The festival has now ended for this year. You will be able to view recordings of some of the events below.
Following a truly unprecedented year, now more than ever the value of compassion to our lives, institutions, and communities has been amply demonstrated.
We are bringing together academics, practitioners, campaigners, and activists, working in a number of fields, for a festival on compassion in its broadest sense, to coincide with the celebration of this year’s ‘World Compassion Day’.
Festival newsletters
The Festival of Compassion is a university-based event which will consolidate and present some of the key current thinking related to compassion, and offers practical suggestions about how to actively implement compassion for wellbeing both in university and in life beyond it.
Join us for activities online, on campus and in the city of Exeter to listen to engaging talks from renowned experts and participate in ‘taster’ sessions with practitioners, including: art; yoga; music; poetry; therapy; spiritualism; guided nature walks, and much more.
Themes
We are taking an interdisciplinary approach to presenting some of the important issues and dichotomies related to compassion, by charting a path between scientific, philosophical and alternative views on compassion and wellness. Within several Festival Themes or “Tents” we will address compassion and self, compassion in education, compassion and community, and compassion through play.
The Exeter Festival of Compassion is a great way to support University of Exeter staff and students as well as the local community, and to engage with the University of Exeter, an institution of global standing and a major South West employer.
Contact the Festival of Compassion team at festivalofcompassion@exeter.ac.uk.
Event recordings
The festival has now finished but you can still view recordings of the events where appropriate.
Keep checking the date as we are uploading the details as they come in to the accordions below.
Festival of Compassion, Bringing mindfulness to education
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 18 | Felix Klieser | Interview with Felix Klieser, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s new Artist in Residence |
Recording: |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 19 | 10.30-11.30 | Bringing Mindfulness to Education | Liz Lord from Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) will discuss what mindfulness is and isn’t, the research evidence around potential benefits and what it looks like in a school or university context |
Talk |
| Fri 19 | 11.00-13.00 | Death Café | The Departure Lounge: An interactive death café exploring the ways in which grief for humans and other animals can be a catalyst for compassion |
Talk NOT RECORDED |
| Fri 19 | 14.00-15.00 | Yoga with Nikki Darling | Nikki Darling will facilitate a gentle session that weaves in some compassion focused yoga philosophy, poetry, and a meditation practice |
Workshop in person
|
| Fri 19 | 14.30-15.30 15.30-16.30 | Can we talk about race? | Fireside conversation with Professor Beverly Daniel Tatum, a clinical psychologist, author and a sought-after speaker on the topic of racial identity development, the impact of race in the classroom, strategies for creating inclusive campus environments, and higher education leadership. Conversation will be followed by a book sale and signing. |
Streatham Campus RECORDING |
| Fri 19 | 17.00-17.30 | Race: the beginning and the end | Talk by Reverend Professor Keith Magee, an economist and theologian with over 30 years of professional experience as a senior executive in higher education, museums and non-profits with a focus on culture and justice, philanthropy, public policy and public theology. |
Streatham Campus, |
| Fri 19 | 19.30 | Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra | Join Felix Klieser, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s new Artist in Residence in concert at the Great Hall. Conducted by BSO’s Chief Conductor Kirill Karabits, the programme includes Mozart’s most popular and tuneful Horn Concerto with Felix as soloist, and a rare opportunity to enjoy one of Anton Bruckner’s earliest symphonies. | Streatham Campus |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 20 | 11:00-14:00 | Compassionate Cafe | Celebration of compassion and a multicultural community with music, food, book sale and signing, games, conversations, crochet, knitting and even LEGO to build a better relationship with nature at Maketank. | Exeter City, Maketank, 3-5 Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 2JB |
| Sat 20 | 10.00-11.00 | Yoga with Nikki Darling | Nikki Darling will facilitate a gentle online session that weaves in some compassion focused yoga philosophy, poetry, and a meditation practice |
Online |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 22 | 10.00-11.00 | Yoga with Nikki Darling | Nikki Darling will facilitate a gentle session that weaves in some compassion focused yoga philosophy, poetry, and a meditation practice | Streatham Campus |
