Kindness is free to give but priceless to receive.

As we start 2023, I reflect on all the kindness I have received this last year.

It was an incredible year for my organisation, Kindness Matters.

I have had the pleasure of delivering Kindness Matters, Super Learning Days, and Staff Insets and, to put the cherry on the cake, speaking at Headteacher conferences. However, what stands out to me now are the many acts of kindness, large and small, that have come my way in these times.

When visiting schools, headteachers have shown me tremendous kindness in allowing me to park my Motor Home ‘Patricia’ overnight in their school car parks, with access to fresh water and places to empty my cassette toilet.

Many schools have been kind, but I want to mention three in particular:

1. Russells Hall Primary in Dudley, whose headteacher, Ali Harrison, invited me for dinner with her partner. We had a wonderful evening sharing stories, laughing off some of the challenges we face in education, and celebrating how we always overcome these and make a difference.
2. Broadheath Primary in Coventry, whose headteacher Jane Frankish and deputy head, Laura Donnely, met me outside of work. I had never experienced a primary school like this; all the children were exceptional, and their manners were on a new level. Yet again, I spent the night in their school car park; security was extremely kind, and I wanted nothing.
3. Vernon Terrace Primary – Northampton, headteacher Julie Cassiano, and the whole school community were very welcoming and fascinated with my mission in #maninavan life and genuinely interested in my story and mission to help other schools experience the impact our Kindness Matters online courses are having in children’s lives.

If you had told me at the beginning of 2022 that Kindness Matters would create over 100+ new kindness matters schools throughout the UK, I would have been like, yeah, right, whatever!

It touches my heart to receive so much kindness from Twitter, and I extend my gratitude to you all for sharing my Tweets, recommending our courses, and being vocal about the impact Kindness Matters has on school communities.

Thank you all for your continued kindness, and I look forward to Kindness Matters continuing to work in partnership with all our current schools and look forward to the many more new schools coming on board this year.

Here’s to a great 2023, filled with an abundance of loving kindness for all our school communities around the UK.

Thank you for your kindness,

John Magee,

Your Kindness Coach.

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Thank you for your kindness

Your kindness coach

John