May 2023