| Mon 22 | 10.00-12.00 |
Sim Factory - What if the organisation was a game? |
Come and play a game online to explore what would happen if the organisation was a game. How would we play it and what would be the rules? Can we still be compassionate towards our colleagues? In ‘Sim Factory’ we simulate a factory, with customers, management, staff and products. What can we learn from this game in how to behave in real organisations? |
Workshop NOT RECORDED |
| Mon 22 | 10.00-11.00 | The Poetry of Compassion | A creative writing workshop by Sally Flint to explore how nature and people can and do interact in a compassionate world by experimenting with words and images | Streatham Campus |
| Mon 22 | 11.00-14.00 | Poetry Café | A festival of words, celebrating all the amazing poetry submissions, where you can write poetry and the walls (screens), hear a reading by Chris Southgate and get editing help by Sally Flint. If you feel inspired you can also fill the room with your own words at the “Poetry Corner” |
Streatham Campus |
| Mon 22 | 11.00-13.00 | EduPlay | Time to play! A collection of resources and ideas to encourage your playful side and inspire ideas for your own teaching, as well as exploring compassion through play. Just turn up and grab a seat! | Penryn Campus |
| Mon 22 | 13.00-14.00 | Pitch up and Play – Football | Sports - No registration or membership needed! Just turn up and get involved! |
Streatham Campus |
| Mon 22 | 13.00-14.00 | An informative support session about migraines | A talk by David Kernick with Q&A |
Talk NOT RECORDED |
| Mon 22 | 11.00-15.00 | Wellbeing Campervan | The Education Welfare team will be available to students for any wellbeing and welfare questions | St Luke’s Campus |
| Mon 22 | 12.30-13.00 | Official opening of the Festival | Our Vice-Chancellor, Lisa Roberts, will welcome staff and students to the Festival of Compassion and project lead Maarten Koeners will share the story behind the event, how it came about, its aims and give you some highlight to look forward to |
Online |
| Mon 22 | 15.30-17.00 | Compassion and Spirituality: Compassion in different Faiths and Traditions | Members of the Multifaith Chaplaincy team will speak about what compassion is and how it is practised within their faith / worldview tradition. The Multifaith Chaplaincy team is comprised of chaplains from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Muslim, Jewish, and Quaker traditions. All of these have specific insights to give on the practices of compassion within our lives and communities |
Online RECORDING UNAVAILABLE
|
| Mon 22 | 19.00-20.00 | Mindful Classic Sessions |
In this session, Irene Salvo will explore self-compassion starting from the reading of ancient Greek and Latin literary works (in translation). How can we develop compassionate attitudes towards our truest selves? Mindfulness and literature can show one of the paths available to us. No previous preparation is required to attend |
Streatham Campus NOT RECORDED |
| Mon 22 | 19.00-20.30 | Self Compassion - Being Kinder to Ourselves |
Join Olga Zilberberg (www.Olgaz.co.uk) for a workshop of learning how to be kinder to ourselves, being accepting of our flaws and mistakes while moving towards achieving to be better and master a sense of self love and kindness |
Talk Online |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 23 | 8:00 – 16:00 | Independent Thinking Live! | A BIG DAY OUT! Over 20 of top Associates and speakers from Independent Thinking are delivering an exhilarating collection of live and recorded keynotes and workshops for teachers and school leaders everywhere And It's FREE! |
Keynotes and workshops RECORDINGS |
| Tue 23 | 11.00-15.00 | Wellbeing Campervan | The Education Welfare team will be available to students for any wellbeing and welfare questions - CANCELLED | Streatham Campus |
| Tue 23 | 12.00-13.00 | Pitch up and Play - Dodgeball | Sports - No registration or membership needed! Just turn up and get involved! |
Streatham Campus |
| Tue 23 | 12.00-13.15 | Campus Poetic Tours: the walk | Join us for an outdoor walk through Streatham or Penryn campus, experiencing our work and study environment through the poetic word as part of an embodied sense of place and identity |
Streatham Campus |
| Tue 23 | 13:30 – 14:30 | Campus Poetic Tours: the map | Experience the poetic tours of Streatham and Penryn campuses, virtually; listen to some more poetry; enjoy some refreshment | Streatham Campus |
| Tue 23 | 12.00-13.15 | Campus Poetic Tours: the walk | Join us for an outdoor walk through Streatham or Penryn campus, experiencing our work and study environment through the poetic word as part of an embodied sense of place and identity | Penryn Campus |
| Tue 23 | 13.30-14.30 | Campus Poetic Tours: the map | Experience the poetic tours of Streatham and Penryn campuses, virtually; listen to some more poetry; enjoy some refreshment | Penryn Campus |
