Maria Arpa
This week
Last blog of 2024
Plus…
Maria’s Midweek Mindfulness
and
The Wednesday Whisper
Time for Festive thoughts
What a year 2024 has been. Lots of change and transformation. Here’s a short update.
Prisons
With the closure of Dartmoor Prison due to Radon Gas, and the start-up of our project at Portland Prison, we have mourned the loss of a 7 year project built on 15 years of working in prisons and celebrated the uptake of DRM at Portland. Our Prisoner DRM Facilitators have been moved to different prisons and we have come to terms with the untimely death of one of our Facilitators, it’s been a lot to take on. At the same time we are in the process of acquiring a new Ministry of Justice accreditation as a new requirement for interventions.
Life After Prison
We continue to support a small number of individuals who have been in prison, all of whom have had some direct experience of DRM.
Charity Shops
Our shops are a very small local brand of 7 branches that generate funding for our charitable work. We’re delighted to see how the shops are generating their own social impact by supporting local people into volunteering and giving emergency clothing and toys to asylum seekers who have only the clothes on their back as well as providing art materials to a local refugee art project, and supporting rough sleepers outside our shops with a cup of tea and kind word. Donations are always received with love and gratitude. Talk to us if you have items you want to donate.
Workplaces
We have started to focus on conflict in workplaces and how leadership can influence and change culture to incorporate compassionate communication. Talk to us about the way we are improving culture and wellbeing in the workplace.
New for 2025
Look out for my new podcast in 2025. I hope to launch it in Q1. Let me know if you’re interested in supporting me.
Personally
It’s been a joy to have a presence in my Grandchildren’s lives and watch them thrive as they navigate the world. This generation are facing challenges of the digital world that did not exist 30 years ago. The question I am pondering is how do we guard against their decisions and beliefs being driven by algorithms rather than human values.
Maria’s Midweek Mindfulness
At this time I like to reflect on the year and focus on the gifts. I am grateful for all the connection, all the learning and the time for healing and mediation that has helped me to do more with less resource.
The Wednesday Whisper
What are you reflecting on as the year closes?
If you would like to access more content, please visit our Youtube channel where we add content regularly.
If you like this blog please share it with others.