by Dr Joel and Michelle Levey
As two of the first people in the world to offer Mindful Leadership and to develop Mindful Organisations, beginning in the 1970s, we have been privileged to witness the emergence of the modern mindfulness movement revolution in its many creative expressions and styles around the globe. Over the past 40+ years we have been invited by leaders to develop and guide mindfulness and mind-fitness inspired Wisdom at Work programmes for leaders, teams, divisions, and departments in over 200 leading organisations worldwide, and we have witnessed consistently heartening results.
On this journey we have discovered a wealth of profoundly practical wisdom, that when rigorously applied, generates tremendous value for the individuals, organisations, and communities of stakeholders involved in this work. We have also witnessed inspiring transformations and the ripples of benefit in the lives of thousands of leaders and also within their teams, organisations, families and communities, which have emerged from their dedicated commitment informed by clear intention, purpose, and good science.
One of the most inspiring organisations that we’ve worked with in recent years is Here,a progressive social enterprise delivering and designing healthcare services, which is based in Brighton, England, where Mindful Leadership has become a way of life-work throughout the organisation. Here was recently honoured as the winner of the Social Enterprise of the Year award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards for 2017, whichrecognise excellence and outstanding achievements by social enterprises, businesses set up for a social purpose that reinvest or donate the majority of their profits in order to meet their mission. Given that there are now nearly 80,000 social enterprises in the UK, which together contribute £24 billion to the economy each year, this award is a great honour for Here and its mindful approach to fulfilling its mission of providing ‘Care Unbound’ to the community it serves.
Founded in 2008, Here (formerly BICS – Brighton and Hove Integrated Care Services) is owned by its GPs, practice managers, nurses, and staff. Its partners include citizens, GPs and local healthcare practitioners, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), NHS Trusts, third sector providers, social enterprises, the independent sector and other healthcare companies, and also community groups. They have transformed the focus of care from ‘What’s the matter?’ to ‘What matters to you?’
Download the latest issue and read the full article now.