| Tue 23 | 13.30-14.30 | Mindful Classic Sessions |
In this session, Irene Salvo will explore compassion towards others and nature starting from the reading of ancient Greek and Latin literary works (in translation). How can we embrace in compassionate circles people around us and the natural environment we live in? Mindfulness and literature can show one of the paths available to us. No previous preparation is required to attend |
Streatham Campus NOT RECORDED |
| Tue 23 | 19.00-20.00 | Ikigai with Caitlin Kight |
Ikigai: a Japanese Concept About Finding Meaning in Life. This session will introduce you to this idea, explain how it can help provide resilience and direction and guide decision-making, and make will use a series of embedded activities to demonstrate how someone can begin to find their ikigai |
Workshop Online |
| Tue 23 | 19.00-20.30 |
Shame, Self-Compassion & Forgiveness: A sacred meeting, with Helen Tanner |
In this workshop, we will be gently shining the light on shame and how it can be transformed and released through the self-compassion & forgiveness process | Workshop
Online NOT RECORDED |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 24 | 09.30-11.00 | Self-esteem, creativity and making people's brains hurt | Keynote talk by Ian Gilbert, founder of Independent Thinking, an educational thinker, innovator, entrepreneur, speaker and award-winning editor and writer. Never happier than when he is making brains hurt, he has a unique first-hand perspective on the world of education having lived and worked in schools and universities in the UK, the Middle East, South America and Asia |
Streatham Campus NOT RECORDED |
| Wed 24 | 10.00-16.00 | Open event in St Luke's Volunteer Garden |
Join us for outdoor activities at St Luke’s Volunteer Garden (we do have some shelter), which will help promote general wellbeing, as well as show compassion for others within the University and the community through fun and contemplation. Activities include gardening, crafting, readings and creating the Tree of Compassion. Refreshments available. Donations for Exeter Foodbank |
St Luke's Campus |
| Wed 24 | 11.00-14.00 | Playful Cafe |
Get a free coffee and cake - come and play with us at our Playful Café, sponsored by T-Cup Studios and HeadsUp! The Playful University Club will host a selection of games perfect to include in your teaching and There There will host an amazing ‘playful pipe cleaner event’ - the name of the game is to literally step out of the everyday and into play and experimenting. It will be wonderfully mindless – allowing us to step out of our anxieties and busyness to let our hands manipulate the soft fluffy wires and come into a state of Flow T-Cup Studios and HeadsUp Technologies are delighted to be sponsoring and attending the Exeter University Festival of Compassion |
Streatham Campus |
| Wed 24 | 11.00-15.00 | St Petrocs Volunteering Event and Wellbeing Campervan | St Petrocs will be joining us on the Penryn campus to talk to students about their organisation, volunteering opportunities and to speak to and learn from students about their ideas for how best to help others. The Education Welfare team will also be there for any student wellbeing and welfare questions - CAMPERVAN CANCELLED - VOLUNTEERING WILL GO AHEAD | Penryn Campus |
| Wed 24 | 11.00-12.30 | Poetry of Ageing |
Shuks Esmene and Kelly Stevens work on a University of Exeter project called Healthy Ageing through Innovation in Rural Europe (HAIRE). Shuks will give a 15-minute talk on Zoom about how compassion and kindness play a key role in the project and its delivery, and Kelly Stevens will follow up with a writing workshop. The idea of the workshop is to really “see” old age with compassion, and consider ways we can bring compassion to the lives of others and to ourselves as we age |
Workshop NOT RECORDED |
| Wed 24 | 12.00-13.00 | Playful Yoga | Join Anouska Cekalovic during her in-person session called “Playful Yoga”, where you are invited to engage in exploration of yoga poses and breathing exercises. It's slow paced and easy to follow as it is a time to reconnect with yourself! Please bring your Yoga mat! |
Streatham Campus
|
| Wed 24 | 12:00-16:00 | Digital Wellbeing | Come along to the Digital Hub to discuss digital wellbeing and how to be compassionate online! Also showcase your digital compassion by working with your team to win Mario Party mini games. Come along and get involved and spin the digital wheel to win a prize, or give a prize! | Streatham Campus |
| Wed 24 | 13.00-14.00 | An informative support session about Type 2 Diabetes, and the risk factors surrounding it | A talk by Amanda Kohn with Q&A` | |
| Wed 24 | 13.00-14.00 |
Cultivating Compassion within Evidence Based Mindfulness Training |
Research suggests that people who complete evidence based 8 session Mindfulness Based Programmes (MBPs) experience increased levels of self-compassion and meta cognitive awareness, stepping back behind the "waterfall of thinking". This session, with Kay Octigan, is an introduction to evidence based mindfulness training |
