about us.bringing mindfulness to life |
meet the team. |
Behind every course and therapy session at Mindfulness Cornwall is a team of highly trained and experienced mindfulness teachers. Our practitioners are committed to delivering safe, evidence-based mindfulness grounded in both research and compassionate practice. Each member of our team brings their own experience and perspective while sharing a common commitment to integrity, professionalism, and the highest standards of mindfulness teaching.
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our teachers
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Mindfulness has gained significant traction over the past 25 years, integrating into many aspects of society. While it is inspiring to see this ancient Eastern tradition embraced in Western culture, it is essential to approach its teaching with care and integrity. At Mindfulness Cornwall, we are committed to delivering secular, evidence-based mindfulness courses and therapies that promote safe, meaningful, and lasting change. Many of our teachers have completed the ‘Gold Standard’ in mindfulness training, studying for at least two years at one of three highly respected universities, Oxford, Exeter, or Bangor. Additionally, they are registered with the British Association of Mindfulness Approaches (BAMBA), ensuring the highest standards of teaching and practice. We are dedicated to ongoing professional development, ensuring that our stakeholders receive the most up-to-date mindfulness training informed by the latest research.
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Stephanie Jackson Mindfulness Teacher, GP
& Yoga Teacher Stephanie has been sharing the benefits of mindfulness with healthcare professionals and local communities since 2014, blending her personal interest in meditation and yoga with evidence-based secular approaches. Her work fosters resilience, well-being, and self-awareness, making mindfulness accessible to those navigating the challenges of healthcare and daily life. Alongside her mindfulness teaching, Stephanie continues to practice as a GP within the NHS and as a dedicated yoga instructor, bridging the gap between traditional medicine and holistic well-being. She holds a Master’s in Mindfulness-Based Approaches from Bangor University, where her research explored the impact of mindfulness on the self-care decisions of healthcare professionals—highlighting the profound role mindfulness plays in sustaining those who care for others. Passionate about integrating mindfulness into healthcare and personal growth, Stephanie empowers individuals to cultivate balance, compassion, and lasting well-being in both their professional and personal lives. |
Laura Howard
Mindfulness Teacher & Psychologist Laura is a dedicated Community, Child & Educational Psychologist with a passion for integrating mindfulness into education and community well-being. As the Mindfulness Lead for Cornwall Educational Psychology Service, she brings expertise, experience, and a deep commitment to enabling human flourishing . Her journey into mindfulness began in 2009, when she embraced daily practice to help navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood. This personal exploration grew into a professional pursuit, culminating in a Postgraduate Diploma in Mindfulness-Based Approaches from the University of Exeter in 2018. Her research delved into mindfulness in education, trauma-informed methodologies, and the ethical implementation of mindfulness within the armed forces. Laura has worked extensively with teachers, parents, and young people, delivering evidence-based mindfulness training in schools and local communities. She is particularly passionate about using mindfulness to transform school environments into sanctuaries for learning and growth. A firm believer in continuous learning, she regularly attends retreats and finds joy in outdoor adventures and singing. |
Frances Rippon Mindfulness Teacher &
Mental Health Advocate With over a decade of deep involvement in Mindfulness Cornwall, Frances Rippon brings a wealth of experience, compassion, and expertise to her practice. Her journey with mindfulness began as an eight-week course participant, evolving into roles as a colleague, supervisee, teacher, and trusted friend within the community. Frances holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy from Exeter University, which she completed in 2014 after an intensive two-year program. Her professional background spans mental health nursing and humanistic counselling, shaping her holistic approach to well-being. For more than 30 years, Frances has dedicated herself to NHS mental health services in London and Cornwall, supporting individuals through their most vulnerable moments. Over the past six years, she has led a team committed to revitalizing mindfulness in NHS primary care mental health across Cornwall, building upon the foundational work of Vici and Paula. Passionate about bringing mindfulness into the heart of healthcare, Frances continues to foster a culture of healing, resilience, and personal growth—making mindfulness an accessible and transformative practice for all. |
Liz Upward
