Monday, 19 May 2025

The Juno Project - sharing justice - citizenship & democracy

 



1st. Peace Chaplaincy; Interfaith Mission & Eco Spirituality Chaplaincy celebrated 40 years of service in 2022. The Ministry, benefits co-operative communities, encouraging an increase in thoughtful, mindful and compassionate attitudes. In the diverse society in which we all live, understanding of citizenship and democracy is offered and we work with the spirit whatever the faith. We foster interfaith dialogue between people of different religious traditions and multifaith affinity with aspects of the beliefs and philosophies of Pagan, Heathen, Druid, 1st. Nations, African Animist, Celtic & Saxon Christian and Spiritualist paths. The Chaplaincy offers expertise in spiritual ecology & wider well being programmes, alongside traditional ministry, worship & mysticism. We have found ourselves more in demand than ever, as people report feeling anxious about the social & political turmoil, fighting & war around the world & lack of action on climate change, nature loss, human & animal suffering.

Sharing justice, citizenship and democracy is an important part of our Juno Project work. 

Juno Enterprise Charitable Association was established in Autumn 1984 & was up and running, delivering benefits by 1985. We went on to become a registered charity, charity number: 1169031.In Autumn 2024 we celebrated 40 years of achievements. During that time we gained funding from the National Lottery. We were delighted to deliver our programme: "Out to Learn" with our Juno Enterprise Learning Community. 
The "Out to Learn" programme was a huge, popular success 



(Above: learning about natural and cultural heritage, South Yorkshire)

After celebrating our 40th anniversary, it was acknowledged that so much had been achieved and sustained over such a long period and that all of our objectives had been met. With this in mind, the decision was taken to dissolve the charity and wind up the organisation. 

However, having worked closely with two partners, Dawn Chorus Educational Initiative CIC & First Peace Chaplaincy on a co-operative partnership called Triple Helix, the chance was offered to acknowledge the historical contribution that had been made by Juno Enterprise Charitable Association, by naming a legacy project delivered by First Peace Chaplaincy:

The Chaplaincy’s "Juno Project". We understand that co-operation assists implementation of strong standards. It encourages responsive flexibility; clear, simple achievable & creative concepts; moral, ethical & meaningful action creates healthy outcomes; local enjoyment & worth. First Peace Chaplaincy Learning Community Networks engage, nurture, motivate, enable, encourage and support learning, increase in thoughtful, mindful & compassionate attitudes; multi level community connections & potential. 
Assisting the understanding of democracy and governance in our Community Support Programme & it fosters skills for participation in decisions that affect communities & impact on our lives & economy. We encourage accessible local democracy, encouraging collective responsibility, to help assure that the basic means of life, growth & development are available for all. 
First Peace Chaplaincy works within communities, discussing & exploring how their own resources & destinies can be ethically secured; fostering the understanding that life resources, such as water, needed by plants, animals & humans, should be affordable, accessible to all, uncontaminated & sustainably managed.
The Chaplaincy delivers learning in organic plant based food growing, seed saving & propagation, pollination, composting and soil management. We encourage the development and sharing of innovative low technology solutions by networking information & cooperates with indigenous communities in specified international locations, respecting their right to seek inclusion in international agreements among nations, thus giving them a voice; indigenous people must be on an equal footing with other people & nations. The Chaplaincy Eco-spirituality programme offers and publicise opportunities & support for all, helping people meet their needs & fulfil their ethical aspirations, showing that enterprise is rooted in & responsible to communities & future generations. Cindy Bamford children’s activity leader thanked us for supporting Woodborough Preschool: “The children are really happy learning and having fun in their natural environment “. 
The Chaplaincy offers participation, learning resources, assemblies, deliberations, communication, forums & experience with the potential to increase self determination. Benefits include increase in thoughtful, mindful & compassionate attitudes; opportunity; multi level community connections & potential, for example at the start of Michaelmas Term 2024, our Communities of Interest Learning Groups and Community Learning Groups discussed plans and expectations for the Democracy and Governance Programme, debating concepts of inclusion & involvement, transparency & truth, pluralism & neoliberalism, freedom of speech & the rise of the far right, systems & accountability.
In the course of nurturing learning in environmental protection, the Juno Project also encompass animal welfare, community development, citizenship and democracy, human rights and well-being.