Workshop Online |
| Wed 24 | 14.30-15.30 | Mindful Classic Sessions |
In this session, Irene Salvo will explore self-compassion starting from the reading of ancient Greek and Latin literary works (in translation). How can we develop compassionate attitudes towards our truest selves? Mindfulness and literature can show one of the paths available to us. No previous preparation is required to attend |
Streatham Campus |
| Wed 24 | 16.00-17.00 | Playful Poetry Writing workshop |
Chris Southgate will lead a series of exercises designed to stimulate ideas, adventures and experiments in poetry. Suitable for beginners and experienced writers alike. Bring a notebook and a pen/pencil, but most of all a heart and spirit ready to play |
Workshop Streatham campus
|
| Wed 24 | 19.00-20.30 | Journey to joy | Would you like to create more joy in your life and learn, experience and share how you could do this? Join Anouska Cekalovic on our own “Journey to Joy”, where you engage in activities that can support joy through movement, reflection and sharing - so bring your favourite cuppa! | Online |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 25 | 9.30-12.00 | Panel Discussion | Panel discussion on the theme of ‘Celebrating Experiences towards a Compassionate Campus’ Prof Louise Lawrence (University of Exeter) Rev Prof Keith Magee Dr Theo Gilbert Dr Kathryn Waddington Marion Ojua (Student Guild) Hosted by Rachel Burn |
Online RECORDING |
| Thu 25 | 09.30- 10.30 |
Mindful Classic Sessions |
In this session, Irene Salvo will explore compassion towards others and nature starting from the reading of ancient Greek and Latin literary works (in translation). How can we embrace in compassionate circles people around us and the natural environment we live in? Mindfulness and literature can show one of the paths available to us. No previous preparation is required to attend |
Streatham Campus NOT RECORDED |
| Thu 25 | 12.00-15.00 | Refugees and Sanctuary Cafe | A drop in café exploring the theme of refugees and sanctuary, hosted by a number of University and community groups who work to support refugees and campaign on refugee issues. Come and meet, talk and engage |
Streatham Campus NOT RECORDED |
| Thu 25 | 12:00-16:00 | Digital Wellbeing | Come along to the Digital Hub to discuss digital wellbeing and how to be compassionate online! Also showcase your digital compassion by working with your team to win Mario Party mini games. Come along and get involved and spin the digital wheel to win a prize, or give a prize! |
St Luke's Campus |
| Thu 25 | 13.00-14.00 | Pitch up and Play – Touch Rugby | Sports - No registration or membership needed! Just turn up and get involved! |
Streatham Campus |
| Thu 25 | 12.00-14.00 | Open event in St Luke's Volunteer Garden | Join us for outdoor activities at St Luke’s Volunteer Garden (we do have some shelter). These activities will help promote general wellbeing, as well as show compassion for others within the University and the community through fun and contemplation. Activities include gardening, crafting, readings and creating the Tree of Compassion. Refreshments available. Donations for Exeter Foodbank |
St Luke's Campus
|
| Thu 25 | 12.00-12.40 | Qigong |
An interactive Qigong with Holly Prince, where you can engage in learning some qigong movements. Qigong (pronounced ‘chee-gong’) is an ancient Chinese healing art, focused on combining breath with movement with the aim to maintain good internal health. It can be seen as similar to Tai Chi |
Streatham Campus
|
| Thu 25 | 13.00-14.00 | Refugees and Sanctuary |
Presentations and discussion on the theme of refugees and sanctuary, exploring what we can do within our communities to promote a culture of welcome to those who have sought sanctuary in the UK |
Streatham Campus NOT RECORDED
|
| Thu 25 | All day | Lukie’s - Connect & Discover | Last Thursday of the month St Luke’s Campus event for staff and students |
St Luke’s Campus
|
| Thu 25 | 13.15-14.00 | Being kinder to yourself with Jo Blakely |
Come along to our session to explore the benefits of compassion for wellbeing and how to develop it within yourself |
St Luke’s Campus
|
| Thu 25 | 12.00-13.00 | Playful Yoga | Join Anouska Cekalovic during her in-person session called “Playful Yoga”, where you are invited to engage in exploration of yoga poses and breathing exercises. It's slow paced and easy to follow as it is a time to reconnect with yourself! Please bring your Yoga mat! | St Luke’s Campus |
| Thu 25 | 12.00-14.00 | LEGO Serious Play: from the ground up – building compassionate learning environments |
Join us for a playful exploration of what a compassionate learning environment looks like, and what this means for the future design and function of learning spaces. | Penryn Campus |
| Thu 25 | 16.00-16.40 |
Qigong |
