Hello
Does anyone know what's happening with the NFSH - I believe they are making changes to their organisation but wonder if anyone knows what?
thank you & blessings
:confused:
As I understand things the NFSH is planning to move premises and change it's name to The Healing Trust 🙂
Barbara x
Hi Damsontree,
There are indeed changes afoot at the NFSH.
Originally this was called the National Federation of Spiritual Healers when it was founded over 50 years ago. Six years ago it changed to a Trust, and became the NFSH Charitable Trust Limited, dropping reference to the word spiritual in the process. At the same time it changed from a membership organisation, as demonstrated by the word Federation in the title, to being an organisation run by a board of trustees.
The name will change again in the middle of this year to be the Healing Trust, at the same time as the Central Office moves from Middlesex to Northampton.
There are members in the the current organisation who feel that their voices are not being heard by the Board, and that this will get even worse when it becomes a pure Trust.
Yes, there have been changes and there will be more changes, but not for the better.
With love and light,
Sue.
Thank you Barbara & Sue for answering my question I appreciate it.
blessings
Thank you Barbara & Sue for answering my question I appreciate it.
blessings
You are very welcome 🙂
Barbara x
It might interest readers to know that the new organisation is now revealed on the old website....
It might also interest readers to know that the members were told not to use the new title until the launch in September. As I said earlier, some feel a gap between the Board and the members.
With love and light,
Sue.
I think the web site is looking great and I really like the change in name. I'm very happy with it 🙂
Barbara x
I'm one NFSH / Healing Trust member who was a little disquieted at the changes last year but who is now perfectly happy with them.
There have been a lot of personnel changes, and I can't say I knew many of the former crew very well, but there seem to be some lovely people working in Northampton now. I wasn't too happy about the disappearance of the word 'Spiritual' from the main title; but actually the training course material is being revised again and is becoming markedly more spiritual in nature.
There was negociation, when the old office lease ended, around moving the head office to Burrows Lea (the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary in Shere near Guildford), in order to make it possible for the Surrey staff in the former office to keep their jobs. However, the Burrows Lea administrators forbade any mention of Past Lives or of Angels, so the Trust decided it had to decline that arrangement and retain the right to discuss such things.
Overall, while I'm not particularly thrilled by the name or the new logo, I feel the trust is moving in a very positive direction. I hope those members who have been unhappy with the changes will be brought back on board as time goes along, because the trust will be poorer without them. But in any organisation, it's important sometimes to have a bit of a shake-up.
Wishing you all light and blessings
BV
Dear BV,
I am not doubting you, but I am interested where you were told that "... the Burrows Lea administrators forbade any mention of Past Lives or of Angels, so the Trust decided it had to decline that arrangement and retain the right to discuss such things.". The two stated reasons by the NFSH Board were that Burrows Lee would not garuantee an extension to the lease and that it would cost tens of thousands of pounds to extend the telephone setup. Angels and past lives were not mentioned.
Are readers of this thread aware that the latest change to the Constitution removed the requirement for future changes to be approved by the membership? I agree that sometimes a shakeup is needed, but changing from a membership organisation to one run by an increasingly autocratic Board is not a good idea for those who care about democracy. I don't know about anyone else, but I prefered a Federation where members could play an active and participative role.
With love and light,
Sue.
Dear Sue,
You probably have more detailed information than I do, but I knew about the Burrows Lea restrictions some years ago, because I did a course there on Healing into Death. (Nothing to do with NFSH.)
The Course Leader told us about these rules at Burrows Lea and we took a vote amongst course attendees in the afternoon. The course leader sat down and pretended not to hear for half an hour while we locked the doors and had a group discussion on both these topics, having promised not to tell the administrators!
I know there were other issues with Burrows Lea, and it was probably most diplomatic for Head Office to state these as the reasons for not moving there. However, the Past Lives / Angels issue is one that I was told by two long-standing Regional Heads of Training, independently of one another, and I don't think they made it up.
I didn't know about the most recent change to the Constitution, and I'd agree with you that it sounds like a mistake. I hope that they don't abuse it, and if I ever end up on the Board (which is entirely possible) then I'll campaign to have it reconsidered. Thank you.
While I consider that the Healing Trust is, on balance, a Good Thing - I am never in favour of blind loyalty to anything and I have every sympathy with those healers who feel disenfranchised. No organisation is perfect, and no organisation is perfect for everyone: but while some are right to leave, others are right to campaign from within for improvements.
Wishing you a light-filled day,
BV 🙂
Dear BV,
Since you say it is possible that you may end up on the Board, please let me suggest that you read the new Constitution and Standing Orders carefully.
