Lynn Henshall  Administrator Living Values Association (British Isles) ALIVE Associate Tel: 0845-8337046 Fax: 0845-8337047

Living Values Education has been active in the British Isles since the inception of Living Values, which has been presented at numerous conferences and meetings, and to many heads, deputies, teachers and parents, both inside and outside the British Isles.

What we do

We have working groups, hold weekend seminars and residential training. We train teachers, and those involved with young people, in the use of values in their work.

We go into schools and work with them to develop a values-based school. Values-based schools tend to thrive pastorally; teaching, learning and behaviour improves, where previously there have been difficulties.

Living Values activity books are being used in homes, foster homes, parenting groups, childcare centres, nurseries, primary and secondary schools, colleges, training colleges, universities, education departments, outdoor education centres, young offenders institutions, prisons and by management, health and social workers. Recently there has been more interest from parenting groups and those working with the early years or with young adults.

Our training

The Working Groups around the British Isles have held meetings, introductions and trainings in schools, nurseries and parenting groups. Educators from the British Isles have assisted at training sessions around the world. Working Groups meet to sustain those who have attended a Train-the-Trainers.

Weekend residential seminars are held each November, to support parents, teachers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals working with young people. They provide an opportunity to further personal growth and professional development. The topics are of current interest in the field of education.

Our newsletters help to remind people about the training they have received.
Newsletter January 2009 - PDF
Newsletter January 2008 - PDF

The November 2008 seminar was Learning and leadership - a values-based approach.

Tim Small(a former secondary Head, www.ahead-space.com) is a consultant, researching and supporting leadership, learning and change in individuals, organisations and communities. Tim talked about Discipline for learning and growth and how personal power has higher impact than institutional power.

Julie Duckworth (www.ledbury.hereford.sch.uk) has been teaching in the primary sector for 20 years. As Headteacher of a school experiencing all the challenges of a deprived rural area, Julie introduced the Values Education approach, which radically transformed the quality of life for children and staff.Julie’s topic was Values-based learning and leadership in the classroom, showing that love is most important.

Tolerance - Learning and leadership

Other topics investigated over the years have been:-

2007 Emotional well-being
2006 Understanding behaviour
2005 Parenting matters
2004 Values 4 all
2003 Citizenship through values
2002 Building positive behaviour
2001 Reflections
2000 Making a difference (Music, Art and Drama)
1999 Raising self-esteem
1998 SMSC made easy! (spiritual, moral, social and cultural education)

Discussion at Emotional well-being

International activities

Values Education is a world-wide story. Educators and providers of education have decided to use a values-based approach as it fits in with their ethical, cultural, religious beliefs and has a universal appeal. The training is culturally unbiased and has been developed to allow communities to move forward positively with their lives. From street children to those in private schools, values education allows all to develop living values that become part of their lives and their outlook. The world is a better place where values are developed, respected and upheld.

International Train-the-Trainer workshops for educators from over 50 countries, together with members of LVEP's sponsoring/supporting organisations (UNESCO, UNICEF and the Brahma Kumaris) have been held near Oxford.

Train-the-Trainers (Europe) in July 2008 trained educators from 10 countries (Ghana, Kuwait, Macedonia, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Oman, Senegal, Switzerland, Thailand and the UK) at the Global Retreat Centre. They were from a variety of backgrounds, including arts, children and family support, government, hospital, school, social services and university. Each day included sessions on parenting skills, creative visualisation and values activities, where peer practice gave every participant the opportunity to conduct an activity.

Train-the-Trainers 2008

There are now over 500 locations in the British Isles, where Living Values books are available as a resource. More than 300 educators have attended a Train-the-Trainers course.

Number of Sites using Living Values: an Education Programme
Total number of sites

As many educators are now getting the books from the publisher and from bookstores, all we can say is that there are over 500 sites that have the Living Values activity books.

“We train teachers to identify the values they hold dear and help them to work out ways of introducing them to their children. Our sessions are very interactive and participation leaves the delegates, relaxed and smiling!”

Clehonger Primary School

a. In schools.

A special educational needs teacher in a secondary school, who has just started to use Living Values, says, “I have started to use LVEP in my projects and individual work with the students I teach. I am noticing a more loving, supportive, calmer climate amongst the students. They appreciate discussions about love, honesty, respect etc. and it helps them to focus on their core beings rather than the false selves they get caught up in whilst being dragged along by the tides of negativity in a school environment e.g. fighting, arguing, shouting, swearing etc. These values are imperative to the holistic growth of a child and I hope to co-ordinate them throughout the school once I have had experience of using them first hand with the students. Thank you.”

A teacher at a primary school noted that there had been no miscreants standing outside the head teacher's office when a Living Values team spent 4 days demonstrating values activities in the school!

A head teacher states, "Ofsted noted that because we work on values education, our academic standards were obviously higher."

b. In prisons.

Living Values activities and creative visualisation are also being used in prisons to benefit drug rehabilitation groups and young offenders, men and women. It is helping them to deal with oppressive aspects of prison life, such as bullying, to regain their self-respect and to strengthen their values in preparation for their release.

c. In the community.

“I worked with 18 ladies in a predominantly Islamic community, age range 18 to 50, using LVEP values and art based activities. The content was Confidence building & Understanding your communitywith Day 1 - Peace, Day 2 - Respect. Participants were so empowered that they have gone on to apply for further courses. For some, the 'Confirmation of Attendance' certificate was the first educational recognition they had ever received.”

“Although I haven't been using LVEP overtly this year, one thing I have noticed is that, since I've been using LVEP principles in my own life, students' response is warmer and their achievement is good - they are able to find inspiration in class. Students who came to my Interior Design class considered themselves to be inartistic, but they’re all going on to take creative subjects like watercolour painting next year. So.........”