An interactive Qigong with Holly Prince, where you can engage in learning some qigong movements. Qigong (pronounced ‘chee-gong’) is an ancient Chinese healing art, focused on combining breath with movement with the aim to maintain good internal health. It can be seen as similar to Tai Chi |
Streatham Campus |
| Thu 25 |
17.00-19.00 | Playful Lab | Would you like to explore learning through the medium of play? Within our Playful Lab we will experiment with playful practice (learning through doing), using games (physical, cognitive, computer, etc) storytelling, and a little magic. | Streatham Campus |
| Thu 25 | 19.00-20.30 | Compassion, Action and Feeling truly Alive | Aspasia Leledaki https://aspasiaawakenings.com/. Come explore with Aspasia through meditation, stillness, movement, dance, music and more, the activation of our innate capacity to be compassionate and truly alive. | Workshop Online |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 26 | 10.30-12.00 | Compassionate futures | Roundtable discussion. Speakers will share and discuss how they view the future in which we foster compassion within the learning community and beyond. Hosted by the Provost, Prof Janice Kay CBE |
Talk Online |
| Fri 26 | 13.00-14.00 | Pitch up and Play - Rounders | Sports - No registration or membership needed! Just turn up and get involved! |
Streatham Campus
|
| Fri 26 | 11.00-14.00 | Compassion & Sport Café | Get a free coffee and cake and come chat with us about all things sport! Join us for a challenge, learn more about recreational sports opportunities and talk about the importance of being physically active for mental health. Rumour has it that there might be a ping pong table alongside other sports games to take part in, so come along for a chance to win some prizes too! |
Streatham Campus |
| Fri 26 | 10.00- 13.00 | MOTH | Design for Life & Death | MOTH invites you to consider Symbols of Death. Memento Mori images – reminding us to live life well – and to contemplate our relationship with death and what might happen to us, when the one inevitable event we plan for the least comes to visit? To start some (difficult, but) important conversations with those you love. Create your own Memento Mori image. |
Falmouth Campus |
| Fri 26 | 14.00-15.00 | Being Kinder to Yourself, with Sarah Lane | Explore the benefits of compassion for wellbeing and how to develop it within yourself | Talk Streatham Campus |
| Fri 26 | 14.00-16.00 | Honour Based Violence & Sanctuary by Karma Nirvana | An online training session delivered by Karma Nirvana, a charity working to end honour based abuse in the UK | Talk Online
|
| Fri 26 | 15.00-17.00 | Compassionate Salon |
Join us to close the Festival of Compassion with all volunteers, speakers and attendees, for tea, biscuits and music Forum Piazza Marquee (Streatham Campus). We’re arranging for a reflective activity and great music too |
Streatham Campus |
| Date | Time | Title | Short Description | Event details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 28 | 10.00 – 10:45 | Guided kindness meditation with Frits Koster | A guided meditation practice on mindfulness and kindness | Workshop Online |
NB
- November is Men’s Mental Health Month
- The week of 22 November is Estranged Student Solidarity Week
- 25th November – 10th December is 16 days of Action Against Domestic Violence
- Sunday, 28th November is World Compassion Day
Useful links
We've pulled together a selection of useful links to match the themes of the festival.
Festival of Compassion Sponsors
As headline sponsor of the inaugural Festival of Compassion, UPP are proud to demonstrate the strength of their partnership with the University of Exeter.
UPP Ltd is the UK's leading provider of on-campus residential and academic accommodation infrastructure, operating over 36,000 rooms in partnership with 15 world-leading universities. This includes over 4,000 rooms on the Exeter campus.
T-Cup Studios and HeadsUp Technologies are delighted to be sponsoring and attending the University of Exeter's Festival of Compassion.
Special thanks to the Exeter Alumni Annual Fund for co-sponsoring the Independent Thinking Events on the 23rd November 2021 and to Independent Thinking for their support.
At Agar we specialise in partnering with businesses to help create the kind of culture where individuals fulfil their potential and the business succeeds. Our approach is simple. We believe that by having the right people with the right skills and attitudes your business can grow and flourish.
Agar are proud to have been working with the University of Exeter for well over a decade.
The Festival of Compassion is subject to the latest Government regulations and guidelines relating to COVID-19 and our first priority is keeping all of us safe whilst on campus/location. Should Government regulations or guidance change, meaning it is not possible for the face to face events to go ahead, we will advise you as soon as possible and publish a revised programme with the online events.