People ask what inspired the name, it derives from the Goddess Juno who is associated with women’s enterprise, regeneration & peacocks. Peacocks appear in the Juno Project logo, below, with Juno, Cupid (social engagement) & Silvanus (the environment, nature) .The motto: “Educate to Rejuvenate: to aid & benefit our communities” is from concepts associated with Juno: iuvare, “to aid, benefit”, iuvenescendo, “to rejuvenate" . Below: Percy Peacock is our project mascot. Peacocks pulled the chariot of Juno.




Above: 1st. Peace Chaplaincy Interfaith & Eco Spirituality Ministry logo.

1st. Peace Chaplaincy Interfaith & Eco Spirituality Ministry: The Ministry, benefits communities of co-operation,  encouraging an increase in thoughtful, mindful and compassionate attitudes; opportunity; multi level community connection and potential. First Peace Chaplaincy Interfaith & Eco Spirituality Ministry,  celebrated 40 years of service to the Anglo American community in 2022. First Peace Chaplaincy, having been established for over 40 year, published a 40 year report in 2024.
In 1982 Chief Frank Chilcote, a Crow Medicine Man, who had set up the XAT Society and Prison-Ashram project (based in Seattle) & The Anglo American Support Society for Native American Prisoners (based in Camelford), both asked the founder, to set up a UK interfaith chaplaincy supporting Native American prisoners. XAT felt that a chaplaincy in the UK, a country without the death penalty, could bring a different perspective to that of groups working in the USA. First Peace Chaplaincy is proud of the organisations ministry for death row prisoners.
The Chaplaincy took its name from Black Elks famous lines: “The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize at the centre of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that its centre is really everywhere, it is within each of us.”
The reach of First Peace Chaplaincy has been expanded: now work in the wider communities of interest wherever the needed is evident. The chaplaincy ministers to people who are unable to attend the usual spiritual community activities, by being present or in a position to communicate. The Ministry listens, responds and offers appropriate care and general ministry. They empower users to nurture there own spiritual coping strategies. As well as spiritual ministry, the chaplaincy delivers moral and religious education, pastoral support, community and cultural activities and compassionate and humanitarian projects. They work with the spirit whatever the faith.
The Chaplaincy is committed to co-operation in the diverse society in which we all live, offering understanding of citizenship and democracy as well as exploring:
1.Interfaith dialogue between people of different religious traditions and by sharing goals of understanding the varied traditions and web of world religions. One way of doing this is to learning about the histories & beliefs of others, whilst celebrating our own named festivals.
2. Multifaith affinity with aspects of the group of beliefs and range of philosophy that follow: Pagan, Heathen, 1st. Nations, African Animism, Celtic & Saxon Christian, Spiritualism.
The Chaplaincy offers expertise in spiritual ecology & wider well being programmes, alongside traditional ministry, worship & mysticism. We have found ourselves more in demand than ever, as people report feeling anxious about the social & political turmoil, fighting & war around the world & lack of action on climate change, nature loss, human & animal suffering.
Mission Points:
1.The Chaplaincy will provide a writing ministry for First Nations in the USA ( first facilitated in co-operation with the Anglo-American prison support association UK & XAT Medicine Society in the USA
2.The Chaplaincy will provide a writing ministry & justice campaign for animal rights, environmental campaigners & political prisoners in the UK
3.The chaplaincy raises awareness of Eco-spirituality within communities of interest. Our Eco-spirituality ministry supports those with anxiety from climate, nature & biodiversity collapse, through prayer, practical actions, education, spiritual practice & the healing of relationships with nature.
4.The Ministry seeks to heal the heart of people and communities & enhance life therein & encourage well balanced free will & well being & within communities, people, the animal kingdom & all of nature, ministering to each soul & divine spirit & fostering thoughtful, mindful, compassionate attitudes, connections & potential. Names & issues can be submitted for our Lyfjaberg healing book.
5.The Chaplaincy supports social justice, animal & environmental welfare & works to create co-operation & understanding through interfaith projects & multi-faith inclusion; working with the spirit whatever the faith: pagan, heathen, US 1st. Nation & African animism, Celtic & Saxon Christian, Spiritualism…the web of world religions.
6.The Ministry uses prayer, spiritual, magical & psychic mysteries & works with nature & the divine to create positive change & display gratitude, joy & nurture & enhance all life.7.The Chaplaincy maintains it’s liminal position, it’s awareness of spirit, it’s willingness to learn & act responsibly. We work with other chaplaincies, ministries & circles that harmonise with our own. At First Peace Chaplaincy, Tuesday mornings, 10:30-11:30 is Spiritual Ecology Hour.
The Chaplaincy volunteers choose from the topics: 1.Prayer. 2.Small practical actions. 3. Earth healing Path walking. 4. Nature & well being visualisation. 5. Magical Battle of Middle Earth. 6. Positive spiritual ecology affirmations. 7. Building awareness of how spiritual principles can influence our approach to thinking about & engaging in ecological matters. 8.How best to support animist or divine concepts when perceiving & speaking about ecology. 9. Talk in the community, about the sacred value of Earth 10. Mindfully & thoughtfully reading an item of relevance to nature and spirituality. 11. Small Circles Group is our group to support those working with children. Below children exploring the natural environment at Clumber Park.
































