The Oxford Mindfulness Centre brings together top researchers, health professionals and mindfulness teachers in a single facility within the University of Oxford, the oldest English speaking university in the world, with an 800 year tradition of international scholarship and research innovation.
Why now?
Taking action now will guarantee the future of mindfulness research and training as a major force for good in preventing depression. It will enable teachers from all over the world to train in this important practice and for high quality MBCT to be taken to where it is most needed.
Since our founding in 2007 we have trained teachers in Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland, as well as the UK and Ireland. The training manuals and self-help books have been translated into all major European languages as well as Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. MBCT research and practice now has a global reach and we are poised to build on this success.
What needs to be done?
The aim is to create a Development Fund which will establish a permanently endowed Mindfulness Research Group within the University of Oxford. The OMC Development Campaign aims to raise £7.31m in endowments.
This will secure the future by endowing a named Professorship in Mind and Science, a named Lectureship and administrative support. It will also provide the funds to maintain the OMC’s accommodation within the Prince of Wales International Centre whose architecture is so beautifully suited to mindfulness training.
How will it help?
Mindfulness represents a new epoch in our approach to preventing depression. If it is to realise its full potential, it needs sustained research and dissemination, training, development and outreach. If you would like to speak to us in detail about naming opportunities and other ways in which large endowment gifts might be recognised please contact us and ask to speak to Professor Williams directly.