Firstly, the Board now have the power to veto Trustee appointments "where the Trustees believe that that person's trusteeship would be harmful or reasonably likely to become harmful to the interests of the Charity" (para. 26.3 of the Articles of Association). Note the use of the phrase "likely to become harmful", which also appears in paragraph 9.4 which allows the Board to expel any Member. This ability to block an appointment as a Trustee now effectively removes the Council's power to be responsible for the appointments of the national Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer.
The Board now also has the power to remove a Member from a Regional Committee, even though that Member had been democratically elected by the Region (para. 2.17 of the latest Standing Orders).
So, if you wish to be on the Board, it would be best to keep thoughts of campaigning for any change to their power to yourself until you are actually a Trustee!
With love and light,
Sue.
Dear BV,
Since you say it is possible that you may end up on the Board, please let me suggest that you read the new Constitution and Standing Orders carefully.
Firstly, the Board now have the power to veto Trustee appointments "where the Trustees believe that that person's trusteeship would be harmful or reasonably likely to become harmful to the interests of the Charity" (para. 26.3 of the Articles of Association). Note the use of the phrase "likely to become harmful", which also appears in paragraph 9.4 which allows the Board to expel any Member. This ability to block an appointment as a Trustee now effectively removes the Council's power to be responsible for the appointments of the national Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer.
The Board now also has the power to remove a Member from a Regional Committee, even though that Member had been democratically elected by the Region (para. 2.17 of the latest Standing Orders).
So, if you wish to be on the Board, it would be best to keep thoughts of campaigning for any change to their power to yourself until you are actually a Trustee!
With love and light,
Sue.
I'd also acquaint yourself with how to run a charity. You can get some good books from the Directory of Social Change.
Mmm - and how do we interpret the 'interests of the Charity'? I'm sure that one hasn't been debated for the last time... 😉
More seriously, it's likely to be a while yet if it happens, but if it does then I shall be mindful of the advice offered. Many thanks.
Hello
Does anyone know what's happening with the NFSH - I believe they are making changes to their organisation but wonder if anyone knows what?
thank you & blessings
:confused:
I see that the Healing Trust are about to make more changes. Any ideas?
The Healing Trust is in a state of turmoil. As predicted at the beginning of this thread (two and a quarter years ago) the 'trustees' have progressed to a confrontational stance with the members. To give some background :
The members elect two members. each year, from each Region to represent them at a Council. This Council has two responsibilities. 1. To advise the trustees. 2. To elect the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer. The Council elected a Chairman at the end of last year, and the trustees immediately dismissed him and then suspended him from membership.
The trustees prevented a Council meeting from proceeding on 12th March this year, whereupon the elected representatives convened a steering group to replace the trustees. All moves have been blocked. The trustees employ a firm of London solicitors to act on their behalf, and issue emails to all members with their side, in which they refer to the elected representatives as "a tiny minority of disaffected people".
In the absence of written guidance about who calls a Council Meeting, the steering Group called one on 7th May and, totally constitutionally, elected yet another Chairman. The trustees stated that the meeting was illegal since they had not called it, so the Chairman's appointment was also illegal.
A member set up a web site to allow members to discuss the matter. The trustees used legal action to shut it down.
There is, however, a new site, which I commend to you for further reading :
With love and light,
Sue
Dear Sue
I have attached a link for information on an opinion on the latest within the Healing Trust. This is excellent reading and after speaking to many HT members seems to be their opinion as well. With regard to the removal of the previous chairman and the suspension perhaps there was a valid reason.
<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://clearsight.forumotion.co.uk/t28-complaint-regarding-statement "> http://clearsight.forumotion.co.uk/t28-complaint-regarding-statement
Dear Healistic,
I have used your link and read the letter, and I am saddened by the anger and bitterness in it.
The fact, however, remains that the elected representatives of the total membership voted decisively to elect a new Chairman, and the trustees declared the result invalid because they had not called the meeting at which it was decided. If the author is saying that this person is completely out of touch, slanderous, etc. then the elected representatives do not agree with her.
As long as the trustees continue to have a confrontational approach to the very people who pay subscriptions, they are contributing to such divisive positions.
With love and light,
Sue.
Hi all,
I know the thread hasn't been active in a year, but I am hoping that you will still find this post.
I am considering doing an NFSH course, but I do have some concerns.
I started googling links around this time last year and found an NFSH forum, which I can't seem to access anymore, but I was quite surprised about the "non holistic" tone of some of the threads on the forum. This has made me quite skeptical about taking an NFSH course if some of the people involved are showing a less than understanding attitude.
