Community Conversations: Day of Wellbeing and Healing

Are you currently facing trauma? Are you looking for a space to have an open conversation? After the loss of a child to violence, dealing with the consequences and building a bridge of peace seems impossible. Facing personal challenges alone is really tough, and not knowing how to overcome it or where to find the tools to deal with it can make it unbearable. Many individuals out there continue to struggle with hidden pain and are stuck in reliving the path that leads from that ‘injury’, while not being surrounded by others who have experienced similar hardships.

Having an open conversation with another who demonstrates the impact of self-care and acceptance can make a difference in the decision to move forward with an open mind, as to what is still attainable in life. On the 10th Anniversary of James Ross Hunter’s passing, as part of Civil Society Consulting's initiative , JRHYS is bringing the conversation about trauma to the table, with the will to bring success to the passion of care for self and others. The impact of unity in healing can make a difference not just for the victims, but also for the perpetrators. Speakers at this event are role models who have developed a platform that brings results within their community. They are people with lived experience, who will share tools that are available in our communities, far beyond the loneliness of our homes.

This will be a day to care about yourself and for the vulnerable in our community—a space to connect without being judged. You will learn from different visions and from the impact of visual awareness when working together with one common objective. You will also get to know available healing that is ongoing in all sectors of society and the impact this can result in if used consistently. There will be keynote speakers and Q & A’s with them, where you will hear (and ask!) from their experiences working in healing and with civil society. Besides the conversations, you will enjoy a music therapy session, a ‘healing market’ which will include 3-4 stalls of acupuncture and sound and crystal healing, open to all.

Join us for a day of coming together to heal and embrace diversity!

Agenda for the day

Downstairs: 14:30-18:30 Music therapy, activities for kids, arts and crafts

15:00-15:15 Reception + coffee and tea

15:15-15:30 Introduction

15:30-15:45 Break

Upstairs: 15:45-17:30 Conversations with key speakers

17:30-18:00 Break

18:00-19:00 Networking

Healing ‘market’ (3-4 stalls acupuncture, sound/crystal healing, music therapy)

19:00-20:00 Closing & concert

With the performance of:

• Lemuel Bailey
• Evadney Bygrave
  

40 spots available for one to one conversations with the speakers

Dr. Timothy John-Baptiste, Founder of the 'Time 4 World Peace' initiative

Timothy shifted from telecommunications to education, managing teams and training apprentices before focusing on supporting youth in schools, teaching various student groups and leading behaviour units. Utilising his engineering background, he developed presentations and workshops, notably the "Time 4 World Peace" initiative, earning him recognition as Dr. Timothy John-Baptiste.

Collet Hunter, Founder of

Collet embraces her journey and the loss of her first born to violence to make positive changes in the Borough of Lewisham. She actively works with community groups to bridge the gap to vulnerable victims and emphasise hope for the future generation, delivering workshops in schools and in the local community with the focus on early intervention measures.

Wallee McDonnell, Director of Celebrate Life CIC

Originally from Ireland, Wallee has always been passionate about music and social justice, working for various charities in London. This passion led him to his current role, where he is part of the core team, organising and running events. The company is dedicated to conveying messages of peace through films and workshops.

Dave Read, Founder of the-lightworks.co.uk

Dave is a teacher and speaker - and author of many innovative CoolFire resources on positively transforming everyday mental health, Emotional Literacy and wellbeing - not only as a gateway to holistic personal development, but also as a force in boosting effective teaching and learning. In founding the-lightworks.co.uk in 2011, Dave has drawn on a unique mix of considerable experience as both a classroom teacher and therapist.

