Narelle Dalton, Lorna McLean
A kindness culture; not the easy option!
A kindness culture; not the easy option!
King Edwin School is an independent SEMH provision which has a student body of 90 and a staff body of half that. As with any SEMH provision the challenges that both staff and students face daily are entrenched in trauma, disappointment and low aspirations with most student feeling let down by ‘the system’ and most staff suffering potential burnout from providing a solid support system above and beyond for pupils. Some may ask why even bother if all is so bleak but the answer is: it’s not!
Here at King Edwin School we have created a culture of kindness which we believe is supportive and sympathetic to both staff and students alike and one which is integral to our students’ success but also vital to our success as a School and community.
Kindness really is a simple yet underrated concept that can be embedded into any community. Studies show that giving, receiving and even witnessing kindness can have a positive effect on the brain; being kind releases neurotransmitters associated with positive emotions, experiencing kindness releases neurochemicals which can lead to increased feelings of trust and pleasure and seeing kindness activates areas of the brain associated with empathy, compassion and social connection. These effects can have further positive impacts on mental health, stress levels, and well-being.
Our 60 minute workshop is aimed at any level of educational professional and can inspire change from the top right down to the grass roots. With practical and inspiring stories and ideas for embedding and designing a kindness culture this workshop will leave people with some food for thought whilst reminding them of what it really means to be kind. Participants will engage in a visual media presentation with three practical activities included which will allow them to reflect on their current approaches, witness the power of kindness through three levels of participation and plan for future changes.
Data, Literature and Neuroscience all support this theory. Ballatt and Campling in their 2011 book, Intelligent Kindness: Reforming the Culture of Healthcare, summarise some of the evidence for the impact that kindness can have on our own brains. For example, in altruistic individuals, increased activity in the posterior superior temporal cortex has been reported (when compared with less altruistic individuals). Harbaugh et al reported increased activation in reward-related regions of the brain in response to several types of monetary exchanges. Individual acts of kindness release both endorphins and oxytocin, and create new neural connections which of course have positive effects on overall brain health and wellbeing as supported by Otake et al who state that ‘Engaging in acts of kindness has also been associated with increased well-being. These findings indicate that being aware of the kindness of others and of ones own acts of kindness is related to increased self-reported levels of well-being.
A kindness culture; not the easy option!
A kindness culture; not the easy option!
King Edwin School is an independent SEMH provision which has a student body of 90 and a staff body of half that. As with any SEMH provision the challenges that both staff and students face daily are entrenched in trauma, disappointment and low aspirations with most student feeling let down by ‘the system’ and most staff suffering potential burnout from providing a solid support system above and beyond for pupils. Some may ask why even bother if all is so bleak but the answer is: it’s not!
Here at King Edwin School we have created a culture of kindness which we believe is supportive and sympathetic to both staff and students alike and one which is integral to our students’ success but also vital to our success as a School and community.
Kindness really is a simple yet underrated concept that can be embedded into any community. Studies show that giving, receiving and even witnessing kindness can have a positive effect on the brain; being kind releases neurotransmitters associated with positive emotions, experiencing kindness releases neurochemicals which can lead to increased feelings of trust and pleasure and seeing kindness activates areas of the brain associated with empathy, compassion and social connection. These effects can have further positive impacts on mental health, stress levels, and well-being.
Our 60 minute workshop is aimed at any level of educational professional and can inspire change from the top right down to the grass roots. With practical and inspiring stories and ideas for embedding and designing a kindness culture this workshop will leave people with some food for thought whilst reminding them of what it really means to be kind. Participants will engage in a visual media presentation with three practical activities included which will allow them to reflect on their current approaches, witness the power of kindness through three levels of participation and plan for future changes.
Data, Literature and Neuroscience all support this theory. Ballatt and Campling in their 2011 book, Intelligent Kindness: Reforming the Culture of Healthcare, summarise some of the evidence for the impact that kindness can have on our own brains. For example, in altruistic individuals, increased activity in the posterior superior temporal cortex has been reported (when compared with less altruistic individuals). Harbaugh et al reported increased activation in reward-related regions of the brain in response to several types of monetary exchanges. Individual acts of kindness release both endorphins and oxytocin, and create new neural connections which of course have positive effects on overall brain health and wellbeing as supported by Otake et al who state that ‘Engaging in acts of kindness has also been associated with increased well-being. These findings indicate that being aware of the kindness of others and of ones own acts of kindness is related to increased self-reported levels of well-being.
