Who we are

The Mindfulness Initiative was founded by Madeleine Bunting and Chris Cullen in November 2013 to support British politicians in forming the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness. Our partners include the four mindfulness training and research centres in Bangor, Exeter, Oxford and Sussex universities, as well as the Mental Health Foundation, Mindfulness Association and Breathworks, and we benefit from an advisory group comprising some of the most experienced mindfulness scientists and practitioners in the UK and around the world. Our patrons are Jon Kabat-Zinn and Ruby Wax, and our director is Jamie Bristow, who took over from the previous directors in May 2015. The Mindfulness Initiative has a talented team of consultants 'policy leads' and associates who are engaged to work on specific strategy areas or projects on a part-time or ad-hoc basis. These consultants contribute immensely to our work, coming from the fields of mindfulness research and wider academia, mindfulness teaching, policy development and advocacy. We are grateful for the generous support of The Lostand Foundation, Sankalpa and The Mindful Trust, among others.

Ruby Wax and Mark Williams Jon Kabat-Zinn Trish Bartley and Mark Williams

Patrons & Trustees >>

Patrons: Prof Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ruby Wax.

Trustees: Katie White OBE, Ed Halliwell, Trish Bartley, Pauline Gibbs, Angela McCusker

Chris Ruane Andrew, Theresa, and Jamie Katherine Weare Jenny Edwards

Core Team & Policy Area Leads >>

Core Team: Jamie Bristow, Ruth Ormston, Luke Fortmann, Chris Cullen, Chris Tamdjidi.

Policy Leads: Jenny Edwards CBE, Adrian Bethune, Prof Katherine Weare, Byron Lee, Andrew McNeill, Chris Ruane, Vishvapani Blomfield.

Mindful Workplace Community:Theresa Dzendrowskyj, Andrew McNeill

Rebecca Crane and Chris Ruane Conference speakers

Project Contributors & Advisors >>

Contributors: Dan Nixon, Menka Sanghvi, Rosie Bell, Pilar Puig.

Advisors: Prof Ruth Baer, Amanda Bailey, Madeline Bunting, Vidyamala Burch, Prof Guy Claxton, Dr Joanna Cook, Dr Rebecca Crane, Fergus Crow, Marion Furr, Dr Jonty Heaversedge, Prof Willem Kuyken, Dr Bridgette O'Neill, Rachel Lilley, Dr Tim Lomas, Heather Regan, Dr Jonathan Rowson, Dr Florian Ruths, Dr Clara Strauss, Dr Jutta Tobias, Ivor Twydell, Tessa Watt, Prof Mark Williams

With thanks to all past associates, including Dr Kate Cavanagh, Isabelle Umugwaneza, Emma Wardropper, Sarah Post, Amanda Conquy, Mark Ovland, Nina Ross, Dean Capon.

Latest

Response to call for evidence on the mental health and wellbeing plan

A briefing paper containing the Mindfulness Initiative's response to the Department of Health's call for evidence on its mental health and wellbeing plan.
Innovations in Mindfulness Awards - Finalists

Details of the finalists selected for the 2022 Innovations in Mindfulness Awards
Initial reflections on the MYRIAD study

A summary of initial reflections from the Mindfulness Initiative team on the results of the large RCT of mindfulness in schools conducted as part of the MYRIAD (My Resilience in Adolescence) Project.
New NICE guidelines on depression include mindfulness as a treatment for less severe depression

In NICE’s new guidelines on the management and treatment of depression in adults, mindfulness features in a menu of alternative psychological and psychosocial alternatives to antidepressants to be offered to people experiencing a new episode of ‘less severe depression’, with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) being presented as an exemplar within the mindfulness and meditation class.

Reconnection: Meeting the Climate Crisis Inside Out

A report on the relevance of mindfulness and compassion practices to the widespread disconnection from self, others and nature at the root of the climate crisis.
Mindful Nation UK report (and translations)

The first policy document of its kind, investigating the potential for mindfulness-based interventions across various domains of public policy. Published on behalf of the UK Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Mindfulness: Developing Agency in Urgent Times

Multiple interconnected crises call for skilful response on a global scale - but our capacity for intentional action in our collective best interest is underdeveloped and increasingly undermined. This paper opens a dialogue on the contribution of evidence-based mindfulness training to individual and collective agency.
Implementing Mindfulness in Schools: An Evidence-Based Guide

This comprehensive guide is written by MI education policy co-leads Professor Katherine Weare and Adrian Bethune after extensive consultation with an expert steering group. The guide will be a key resource for all teachers, educators and SLT members interested in implementing mindfulness within their schools.
Who we are
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group

The Mindfulness Initiative provides the secretariat for the UK Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group (MAPPG) and helps politicians to inquire into applications in public policy.
Responding to 'Mindfulness: Developing Agency in Urgent Times' - A compilation of essays

Contributions from researchers, innovators and thinkers that critically engage with the topics outlined in Mindfulness: Developing Agency in Urgent Times.
What we do

The Mindfulness Initiative bridges contemplative practice and public policy, championing the inner dimension of social change.
Jobs

Job vacancies at The Mindfulness Initiative, UK.

Become a supporter

Thank you for being here to help secure the future of the Mindfulness Initiative. Every gift makes a difference, and no donation is too big or small. If you’d like to help keep us advocating, publishing, educating and innovating for the future, please consider a regular monthly gift. Read more

Donate