Jem Shackleford

Jem is a mindfulness teacher, supervisor and MBI:TAC Lead for Oxford Mindfulness.

Jem’s interest in meditation began while living in Taiwan between 2001 and 2004. On returning to the UK, Jem went on to explore more fully the benefits of mindfulness meditation for people experiencing recurrent depression, drawing in part on his own lived experience. Today, his work is grounded in a secular approach, with a particular focus on bringing mindfulness into everyday life and supporting its application in wider society.

Jem worked for many years in a large rural comprehensive school, where he played a key role in developing mindfulness within the school environment. A desire to extend this work beyond education led him to undertake an MSc in Mindfulness-based Interventions at Bangor University, which he completed in 2018. Following this, Jem worked on the MYRIAD project at the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry as a schools’ liaison consultant, supporting teachers and helping schools embed mindfulness while navigating the practical challenges involved. This remains a central area of interest for Jem, particularly in supporting mindfulness teachers and improving the accessibility of courses for diverse groups.

Jem teaches mindfulness to the general public, delivering a range of courses including MBSR, MBCT and MBCT-L. He also works with young people and those who support them, both teaching directly and training carers to deliver mindfulness approaches.

A key area of Jem’s work is the assessment of mindfulness teachers, including those training within NHS Talking Therapies. Jem has a particular interest in improving accessibility within assessment processes. Jem is also a trustee of BAMBA (British Association of Mindfulness Approaches) and works as a supervisor supporting the development of mindfulness teachers.