Jem Shackleford

I’m a mindfulness teacher, supervisor and qualified secondary school teacher.

It was while living in Taiwan (2001-4) that I became interested in meditation. Later, when I returned to the UK, I began to explore more fully the benefits of mindfulness meditation for people who suffer from recurrent depression (myself included). Today, my practice is based in the secular tradition, and I am particularly interested in moving mindfulness ‘off the cushion’ and making a positive impact on society.

I worked in a large rural comprehensive for many years and helped to develop mindfulness in the school. My desire to train people outside a school environment led me to study for an MSc at Bangor University in Mindfulness-based Interventions, completing in 2018. Subsequently, I was lucky enough to work on the MYRIAD project at the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry. My role was as a schools’ liaison consultant, supporting the teachers and helping schools embed mindfulness and meet the various challenges they faced. This continues to be an interest of mine: the supporting of mindfulness teachers and improving the accessibility of courses for different groups. I am also involved with Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (UK) – iBme UK, a group that runs residential mindfulness retreats for young people.

I’m a mindfulness teacher working with the general public. I teach a variety of different courses, MBSR, MBCT to general populations, MBCT-L and the Present. I also work with young people and those who care for them, teaching young people themselves and training their carers to deliver mindfulness. Additionally, I am a trustee of BAMBA (British Association of Mindfulness Approaches). I also have the privilege of being a supervisor for mindfulness teachers.