Errol McGlashan, Founder of Word on The Kerb

Errol is a captivating, award-winning Spoken Word Artist known across the UK for his rhythmic Performance Poetry. Errol is a sought-after events host and workshops facilitator and the creator of Word on The Kerb, a mobile Open Mic platform. Errol has acted on stage and screen and recently performed his self-penned one-man show, ”Something to Take Off the Edge,” over 30 times at several venues, including the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Sharon Kilborne, Trustee of the National Hate Crime Awareness charity 17-24-30

Sharon, with over 15 years experience in community work, specialises in countering extremism and addressing hate crime. Sharon has chaired a Pan London hate crime forum and supports the UK's first Black Restorative Justice Forum. Currently a Trustee of the National Hate Crime Awareness charity 17-24-30, she fosters community resilience. As a member of Lewisham's Independent Advisory Group (IAG) and Police Encounter panel (PEP), Sharon amplifies community voices and chairs the Lewisham Hate Crime working group, dedicated to addressing local issues.

Mark Ereira-Guyer, Founder of Civil Society Consulting CIC

Mark has over 40 years experience working with voluntary, faith, social enterprise, and community sector leaders. Mark has extensive knowledge and experience in governance, funding, and monitoring and evaluation. Mark founded Civil Society Consulting’s precursor - Big Society Funding CIC in 2011.

Barbara Gray, Founder of

Barbara is an advocate for health and social care equity, leading initiatives to dismantle systemic barriers for Black communities. With extensive experience in economic development, public health, and social justice, Barbara's unwavering dedication to uplifting marginalised voices establishes her as a force in racial health equity. Additionally, she has held positions including former Mayoress of the London Borough of Lewisham and founder of KINARAA CIC, working to create equitable health opportunities for all.

About James Ross Hunter Youth Support

James Ross Hunter Youth Support CIC was founded in 2014 by Collet Hunter, after the M**der of her 18-year-old son, James, who died bravely saving another in his community from a gang attack. Working out of the TNG Youth and Community Centre in Sydenham, south London, Collet and her team deliver workshops and events to young people and parents to raise awareness of knife crime, gangs and exploitation, and to promote positive social values and wellbeing.

JRHYS brings the community together in the fight against violence, launching petitions, for example, for a one-minute London-wide silence acknowledging victims, as well as awareness events, such as Violence Awareness Month in May where a #1min4lives silence takes place in Lewisham for families who suffered loss to violence. The organisation is a frequent collaborator with Lewisham Council, as well as South London housing associations delivering programmes on public health and wellbeing.

About Civil Society Consulting

Civil Society Consulting CIC (CSC) is a non-profit working across the UK, with strong connections in the North East, North West and East of England, as well as in London where we are based. In a nutshell: we want health, equality and social solidarity (cohesion). We believe that restoring a sense of community and developing communities is the key, and therefore that the voluntary community sector (VCS) is key! We aim to strengthen the VCS sector by being a reliable source of excellent support for VCS organisations, which is either affordable (to medium-sized and larger organisations) or free (to small, grassroots organisations led by and for marginalised communities).

About 32 Steps to Togetherness

The UK is experiencing high levels of loneliness across all age groups and social fragmentation is on the rise. Why? Because individuals and communities are becoming more and more isolated from each other. Fast-paced lifestyles and the privatisation of public spaces are major factors, with changing social norms and technology altering how we communicate. People are desperately missing a sense of community!

Civil Society Consulting has developed a resource for combating loneliness and social fragmentation from the bottom up - through small but significant actions. The 32 Steps manual provides practical suggestions for how we, as individuals and community leaders, can build connections within and between communities, setting out ideas for how to change our thinking habits, foster community connections, encourage workplace inclusivity, and recognise the political nature of building diverse social networks.

Over the next two years, Civil Society Consulting CIC has Bringing People Together funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. We we want to:

• Grow a community of togetherness champions - people and organisations who support and endorse 32 Steps to Togetherness
• Spread a spirit of togetherness through them, inspiring individuals and community leaders to follow the 32 Steps.
• Support, catalyse and empower community leaders within the community through providing free support.

Over the next two years, we’re focused on building the foundations for a bigger movement - i.e. a strong network of supported civil society and faith leaders. These foundations will be a launching pad from which to scale. Join us.

Host or Publisher Civil Society Consulting CIC