Past Events

A three day experiential event of content, keynotes and workshops exploring a more compassionate, creative and trauma informed approach to mental distress. See full Programme and Speakers>>

a three day gathering continuing our exploration of alternative approaches for living and working with mental distress, inspired by intentional and therapeutic communities. See full Programme and Speakers>>

a three day gathering continuing our exploration of alternative approaches for living and working with mental distress, inspired by intentional and therapeutic communities. See full Programme and Speakers>>

Three days of content, keynotes and workshops exploring a more compassionate, trauma informed approach to mental distress.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

Online connection and support group sessions facilitated by members of our team for people living and working with mental distress See full Programme and Speakers>>

POSTPONED (due to Covid-19)

Our next gathering in Cardiff, Wales will build on our core themes of connection, community and compassionate systems change.  More >>

A day of conversation and workshops at the The Left Bank Village – a stunning riverside setting in the heart of the historic cathedral city of Hereford. Calling for a radical shift in the way we understand mental illness, changing the script, challenging stigma and raising expectations.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

Our eighth event saw us return to Buckland Hall, Brecon Beacons,  Wales. We are living in uncertain times, but they are also times of possibility when we have the power to shape the future.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

From Isolation to Connection – was a one day gathering exploring peer and network approaches to mental distress, held at Kingsley Hall in Bromley-by-Bow, London. It was a follow up to our successful first London event in April 2019 – and a chance for a more in depth look at Open Dialogue, a compassionate approach that was developed in Western Lapland in Finland. We also heard about work that has been pioneered by peers in America – at the Icarus Project, and Intentional Peer Support, and how by focusing less on the individual and more on the networks around the person experiencing the crisis – deeper, more lasting change can happen. See full Programme and Speakers>>

Safe Spaces for Suffering & Joy was our sixth Compassionate Mental Health gathering, and our first to be held in London, at Kingsley Hall in Bromley-by-Bow.  This one-day gathering looked together at how we can create spaces for people to experience suffering and joy – safe, compassionate, non-judgmental spaces to explore extreme states, and discover meaning in difficult experiences, balancing open-hearted, non-hierarchical relationships with wise boundaries.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

Our fifth event, in Broughton Hall, Yorkshire, looked at looking at the ways we can create safety inside ourselves, and help create safe places for people when they are in crisis.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

Our fourth event, in Buckland Hall, Brecon Beacons,  Wales, looked at the ways in which trauma – through the generations and life stages – can impact our mental health.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

Our third event, in fforest, West Wales, explored why finding meaning and purpose is so vital for recovery from trauma and mental distress.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

This was our second event, building on our first gathering and going deeper into the issues surrounding a more compassionate approach to mental health.  See full Programme and Speakers>>

The launch of Compassionate Mental Health: a groundbreaking one day event bringing together mental health practitioners, people with personal experience and policy makers to explore alternatives to the disease model of mental illness. See full Programme and Speakers>>