The thread seemed to be between members, and one user in particular, who used a real name, appeared to be trying to bully those with user names (not their real names) into revealing their identities rather than airing their concerns behind a user name.
The concerns seemed legitimate and discussed in a rational and concerned fashion, but it was the persistent tone from this named member which really appeared to show a nasty element going on within the organisation. I would guess there was a good reason that people were using user names if this was the kind of reception they were going to get for airing their views.
I had meant to comment on the website at the time, but didn't. I went on the search for the forum again today, but it seems to have been removed, possibly now replaced with the one on the NFSH website for which you need a user account.
In any case, this is just an outsider view, but from your posts in this thread it appears that all is not well, unfortunately.
I would welcome your replies either to the thread, or on PM if you don't want to comment publicly. I simple don't want to be aligned with an organisation that isn't centred and supportive, and want to choose wisely before embarking on any course or group involved in furthering my spiritual and holistic journey.
Thanks in advance for reading, and for any help or advice you can give,
Light,
Curiosity.
Hi all,
I know the thread hasn't been active in a year, but I am hoping that you will still find this post.
I am considering doing an NFSH course, but I do have some concerns.
I started googling links around this time last year and found an NFSH forum, which I can't seem to access anymore, but I was quite surprised about the "non holistic" tone of some of the threads on the forum. This has made me quite skeptical about taking an NFSH course if some of the people involved are showing a less than understanding attitude.
The thread seemed to be between members, and one user in particular, who used a real name, appeared to be trying to bully those with user names (not their real names) into revealing their identities rather than airing their concerns behind a user name.The concerns seemed legitimate and discussed in a rational and concerned fashion, but it was the persistent tone from this named member which really appeared to show a nasty element going on within the organisation. I would guess there was a good reason that people were using user names if this was the kind of reception they were going to get for airing their views.
I had meant to comment on the website at the time, but didn't. I went on the search for the forum again today, but it seems to have been removed, possibly now replaced with the one on the NFSH website for which you need a user account.
In any case, this is just an outsider view, but from your posts in this thread it appears that all is not well, unfortunately.
I would welcome your replies either to the thread, or on PM if you don't want to comment publicly. I simple don't want to be aligned with an organisation that isn't centred and supportive, and want to choose wisely before embarking on any course or group involved in furthering my spiritual and holistic journey.
Thanks in advance for reading, and for any help or advice you can give,
Light,
Curiosity.
I took part in The healing trust's course back in April and May 2012 and I loved it. However, my tutor also expressed deep concern with the running of the organisation, but we spoke no more of it throughout the rest of the course.
Although I too am an outsider, I'm going ahead with the training.... mainly 'cause I paid for it. LOL 🙂
I personally am not fussed because I'm sure that there are other reputable spiritual healing associations/organisations that will take me under their wing. (I'm perpetually optimistic!)
Blessings,
Surreal
I started googling links around this time last year and found an NFSH forum, which I can't seem to access anymore, but I was quite surprised about the "non holistic" tone of some of the threads on the forum. This has made me quite skeptical about taking an NFSH course if some of the people involved are showing a less than understanding attitude.
.
I don’t know anything about the NFSH, but I wouldn’t judge an entire organisation by what’s posted on a forum. There are always going to be people you disagree with, and with whom you disagree. Were the posts actually coming from the people who would be leading the course?
The Healing Trust
Hi
I trained with NSFH back in 2005 and enjoyed the course and found the material detailed with a good balance between theory, information, personal insights and practical work and our tutor gave us good guidance and support. But being honest there did appear to be hierarchical issues and some ego involved, but I felt more from insecurity than malice.
However, having completed the training course you must apply for membership and are a student for 2 years. I didn't do this at the time, but wanted to do it this year. I rang up central office and the lady who deals with membership is lovely, she is very helpful and supportive.
The process of moving from student to full member is robust involving being mentored, keeping a log of your healing and personal and spiritual development and finally "sitting the panel" of assessment. When I began ringing around (you get provided with a list of contacts) they seemed to be a lot of discord and gossiping. I have been out of the loop for about 5 years and I have no idea what has gone on but the impact for me has been I am unable to find a mentor within a 50 mile radius so am stuck as student member.
This is probably a point to check out before paying for the courses if you plan to be a full member.
If there is an NSFH Healing Centre in your area you could maybe go along and get the "feel" for what the ethos and values are and take it from there.
Or as surreal says you can complete the course and there will be other professional bodies you can become a member of.