Above: family activities. Since 1985 we have developed a range of educational resources & learning opportunities for children on a range of issues: animal welfare, wellbeing, the arts, cultural and natural heritage often helping parents, toddlers and pre-school children to explore nature together, to support our eco-spirituality and wellbeing work. We constantly update & expand our learning resources for Key Stages: 1, 2 & 3.

We recently helped with shelter building and story telling activities for preschool children, brewing up hot chocolate, hammering with wooden mallets, tying ropes, telling stories, practicing communication and teamwork skills and getting lots of fresh air.

At Easter 2024, on a visit to Spern Head, children were able to see billions of browntail moth caterpillars, barn owls, curlews, stilts & mute swans.


 







Above: colour and texture in nature.

Learning mechanisms used in our programmes:
• Through improving learning pathways & people's learning experience.
• Through engagement & involvement.
• Through inspiring people (for example, to get involved with food growing).
• Through skills support.
• Through engaging teachers & educators.

Children learn about art in the landscape. The Chaplaincy has unprecedented experience in the following areas, that we strive to embed into our programme delivery:

Wider key skills and basic skills.

Outdoor and forest experience learning.

Arts education, creative and heritage learning.




















"What is this?" Child's found object, family walking session April 2013.

These activities seem to help people to value the same natural features as do wildlife. By protecting such areas for biodiversity in a wild state, are we not ensuring space in which our children can exercise through physically play, a place to develop social skills and mental agility?

IMGP5592

IMGP7975

Wild places can sustain psychological resilience and wellbeing.

We believe that children & young people are the most important resource in our society & we strive to enable them to make a positive contribution.

Below: Andrea Wright Preschool Manager.

IMGP6132

“Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.” –  Barack Obama

Children taking part in Earth Day action and learning about responsibilities and sustainability.

Below: toddler looking for ladybirds in an old tree.











