A Global Gathering for Mindfulness and Compassion

On 12 May 2025, an international online gathering marked an important milestone in the development of the Compassionate Mindful Resilience programme.

Hosted by Angie Ward of MindfulnessUK, the event celebrated five years of delivery, research and international collaboration.

The programme has grown from a practical mindfulness course into a widely recognised training used in healthcare, community organisations and workplaces.

The celebration brought together speakers from across the mindfulness, research and corporate sectors to reflect on the impact of compassion based mindfulness training.

Speakers included:

• Karen Atkinson, CEO of MindfulnessUK and developer of the programme

• Dr Trudi Edginton, neuroscientist from City University

• Katharina Mullen, European Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches

• Sean Tolram, HSBC

• Anna Wilson, researcher from Queen’s University Belfast

Together they explored how mindfulness and compassion training can support resilience in modern life.

Opening the Event

Angie Ward Welcomes the Community

Angie Ward opened the event by welcoming participants from across the international mindfulness community.

She reflected on how the Compassionate Mindful Resilience programme had developed over five years and highlighted the growing global interest in mindfulness training certification and compassion based wellbeing practices.

Angie also acknowledged the wide network of teachers, researchers and organisations who have contributed to the programme’s growth.

The event created a space for reflection, discussion and shared learning.

The Story Behind the Programme

Karen Atkinson on the Development of CMR

Karen Atkinson, CEO of MindfulnessUK, shared the origins of the programme and the experiences that shaped its development.

Karen has spent decades working in healthcare and mindfulness training and during this time she noticed that many people struggling with stress, illness or trauma found long meditation practices difficult.

This insight led her to experiment with shorter mindfulness practices that could be integrated into everyday life and over time these practices became the foundation of the Compassionate Mindful Resilience programme.

The programme combines mindfulness awareness with compassion practices to help people respond more kindly to difficult experiences.

Karen explained that these short practices often had powerful effects.

People who initially struggled with stress or chronic health conditions were able to gradually build resilience and reconnect with their daily lives.

“Through teaching shorter practices over several years I saw people move from being bed bound to returning to work and normal activities.”

This practical experience helped shape the programme that is now taught internationally.

Understanding the Science

Dr Trudi Edginton on the Neuroscience of Short Practices

Dr Trudi Edginton from City University London explored the neuroscience behind mindfulness and compassion practices.

Her research focuses on how mindfulness affects the brain and nervous system and how short mindfulness practices can activate areas of the brain linked with emotional regulation and attention.

Regular practice helps calm the stress response and strengthens the brain’s ability to manage difficult emotions. Compassion practices also activate neural networks associated with empathy and care. Together these processes help people develop emotional resilience.

The neuroscience of mindfulness is an increasingly important area of study and is shaping the way modern mindfulness teacher training certification programs are developed.

The European Mindfulness Community

Katharina Mullen on International Collaboration

Katharina Mullen from the European Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (EAMBA) spoke about the importance of collaboration across the international mindfulness community.

She highlighted how mindfulness organisations across Europe are working together to support high quality training and ethical teaching standards.

As mindfulness continues to grow worldwide, maintaining shared standards is essential and international networks help teachers share knowledge, research and best practice.

They also support people exploring accredited mindfulness training UK and other professional development pathways.

Mindfulness in the Workplace

Sean Tolram from HSBC

Sean Tolram shared insights from the corporate world, describing how mindfulness and compassion practices are increasingly being used within large organisations.

Modern workplaces are often fast paced and demanding, where employees face constant pressure, long hours and digital overload.

Mindfulness programmes can help staff manage stress, improve focus and develop healthier working relationships.

Sean described how organisations are beginning to recognise the value of compassion based leadership and emotional intelligence training. These skills are becoming increasingly important for workplace wellbeing and sustainable performance.

The Research Evidence

Anna Wilson from Queen’s University Belfast

Researcher Anna Wilson presented early findings from academic studies exploring the effectiveness of the Compassionate Mindful Resilience programme.

Her work examines how mindfulness and compassion training influence wellbeing, resilience and emotional awareness.

Early results show improvements in areas such as:

• emotional regulation

• self compassion

• resilience

• stress management

These findings support the idea that mindfulness programmes can have measurable benefits for mental health and wellbeing.

Ongoing research continues to explore how the programme can support different populations including healthcare professionals and community groups.

Why Compassion Is Central to Mindfulness?

A key theme throughout the event was the relationship between mindfulness and compassion.

Mindfulness helps people notice what is happening in the present moment. Compassion helps them respond with kindness rather than judgement.

Many mindfulness teachers describe these two qualities as working together. When awareness and compassion develop side by side, people are better able to navigate difficult experiences.

This balance lies at the heart of the Compassionate Mindful Resilience programme.

A Shared Commitment to Compassion and Wellbeing

The event concluded with reflections on the importance of community within mindfulness practice.

The Compassionate Mindful Resilience programme has grown through collaboration between teachers, researchers and organisations.

The celebration was not only about recognising five years of progress, it was also about looking forward.

Mindfulness and compassion practices continue to evolve as research develops and new communities discover their benefits.

Events like this remind us that mindfulness is more than a technique. It is a shared commitment to awareness, compassion and human wellbeing.