Spaces for Wellbeing Programme - Recorded Events

Hywel Roberts - Teacher, Writer, Humourist, Author of 'Botheredness'

Hywel has taught in Secondary, Primary and Special settings for 30 years, he is a well-respected public speaker, storyteller and author. In this session we look at developing our pedagogical toolkit and explore strategies to harness our professional imaginations and rekindle our joy of teaching.

Gareth Conyard - Co-CEO Teacher Development Trust (TDT)

This session will cover key research into autonomy, retention and job satisfaction, considering how this contributes to the wellbeing of all staff.

When attention is given to an organisation's processes for development, as well as the skills and behaviours of leaders in promoting a staff learning culture, coherence between leader and individual objectives can be achieved, supporting both accountability and belonging.

Beth Roberts - Cydlynydd CDUC | WULF Co-ordinator, Prosiect Addysgu | Edify Project

Beth and her team are developing the WULF wellbeing toolkit for education, which focuses on adopting a team approach to supporting the whole school approach to improving wellbeing across the education sector in Wales. In this session Beth will talk about: the background to the project, what was needed, what the team did next, and ongoing developments.

Dr Jane Andrews (Professor of Education, University of the West of England)

During this event Jane will talk about a research project she conducted, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, entitled "Creating Welcoming Learning Environments: Disseminating arts-based approaches to including all learners in their education".

Faye McGuinness (Director of Programmes, Education Support)

Faye is responsible for the development of Education Support’s mental health and wellbeing services and programmes. Setting boundaries is a necessary component of self-compassion, but for many staff working within education it can feel hard to do. In this session Faye will provide some useful hints and tips on how you can set boundaries, manage the things you can’t control and look after your own wellbeing.

Professor André Spicer (PhD, MBus and BComm, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Dean of Bayes Business School, University of London)

Professor Spicer is known for his research on wellbeing, organisational politics, organisational culture, employee identity, new organisational forms, work space and leadership. In this session, Professor Spicer will talk about his research into how breaks can help us to focus and concentrate more effectively.

Dr Adam Burley (Consultant Clinical Psychologist B.Sc. (Hons) Psychology D.Clinical Psychology)

During this event, Adam will talk about the nature and dynamics of relationships, how our relational experiences impact us, as well as the impact that teacher-pupil relationships can have on staff wellbeing and the importance of peer support. Adam has an interest in health inequalities, exclusion dynamics, early years and the psychology of adversity.

Dr Lucy Kelly (Associate Professor in Education at the University of Bristol -
BA, Hons, MRes (Bath Spa), PhD (Cambridge))

This session will provide numerous pathways to help unlock the diary format; an overview of diary-keeping and why it’s important for educator wellbeing, simple pragmatic guidance to help make diary-keeping a sustainable part of your practice: practical tips, strategies, & activities to try out.

Lucy's NEW BOOK is now available: 'Reimagining the Diary: Reflective practice as a positive tool for educator wellbeing'

Lynn Miles (Senior Lecturer in Education at Teesside University - BEd (Hons), PgCLTHE, PgDip, MA, FHEA)

During this event, Lynn will talk about the challenges she has faced having a trauma history whilst teaching children, young people and adults who are experiencing adversity and trauma themselves. She will talk about times it has made her ill, the impact it has had on her students, how Covid exacerbated her symptoms and what she has done to help herself heal.

Andrew Walker (Senior Psychotherapist SACCPH, [Accred] NCS, CYP Reg.)

During this session, Andy will introduce Autogenic Therapy, its history and the efficacy of allowing the body to naturally heal itself with the help of the simple autogenic exercises which can help to combat stress. This presentation will also include understanding how stress affects the body and where autogenic training sits as a tool to help prevent the long-term damage that may occur from chronic stress.

Alessandra Bowditch (Former Teacher, Senior Practitioner and Therapist, MBACP)

During this event, you will be invited to focus on Mindfulness practice and engage in some grounding and creative activities that you can add to your wellbeing toolbox. We will be moving between the ‘thinking’ and ‘creative’ brain to learn more about how to utilise both parts, and help you to find logical and creative solutions to support staff wellbeing.

David Newton MBE (Barnardo's Team Manager, therapist, supervisor, and trainer, MBACP)

Critical Incident Debriefing (CID), an intervention to support those colleagues witnessing and experiencing trauma and stress. David has used this model of group support within Barnardo’s, as well as supporting groups including teachers, through situations such as suicide, self-harm, child death and the pandemic.