At First Peace Chaplaincy we encourage a supportive, nurturing culture, which builds early learning principles and practices based on the real world, to give meaningful, relevant experience. This can lead to positive life long learning patterns, improved confidence and self-direction. We believe that most youngsters want to be respected and trusted and want to co-operate in contributing to the community, in a responsible and sustainable way. We aim to build children's confidence & encourage mentors to experiment with approaches to learning which are filled with vitality & creativity. We use positive affirmations with the children as they create effective self-regulation and give the tools to persevere during troubled or stressful situations, boosting self-esteem and helping create positive mental attitude, thinking and outlook. We encourage Trust Nurturing and PACE parenting, where playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy are key. This Opens communication, helping children to experience being listened to in a safe place. Children then start to explore, discover and learn.


Above: exploring.

We aim to: raise awareness of the vital role played by families in raising levels of attainment. Develop opportunities for parents, carers & guardians to support children and special needs family members: for example as part of our community awareness and well being work: we arranged an event where mental health service users and young people with learning difficulties visited the office of the Nottinghamshire Crime and Police Commissioner.

Work with families in receipt of pupil premium, including adoptive families and forces families. We also integrate these activities with initiatives for those who feel lonely and isolated in our communities. This often leads to intergenerational cooperation and sharing.

Foster involvement and hands on seasonal creative learning activities, which promote an understanding of the power of nature & horticulture; the arts & heritage. this help children to transform their understanding of the world and their communities. One example is our popular annual photographic competitions.

Encourage family access to intergenerational activities, events and play-learning games, to develop compassionate and creative thinking, social responsibility, healthy eating & mental wellbeing, basic skills, understanding of & skills in animal welfare, environmental and social responsibility. For example: community, family and children's cooking sessions are popular.

Below: angel, Laxton Church.









We understand that creative and arts activities, stimulate learning and creativity in all academic areas. The arts develop neural systems such as motor skills and emotional balance, aesthetic awareness, cultural awareness, social harmony and appreciation of diversity. Helping children to understand cultural heritage and history, builds self-esteem and pride in place & community. Children who are read stories and who are taught to listen to music become good listeners: in lessons, in relationships, in social care roles and may become more empathetic and compassionate. 2012 saw a 30% contraction in arts funding in the UK, this makes our work even more vital and worthy of support.

IMGP4333

We deliver landscape conservation and skills development & promoting outdoor education for all ages. We are working hard to help bees and pollinating insects. Our Moth-Watch Challenge had good community participation and turned up many colourful species such as the Poplar Hawk Moth.

IMGP4918

Below: "discovering the peg" used to mark the strips in the medieval strip farming still practiced at Laxton.











Below: green spaces are important for children.









Our community engagement for all ages, in just one week, helped children's groups to: celebrate heritage festivals, take part in garden bird watching, countryside ID & pond adventures. 

Our community project on ammonites model making for children and our family kitchen food preserving project, has been important to our communities in lockdown, stimulating the documentation of the memories of participants. First Peace Chaplaincy set up fifteen virtual learning community event forums during lockdown, to promote thinking and awareness on a range of topics. We will maintain this type of engagement as part of our ongoing programme delivery.

In contrast to the virtual world, our real world  learning activity outings are popular & range from consideration of medieval stonework in Tickhill, South Yorkshire, to architectural furniture in Grantham & cooperation with SEND Nottingham, who work with hard to reach children and young people in an inner city area. We have been in demand in the community, to support cross-curricular immersive learning: developing compassion, cultural experience, creativity, academic potential, social skills & outdoor learning possibilities. We have developed resources to support elective home education groups. Activities directly link to Key Stages of the National Curriculum. In one project, our volunteers helping children to check insect hotels, comparing designs to find out the preference of specific species for various designs.

We have endeavoured to advance understanding of
  • welfare, well-being, quality of life, happiness and enjoyment.
  • equality, equity & ethical communities; social, environmental & economic welfare
  • the arts and cultural heritage, including sustainable ceramics research.
  • landscape and natural heritage.
  • wildlife and animal welfare.
  • responsible, compassionate and sustainable lifestyles .
  • climate change and eco-philosophy. 










No comments:

Post a Comment