Mindfulness Teacher & NHS Practitioner Liz is a dedicated mindfulness teacher, bringing her expertise from the NHS Talking Therapies services and staff wellbeing programs to Mindfulness Cornwall. Passionate about making mindfulness accessible in healthcare, she supports individuals in navigating life’s challenges with greater resilience and self-awareness. Holding a Master’s in Mindfulness-Based Approaches from Bangor University, Liz’s academic focus centered on the transformative potential of mindfulness for chronic pain management. She also offers mindfulness-based supervision, providing guidance and support to practitioners. As a trained MBi:TAC assessor, she ensures the quality and integrity of mindfulness teaching, helping others refine and deepen their practice. Committed to the power of mindfulness in both personal and professional settings, Liz continues to advocate for its role in fostering well-being, connection, and long-term growth. |
Sophie Muir
Mindfulness & Creativity Teacher Sophie brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted passion for mindfulness to her teaching. She joined Mindfulness Cornwall in 2012 after completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Mindfulness-Based Approaches at Exeter University and has since dedicated her work to integrating mindfulness and creativity in education and personal practice. With a strong background in T’ai Chi, Sophie has led mindful movement sessions for Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) retreats at Gaia House, helping individuals connect with mindfulness through embodied awareness. Her meditation journey began in the early 1980s, shaped by Tibetan Buddhist and Chan traditions, which continue to inform her approach to teaching and retreat leadership. She has worked with staff and students at Falmouth University as well as in local schools, offering courses that blend mindfulness and creative exploration. Sophie also leads retreats in Wales at Maenllwyd and in Cornwall, providing spaces for deep reflection and personal growth. Committed to making mindfulness accessible and meaningful, Sophie’s work encourages people to cultivate awareness, creativity, and a profound connection with themselves and the world around them. |
Mel Pegley
Mindfulness, Yoga Teacher and Life & Recovery Coach Mel is a trauma sensitive mindfulness facilitator, yoga teacher and accredited life and recovery coach. Her passion is to share mindfulness practices to support life change. Specialising in helping people in recovery from addiction, trauma and mental health challenges. Mel works with groups and offers private sessions. The focus is to help people transform their wellbeing and move from 'being stuck' to a place of connection and joy. Mel has trained with leading global experts Dr Gabor Mate and Dr Valerie Mason-John. And is a recognised teacher with BAMBA. |
the project
Mindfulness Cornwall was founded by Vici Williams and Paula Fairweather in 2010 in response to their strong hearts’ wish to offer accessible mindfulness courses and ongoing support for practice throughout Cornwall.
Vici and Paula had been invited to teach MBCT as part of an NHS mental health pilot project in 2008. This was very well received and was wonderfully supported by interested referring GPs, including Dr Stephanie Jackson. However, the tides of NHS service provision did not continue to flow in a mindfulness direction so Paula and Vici, in a huge act of faith and commitment, gave up other paid work and dedicated themselves to a period of reflection and practice. Mindfulness Cornwall was the result.
With Jan Llwellyn aboard as a Director, the Mindfulness Cornwall vessel set sail. Many lives have been touched and a strong community of practitioners has been established – some of whom did their first courses over 15 years ago. Paula and Vici were later instrumental in reintroducing mindfulness courses in the NHS (which now run as part of the IAPT service with Liz Upward and Lesley Roberts at the helm). Our aspiration is to continue this wonderful legacy and to grow, strengthen, support and deepen the community of mindfulness practitioners in Cornwall.
Vici and Paula had been invited to teach MBCT as part of an NHS mental health pilot project in 2008. This was very well received and was wonderfully supported by interested referring GPs, including Dr Stephanie Jackson. However, the tides of NHS service provision did not continue to flow in a mindfulness direction so Paula and Vici, in a huge act of faith and commitment, gave up other paid work and dedicated themselves to a period of reflection and practice. Mindfulness Cornwall was the result.
With Jan Llwellyn aboard as a Director, the Mindfulness Cornwall vessel set sail. Many lives have been touched and a strong community of practitioners has been established – some of whom did their first courses over 15 years ago. Paula and Vici were later instrumental in reintroducing mindfulness courses in the NHS (which now run as part of the IAPT service with Liz Upward and Lesley Roberts at the helm). Our aspiration is to continue this wonderful legacy and to grow, strengthen, support and deepen the community of mindfulness practitioners in Cornwall.
advisory board
Mindfulness Cornwall is grateful to our voluntary Advisory Board for providing expertise and guidance that helps shape the direction of our mindfulness work. The members of the board generously offer their support and advice, sharing their knowledge to ensure that Mindfulness Cornwall continues to fulfil its mission effectively and uphold the legacy of the founding members: Vici Williams, Paula Fairweather and Jan Llewellyn.
We are dedicated to offering a range of ethical, accessible, and inclusive mindfulness-based approaches to individuals in Cornwall and beyond. We aim to create spaces where everyone can connect and feel welcomed. Inclusivity stands at the core of our values, guiding all aspects of our work.
