This is a short update to the mini -evaluation on the Healing Justice work already completed together with Paul, see below.
Shamshad statement– Temporary Steward role for GM SC with Healing Justice element
I was invited to be a Temporary Steward (TS) for GM SC, between January 2024 and May 2025, by Paul and to share the role of working on the Healing Justice strand. Paul’s role then was focused on doing monthly healing sessions jointly with me and this remained to the end. Early on he passed the role to attend meetings and contribute to the other aspects of the TS on to me. During the period, the healing theme was subsumed into the general TS role, though there has remained a strong resonance and purpose for me on healing elements. We have loved working together and learnt lots from each other.
The role of being a TS enabled me to take part and contribute to meetings, be part of the learning programme and to take part in the unlearning. It was a privilege to have time to read the material we were directed to, have time for deep learning. Also to connect with other TS and feel the shared journey of working towards building a network with partners. Like others I have thoroughly appreciated the privilege of being paid to do this deep work and to share this journey with committed and passionate skilful people. That there has been an effort to be authentic, transparent, kind and open and we have achieved this often.
The journey has challenged me in different ways and I have like others questioned the process, the dynamics and my part and contribution to it. From embracing and deepening my practice of allowing an abundance mindset and holding a desire to encourage this for others. To questioning if we are using the resources and power to personal benefit and how to more equitably share this with partners. This has been highlighted for us all, when on occasion the differences in ways of being, communication and misunderstandings have happened.
At the best of times, I have felt that the work is radical, that I am continuing to learn and that we are part of the change that we want to see happen. I have felt seen and appreciated for bringing my authentic self and a range of skills, including my poetry and holding the healing role. The influence and input of TSs has touched me deeply and informed my ways of being, doing and sharing.
Through the period I have offered healing and uplifting sessions open to partners, informal support to some TS, and some more formal 1-2-1 coaching for TS that was agreed. I feel I have more to give.
Other work
Whilst being TS I have carried on my work as a freelance coach and poet, the experience of being a TS has deeply impacted on me and further impacted my work. This has included some 1-2-1 coaching and group work. Including working with some of the GMSC partners, in particular, Afrocats, Caring and Sharing and Womens’ Voices. Some co-delivery with global majority artists. Also on a voluntary basis supporting activists and artists work.
I have worked with arts, educational and other institutions challenging their position on Palestine. At Manchester Museum with the social justice team, we successfully shifted their position to put on an a tour related to Palestine. We have submitted a joint Artist Statement on fossil fuel and colonialism practices to go with one of my poems that is to be re-exhibited at the museum and is on the GCSE syllabus. Over this period I have reduced my work as a tribunal lay member, whilst continuing to raise and challenge practices on training and equality issues. I feel that my work with TS will continue to impact my understanding and practices and deepen established and new relationships. Deep appreciation for it all.
Healing Justice Strand -November 2024
Notes on a mini evaluation of Healing justice strand work for GMSC forums – to pass on for sense making from healing justice temp stewards Shamshad and Paul
- What went well
- the development of practices of healing embedded more in meetings is generally valued.
- Holding a Culture of authenticity re how feeling, and taking deeper
- Being held and practices to ground and lift enable all to participate
- Some need and desire for healing sessions in future expressed
- The group healing sessions very appreciated
- Offer of 1-2-1 sessions – taken up and felt as very valuable
- Opening a space where we can step into and slow down, taking time for ourselves
- Even better if
- More resources to invite others/ to enable participation
- To look into what barriers to attendance at sessions
- Possibly looking at other ways to publicise
- We bring together people involved in healing work across Greater Manchester
- What are we resisting wanting to change
- Impact of oppressions, exploitation, alienation, exclusion of systems on planet, personal, community, wellbeing and agency
- Not being able to be whole self, or as one in community
- Self-care not given time as pressures to serve communities
- Spiral of impact on self and community if self-care and healing not prioritised
- What GMSC healing justice work could be without funding
- Wait to hear from sense making from forums
- Time to be together, authentic, wholesome, belonging, accepting and embracing all parts of self and towards healing, empowering
- Centring diverse, healing-creative practices and ways of being
- Transcending – using practices of grounding, uplifting
- Be a space for people involved in healing work to come together in solidarity, to share ideas and explore ways of working together
- Offer of skills practice sharing
- Poss monthly healing justice sessions – with adaptations depending on need
- Input of space holding with healing element
- Drumming workshops
Reflections from healing sessions and related work:
“Like something was sitting on my shoulders, been carrying something physical. Feel a lot lighter, feel good. Feels as though the day has got a lot better, that i received a blessing today.
We had a space of pure energy, not allowing anything to interrupt. I allowed myself to get into it, to receive it and give too, allowed myself to be. I’ve not had a clear head for days. I’m so glad I came and made time for myself. Now I will be more present with the people I work with.”
Anon (as not replied re permission to share with name) from ‘Hub Up’ online session, August 2024)
“It felt that someone cared – the sessions being offered. It was noticed that the sessions were offered and the situation acknowledged.
Anon from ‘Hub Up’ online session, August 2024
“it is life-changing in these days for me. “
Anon from 121 session
“It’s really so affirming to me to be able to share the experience that work for justice can be a healing process. I appreciate your mission and the work that you are doing.”
“it is unusual for meetings of this nature for people to feel safe enough to share around mental health to the extent they did, and this is unique, special and really appreciated.”
Chanje Kunda, guest presenter at GM Healing session
“Your session was really beautiful and powerful. The group really enjoyed your presence, presentation and contributions. Informative, heartwarming and hopeful.”
Reflections on Chanje’s presentation at GM Healing session
“We allowed ourselves to really slow down and connect with our own bodies and breath, and then connected with the theme. We breathed deeply together. We checked in with the group by sharing how we were coming in; we touched on some health disappointments, sniffles of frustration and latent sadness. We were all invited to give our thoughts a gentle nudge to balance the difficult stuff with a positive reflection. It was humbling to try this together; good to see each other’s faces light up as we saw the first glimmer of a silver lining to a thought cloud.
The healing sessions are helped because there is already a trust in the GM SC culture and those of us associated with it. We are able to build on this to create a safer space for us to learn to connect with ourselves and to build deeper trust with each other. With an intimate group we were able to reflect back to each other with a tenderness; weaving together our unique autumn healing landscape.
It was clear that the session had done wonders for us all. Calm, community and trust. There were big questions, suggestions and realisations: “how do I heal myself?”; healing in a group can be an important part”; “it can help my healing to be in community.” “profound”. “next time can we focus more on energy shifts?” We all committed to taking ourselves into nature, not needing much persuasion of the importance of self-care, but reminded of the benefits of a shared journey and healing in community.
The practices we explore together are uniquely adapted and inspired by each person who attends.”
Reflections from GM Healing session
Also see the separate “Trigger Healing” report, which also informs some of this evaluation