Sheffield to launch first ever councillor mindfulness group

Sheffield City Council are launching a cross-party mindfulness group for councillors which they hope will help them to 'disagree better' and make better decisions. Â
The group meditating at the briefingThe group meditating at the briefing
The group meditating at the briefing

The project is being lead by Councillor Michelle Cook, Broomhill and Sharrow Vale ward, with the help of the Sheffield Mindfulness Community.

Coun Cook said the sessions will involve exercises including meditation and breathing techniques which she hopes will help her fellow elected representatives to be more calm in their daily work.

The group meditating at the briefingThe group meditating at the briefing
The group meditating at the briefing
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She said: 'It's essential that we do whatever we can to make the best decisions possible and if mindfulness is a way to calm things down and finding ways of communicating better then it can only help us to do the jobs we are elected to do. 

'I'm determined that Sheffield takes the lead on this and encourage cross-party elective representatives to at least try mindfulness and see if it will work for them.

'There is lots of evidence to suggest that it does reduce stress and enhance mood and I've never heard it be a bad thing. We do exist in an atmosphere of conflict most of the time, that is the nature of politics, so I think it will be a force for good.

'We also want to make it fun. We do enough dry things - stuck in offices and meetings '“ so the sessions should be very enjoyable.

Jamie Bristow, director of the Mindfulness InitiativeJamie Bristow, director of the Mindfulness Initiative
Jamie Bristow, director of the Mindfulness Initiative
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'Personally, I've been practising it for about four years and at first I was a bit sceptical but I really enjoyed it and it's helped a lot.'

Coun Cook said they are hoping to start taster sessions before Christmas and said, as far as anyone knows, Sheffield City Council will be the first to have a mindful group for councillors.

At the briefing for the group, Jamie Bristow, director of the Mindfulness Initiative, explained some of the scientific benefits to meditation. 

He was instrumental in producing the seminal Mindful Nation report - which was presented to the Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group '“ that looked at how mindfulness could be incorporated into services and public policy.

Briefing of the first mindfulness councillor groupBriefing of the first mindfulness councillor group
Briefing of the first mindfulness councillor group
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He was also a key part of a project that taught members of Parliament mindfulness techniques. 

Mr Bristow said: 'Those of us who are more mindful tend to pay attention to the present moment and what's going on in our hearts and minds, tend to be better decision makers, have more satisfying relationships and be more resilient to psychological stress.

'The politicians I work with find it helps them to disagree better and have more productive cross-party relationships even where there is a lot of conflict.'

Studies have also shown mindfulness can help to reduce stress, anxiety and addictive behaviours and is recommended as a treatment for depression by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). 

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Coun Jack Scott, cabinet member for transport and development, said he was keen to do more of the exercises and added: 'I find exercises like this really good and there have been times when I wish I could do more and have not had enough time. 

'There has never been a time when I have regretted doing in. What I would also like is for us to look at what we can do, as employers of about 10,000 people, to ensure our employees, as well as decision makers, experience the benefits.'

Coun Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: 'There is so much we need to fix in terms of how we work and some of it is changing how we actually live as councillors '“ it's not healthy. Not spending every hour of the day working for example. I think this will be a very good thing.'