We are dedicated to offering a range of ethical, accessible, and inclusive mindfulness-based approaches to individuals in Cornwall and beyond. We aim to create spaces where everyone can connect and feel welcomed. Inclusivity stands at the core of our values, guiding all aspects of our work.
Alison Evans
Supervisor Dr Alison Evans is a freelance mindfulness-based supervisor, trainer and teacher based in the South-West of England. She has been working in the mindfulness-based field since 2004. From 2008-2017, she was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter, working as a mindfulness-based cognitive therapist (MBCT) within the NHS clinic and on several MBCT research trials, and leading postgraduate training in MBCT. She co-founded the Mindfulness Network in 2012 and co-directed/directed the charity until 2021, then continued as the Supervision Lead until 2025. Prior to her work at the University of Exeter, she worked in NHS mental health settings, including teaching MBCT. Her professional training is in occupational therapy. Alison has a particular interest in Mindfulness-based Supervision (MBS), which includes research and the publication of the book with her colleague, Pamela Duckerin, ‘Mindfulness-based supervision and mentoring: Using an embodied dialogue to support learning and reflection’. |
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testimonials
I was on a journey and my intention was to better understand meditation as it is a core part of the journey that I am on, I could never quieten my mind or even understand what it really means to quieten my mind, so the course has helped me identify particularly the emotions that I experience during that quiet time and the ability to identify the feelings, I am quite self-critical and I do live in the future . And for someone who has spent most of their life in the corporate environment and the bottom fell out of that I didn’t quite know who I was, and so the course has helped me, when I meditate, to be in the now, not to b in the conversation that I had before I meditated. I’ve escaped my future self and my past self, I am present and I recognise that I want to live this way, and I am very grateful to you Mel because you have directed it so incredibly well and I am so grateful to you and so I thank you.
Mark, MBAR participant
I am in recovery .. this course came along and absolutely complimented that recovery for me, its made me get off the hamster wheel. I have found myself taking not just one day at a time but one moment at a time, this course has definitely helped that “ “ I find myself saying things like – I’m driving mindfully ,or I’m peeling apples mindfully, ad this would never have happened before as my mind was always so busy “ I can’t thank you all enough, it has been a pleasure getting to know you all and Mel you just awesome.
Marie, MBAR participant
Yeah I really enjoyed every lesson I got to, especially the break out rooms, I was a bit apprehensive about the first one , but everyone has been so cool, so nice, so welcoming . I think for me the biggest breakthrough was the body scan…your facilitating the group has been fantastic Mel, And the way it has been put together has just been perfect, I couldn’t fault it.
Rob, MBAR participant
At the beginning I tend to be quite flaky and sometimes I was going to make excuses but I always feel so much better afterwards, I am just filled with good energy after each session. I was apprehensive … recovery – time for self in morning … listening to my breathing is the biggest thing I will take from this course , that you can this at any tine and anywhere – it will be just be invaluable , I’ve really, really enjoyed it.
Emma, MBAR participant
For me , recovery has taught me how to live in the present moment and the course has just cemented that thought pattern in the sense that being mindful in the present just makes life more beautiful, When I love life, life loves me back – we have a choice every day. The course has made me more grateful and more appreciative of all the small miracles that are around me every day, and the breathing also helps, when I do get nervous it brings my back to myself, it brings me back to myself – it is easier to be more mindful in the day and not just in the night “ “ You are a wonderful teacher and you have a very calming voice.
Jodi, MBAR participant
Totally exceeded expectations! I don't know what I thought it would be - probably that it would be more educating about stress, with practical techniques to help in stressful moments but this went far beyond that, reaching to every moment.
MBSR Participant
Laura, how lucky am I to have met you! I'm so lucky to have had the opportunity to follow your guidance. Your non judgmental guidance, calmness and level of knowledge are nothing but inspirational. You have guided me to find myself again, to be me, live in the moment and trust "what's already there"! Thankyou x.
MBSR Participant
This course should be mandatory for everyone, taught in every school, used in every workplace and organisation! I can't recommend it highly enough! Laura and Carm were wonderful facilitators, two shining examples of a mindful way of being.
MBSR Participant
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Course has been a life changing learning experience and one that I will always cherish. The big stressors in life have shrunk, I feel more in my body and generally more content - my family and colleagues have also noticed a positive shift. I wholeheartedly recommend Laura to guide you through the course and assist your personal journey; it's a wonderful place to meet like-minded people too.
MBSR Participant
