There is a small and select band of educational professionals in the UK who have not only had their achievements recognised in the New Year’s Honours List, but who are also able to inspire others with their outstanding knowledge, passion and enthusiasm – Sir John Jones is one.

Knighted in 2003 for his services to education, Sir John worked most of his professional life in challenging schools across the North West of England, his last post being the head-teacher of a large secondary school in Merseyside.
His achievements and reputation for straight talking, leadership and creativity led him to be invited onto various organizations, panels and think tanks including the National College for School Leadership, the DfES’ Leadership Development Unit, the Teacher Development Agency’s National Remodelling Unit and visiting posts with both Manchester and Liverpool Universities.

Sir John Jones is inspirational. He should be compulsory listening!

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/bernie-rosa/dandelions-scatter

License code: WIFVD8AZFMXQJD0U

For more information about the transformational work of the IVET Foundation and its global Affiliates visit http://www.ivetfoundation.com

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Mika Vanhanen – Ambassador of Knowledge, Peace builder and Founder of Peace Circle® inspires Neil Hawkes during this heartfelt conversation.

Mika Vanhanen is a Finnish educator, peace builder and leader in human-centred transition work. For over 30 years, he's worked across schools, municipalities, civil society, business and global networks to understand how real change happens — and why it so often fails. In 2000,Mika founded ENO – Environment Online, which grew into a global school network of 10,000 schools in 157 countries and helped mobilise the planting of more than 30 million trees.

Today, Mika continues his mission through Peace Circle®, a model that turns values into visible action by connecting nature, community and learning. This work has led to Peace Circle® parks, citywide partnerships and school-based practices in multiple countries, with a vision to reach 100 countries by 2030.

The Peace Circle® model led Mika to a wider principle he calls Circular Humanity:
when people move together in values, understanding and action, transitions become culture.

The Podcast ends with a beautiful song, Peace grows in you, which Mika has just released and can be downloaded from Spotify.

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/bernie-rosa/dandelions-scatter

License code: 8AAYKQJMQXBGCKMZ

For more information about the transformational work of the IVET Foundation and its global Affiliates visit http://www.ivetfoundation.com

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In this Noble Conversation Neil talks with Marneta Viegas (Netti) who calls herself the Queen of Creativity. She is the creative genius behind Relax Kids, which she founded a decade after running her clowning business in the 90s.

Netti says:

"I had no idea when I came up with the idea of relaxing children that it would be so mainstream and so vital.

Creativity is the driving force in my life and all my work. Every time I swim or shower, ideas come to me.

I love being able to support young people and their families through Relax Kids and feel so grateful to have the opportunity to do this precious work. I love coming up with new ways to support our families with activities such as our daily meditation group, monthly affirmation disco and interviews with experts in the field of mental health.

I’m so grateful to the Relax Kids team, all those who helped along the way and all the incredible coaches for helping make Relax Kids the magical and special business that it is.

I am particularly excited about my new project for women ‘Ignite Your Creative Spark Club’. If you are interested in finding out how to bring the magic of creativity into your life, please get in touch."

You will love listening to someone who has helped thousands of children and their families, despite being turned down by the dragons in the TV programme Dragons Den!

Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/bernie-rosa/dandelions-scatter
License code: 6Y7UFWMNQAWE091C

For more information about the transformational work of the IVET Foundation and its global Affiliates visit http://www.ivetfoundation.com

Thanks for listening!