Hope this helps.
I am sure your intuition will guide you down the right path.
Blessings x
NFSH has healed!
Hello, I have just found this site by accident!
I have been an NFSH Member since 1982, and a Healer Tutor for sixteen years.
Please let me reassure anyone who is doubtful about joining NFSH and/or taking the training.
We have fought our way through very serious difficulties which have now been resolved legally and constitutionally. We now have a completely new Board of Trustees whose focus is absolutely as it should be, and our Constitution and Articles of Membership have been re-written by senior legal expertise.
We are experiencing a wonderful new beginning of an excellent organisation that was started in 1952, and the strong intention is to provide first class tuition and loving support for those who wish to work on the Path of Service as healers.
Peace and Progress to All
Hello, I have just found this site by accident!
I have been an NFSH Member since 1982, and a Healer Tutor for sixteen years.
Please let me reassure anyone who is doubtful about joining NFSH and/or taking the training.
We have fought our way through very serious difficulties which have now been resolved legally and constitutionally. We now have a completely new Board of Trustees whose focus is absolutely as it should be, and our Constitution and Articles of Membership have been re-written by senior legal expertise.
We are experiencing a wonderful new beginning of an excellent organisation that was started in 1952, and the strong intention is to provide first class tuition and loving support for those who wish to work on the Path of Service as healers.
Peace and Progress to All
That's wondeful news Barbara!
My perpetual optimism has paid off. 🙂
I have a question for you Barbara and to anyone else who would be able to help. I've completed parts 1 & 2 and I am considering applying to become a student member of The Healing Trust. However, I am having a little trouble getting a referee due to them thinking that the Healing Trust is a little "too strange" to them.
Would it be better for me to regularly attend a healing centre, find a mentor and practice healing for 2 years, then getting a reference from my appointed mentor?
What are your thoughts?
Blessings.
Hello, I found this site by accident, and have tried to post a reply, but it did not appear, so this is another attempt!
I have been an NFSH Member since 1982, and a Trainer for sixteen years.
I just wanted to reassure posters that the NFSH is enjoying a new start, having fought through some very serious difficulties.. There has been a complete change of Board of Trustees, whose focus is respect for Members and on re-building the excellent reputation that NFSH has had since its beginnings in 1953.
Please be reassured that the training is excellent, and student Members are supported.
Peace and Progress to All
Nfsh
Hello, I am pleased to respond to the query.
To become a student member, two signatures are required, one an NFSH Member and one who need not be, such as a colleague, or other suitable person.
The Student Membership runs for two years, and the easiest way to fulfil the criteria is to find the nearest Student Support Group or Healing Centre (listed on the NFSH site) Student Support Groups exist to help people through their time as a student, and will mentor as needed. Most Healing Centres offer the same opportunities, and it would be acceptable to go along before joining and explain that you are thinking of doing so, and so meeting the people there, and other Students, and this will allow you to 'get a feel' for the group.
It is not necessary to attend every meeting, as there is a minimum requirement of meeting with a Mentor. The whole process has been made easier over the last few years, with only one Full Healer Mentor needed instead of two,.
What a shame that people still misunderstand spiritual healing! However, a sponsor for initial Student Membership is only signing to say that in their opinion a person may be considered suitable for student membership, ie, not sowing any obvious reasons that would exclude them, and that they are in good health, (as far as the sponsor knows).
This is not a 'legal' statement, and there follows two years in which a student, if obviously unsuitable for training, can be re-directed if required!
Every Good Wish to you on your healing path.
Peace and Progress
Nfsh & cps
Many of us started out with organisations like the NFSH and the CPS,
and later progressed on. So a nod of gratitude is due.
They provide a useful role for newcomers to the spiritual path,
which few other European countries can match.
One of the many reasons that we're glad that we chose to incarnate in Britain.
The Benefits of being recognised
I agree that training organisations are the best training point for newcomers. Although some Members do move on, as you comment, a large number retain their membership because both the NFSH organisation and the training are recognised by those members of the public who wish to either consult a healer or bring one in to a formal situation, such as a medical setting or care home.
NFSH training was completely re-written some years ago to conform wit the government standards on complementary therapies, (although I see healing as unique, and not part of the complementary therapy range at all!) and has been updated regularly since. This reassures the public, and also the medical profession, with whom several research projects on healing have and are being run.
Yes, it would be excellent if such organisations were set up in other countries, NFSH does have healers and groups around the world, with Tutors in many countries, but healer training of all types needs to be developed much further.
Peace and Progress