Breathing Space – Health and Wellbeing for All

Breathing Space provides high quality mindfulness-based therapies for those who have suffered from depression, anxiety, addiction, stress and chronic pain.

We want to find new ways of bringing Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBTs) to anyone who could benefit from them – especially those who might be disadvantaged in any way or those who might not otherwise consider attending the Breathing Space programme.

We are establishing connections and are keen to work with health professionals, such as GPs and Adult Services, as well as other groups. Our work is supported by London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Helping people not to relapse into depression and addiction

We aim to become a centre of excellence in London. We plan to run:

• Follow-on courses for those working with relapse into depression and addiction, called Meditation into Life. This new course, derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), has been developed by Dr Paramabandhu Groves, a consultant psychiatrist.
  
  
• Ongoing out-of-hours drop-in classes to support people in their efforts to stay well, prevent relapse or manage pain.

Up-to-date News about the Breathing Space programme

Research into MBCT for Depression

Mindfulness-Based Therapy – key principles

Our programme is based on three key principles that distinguish it from other therapeutic approaches:

• Mindfulness: the ability to be aware of what one is actually experiencing – and then to make creative choices about how to respond to that.
  
  
• Group learning: well-run groups provide an important forum for sharing experiences, which helps to reduce social isolation and facilitate shared learning.
  
  
• Self-management: empowering individuals to harness their own resources and abilities.

MBTs at Breathing Space

• Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for depression;
  
• Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) for addiction; and
  
• Mindfulness-based strategies for stress, anxiety and chronic pain.
  

Breathing Space: a new health and wellbeing centre in Bethnal Green

We are currently preparing to convert an existing large basement into a mental health and wellbeing centre. Our vision is to create a space that is peaceful, open to all, and kind to the environment.

The Breathing Space wellbeing programme has been running since 2004 and has helped more than 300 people. A new purpose-designed space, with disabled access from the street, will give us the opportunity to expand our work and run courses separately from the Buddhist Centre.

Refurbishment will create

• a large therapy room / activity space
  
• reception, kitchenette and bookshop
  
• unisex lavatories – including disabled access
  
• cloakroom
  
• platform lift for wheelchair access from street level

Fundraising for Breathing Space

We need to raise a total of £500,000 to make the new space a reality. We have been awarded around £300,000 of this from Futurebuilders UK (the government-backed investment agency). Around £25,000 of this money is a grant and the rest is a loan. This means that the Breathing Space programme will definitely be going ahead, with building work scheduled to start in September and completion due by the end of 2008. We are also in the process of approaching the following funders:

• City Bridge Trust
• Tudor Trust
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Joan Strutt Foundation

How you can help

Of the £500,000 we are trying to raise, we hope to raise £150,000 from people who attend the London Buddhist Centre, or who are sympathetic to our work. There are numerous ways in which to raise money – you could give a one-off donation, make a pledge to raise money, or complete a standing order. You can make a donation using the online donation form or make a pledge by e-mailing breathingspace@lbc.org.uk.