Youth Wellbeing Courses - The Big Simple

Thrive, not survive

Big Simple programmes welcome anyone who is suffering and feels limited by their past or present circumstances.

We’re London based but will travel to your venue to deliver training, whether you’re in London or outside. Where necessary, training can also take place over Zoom.

Groups run as 3 day immersion programmes followed by check-in sessions, or as a 6/8 week programme of 1 session per week.

The simplicity of our approach allows us to tailor how we deliver to suit any set up. We each work with people individually and one-to-one sessions are also available according to needs. Courses are priced fairly according to group scope, with funded places for individuals available.

Please contact us at info@thebigsimple.org to book, or to discuss your requirements.

How It works

A minimum of 2 facilitators lead each group, joined by guest speakers and Peer Mentors with lived experience.

We teach with an openness to what would be most beneficial in the room, within the structure of a curriculum. Breaks are an important aspect of our work, where the learning is given time to settle; sometimes, it’s the conversation in a break that helps everything click into place.

Our values of integrity, inclusivity, openness, humour & generosity are embedded in all our teaching. We’re committed to highly effective safeguarding procedures throughout our organisation. All staff, volunteers and board members follow robust and regularly reviewed policies and procedures.

Please download our Safeguarding Policy Statement here.

For bookings and to learn more, please contact us at info@thebigsimple.org

BENEFITS

From previous groups, we’ve seen:

A decrease in:

Feelings of isolation & social exclusion

Anxiety & depression

Stress

Self-harm

Anger & impulsiveness

Aggression & violent behaviours

Substance dependency

Educational drop-out

An Increase in:

Confidence

Resilience

Self-esteem

Self-acceptance

Mental wellbeing

Peace of mind

Sleep quality

Creativity & inspiration

Can you summarise The Three Principles?

The Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought refer to the foundations of all psychological functioning. They’re a description of how our minds work; through this understanding, life becomes easier.
The Principle of Mind is the source and intelligence behind all of life, including every psychological system.
The Principle of Consciousness is that which allows us to be aware of life.
The Principle of Thought is the force that allows us to think and to experience the full range of our thinking
These principles create every moment of our experience and allow us to be aware of them.
(Taken from ‘Coming Home’ by Dr Dicken Bettinger and Natasha Swerdloff)

What is the difference between The Big Simple and other approaches?

We don’t see people as broken, so we don’t try to fix them. We see potential, not problems, talking to the mental health and resilience within us all, which opens up a space for people to see possibility and hope in their own lives. Through conversation, we begin to share what we’ve learned about the mind and how we function, focussing on the operating system behind our experience, not external circumstances or past events. This is experiential, intuitive understanding rather than conventional learning. There are no techniques to learn or apply and no homework. It’s about ‘seeing’ life from a different perspective.

What can I expect in group?

Our groups have an informal, welcoming and inclusive feel. We invite people to show up with an open mind willing to hear something new. Nothing more is expected from anyone. We facilitate rather than teach, steering group discussion/conversation in a helpful direction. You’ll be listened to when contributing and gently guided to find answers from within your own wisdom. In our groups people’s noisy minds start to quieten. When that happens, a space is created for people to consider the relevance of what we’re saying to their own lives.

How long does it take to feel better?

This varies. As our approach is not prescriptive, people will experience change in their lives in very individual ways. Some people have quick transformations, others more incremental shifts.

Does this have anything to do with religion?

No. Big Simple courses are for all human beings and are inclusive of any pre-existing beliefs.

Are these courses for someone like me?

Big Simple courses are for everyone who wants to experience more peace of mind and ease in their lives regardless of their background or circumstances. Our approach has relevance to all individuals from all walks of life.

It has been shared in the business community, amongst management teams, educational institutions, the criminal justice system and in the field of mental health, addiction, staff wellbeing and more. We offer courses to organisations working with beneficiaries, their supporters and the staff working with them, as well as to individuals privately.

If you’re looking into online youth mentoring programs or at-risk youth volunteer programs, contact us to see if our courses offer what you need.

Do you provide care leavers services?

Yes. Our groups offer care leavers support services and support services for young adults. For young people mental health can take a back seat as they try to navigate their way through challenging situations. Big Simple courses provide tools to help with this journey, preparing care leavers for independence.

Do you offer help for young adults with mental health issues?

Yes. Young adult mental health is at the forefront of what we do. Please explore our website to better understand the approach we use for young adults and mental health.

Where are you based?

Like many youth charities London is where we are based. However, when counselling young people and providing support to young people, as a C.I.C we have flexibility and are happy to travel to areas outside of London. We also offer training online.

Do you evidence your impact?

Yes. As an organisation, we work closely with 3 Principles Research and Consulting (3PRC), the global leader in 3 Principles research, and are committed to evidencing all our programmes. For those who are interested, there is a growing body of research available here and here. Our founders were instrumental in facilitating the groups for the prison studies.

RESOURCES

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‘Every human is sitting in the middle of mental health. They just don’t know it.’

Sydney Banks, 3Ps’ Founder