The Heart Movement (Community Interest Company) have launched their latest funding round on Indiegogo platform. The community interest project is working to secure an additional £90,000 of funding to support the national tour of the Heart Bus, commencing in May 2021.

Visiting health centres, universities, charities, events, communities and town centres, the Heart Bus will provide an open-access, free to visit, community space and mobile workshop. The safe space for those who have been impacted by the pandemic will enable people to connect with others, experience the benefits of mindfulness, listening spaces and the technology of heart intelligence. 

Ri Ferrier, Managing Director of Heart Based Living Initiative comments, “The impact of Covid-19 on mental health has been severe, but we’re unlikely to be able to measure its impact on society for generations. It’s a huge task and a massive vision, but our Heart Bus is going to take help and support to the places it’s needed most. We’ve already funded an iconic American Bus, but we need your support to fill it with a great selection of tea and soup, experienced mindfulness teachers, and the biofeedback devices that will prove beyond doubt its efficacy and benefits.

These amazing little devices can measure the impact of our mindfulness sessions for individuals, groups and even local communities. They show in real-time that when we cultivate emotions of appreciation, love, and compassion our heart rhythms become more coherent or consistent.  We have always believed in the benefits of mindfulness – it is amazing to have the scientific proof to back it up.” 

Rollin McCraty, Director of Research, Institute of HeartMath comments, “Studies with many thousands of people have shown that accessing the intelligence of our heart can make a significant improvement to our mental health and wellbeing. I am delighted that The Heart Movement is taking our scientifically validated technology, tools and techniques out across the UK and offering this for free, during these difficult times.”

The Heart-Based Living approach blends many recognised and scientifically validated approaches to wellbeing, including mindfulness, heart intelligence and listening spaces and every person who visits the Heart Bus will have the opportunity to walk away with practical wellbeing tools that will underpin the rest of their lives. 

Ri Ferrier continues, “We want to connect with as many diverse groups as possible. The more backing we get, the more towns and cities we can visit, and the more lives we can bring calmness, connection, and wellbeing to. And as we expand the road tour to touch as many lives as we can, we are asking for pledges to the Heart Bus crowdfunding campaign to support the greatest and most heartfelt road trip ever attempted.”

Those visiting the Heart Bus will have the opportunity to attend:

• Mindfulness Taster sessions (20 minutes)

• Mindfulness Workshops (35 minutes)

• Introduction to Listening Space (15 minutes)

• Listening Space workshops (45 minutes)

• Heart Intelligence Practise with biofeedback sensors (20 minutes)

• Signposting to further resources

• Nourishing soup and a selection of teas

• Connections with others

Within these offerings, participants will have the opportunity to learn:

• The science of mindfulness

• Mindfulness activities that can be used in everyday life

• How to bring attention to present moment

• Breathing techniques that activate parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest)

• How to cultivate happiness and positive emotions

• How to build coherent and more consistent heart rhythms

• How to authentically listen to self and other