The Healing Potential of Community Conference 1995

This 3-day conference was held over a weekend, 27th to 29th May 1995. It focused on the power of community to bring health and wholeness to individuals and collectives. It was inspired by The Peckham Experiment, an investigation into the nature of health in Peckham (South London) in the 1920s and 30s. This model was one of the options discussed when the future NHS was planned in the UK (1946). The Experiment concluded that health is more than just an absence of disease, and identified the crucial role played by the environment in promoting health.

About 50 people attended the conference. Speakers included Cornelia Featherstone, Andrew Arthur, Dr Gordon Paterson, Dr Derek Browne, and Patch Adams.

The inspiration for the logo of the conference had two sources:

1) The 1973 edition of the British 50 pence coin. Each participant received a shiny coin as a momento. This also inspired the logo for the Caring Community Circle a few years later.
2) ‘Lap Sit’ – a Group Discovery game often used in Experience Week where the group stands in a close circle, each participant gently guiding the person in front to sit on their lap as they are themselves guided to sit on the lap of the person behind. In a well attuned group, all participants sit comfortably and the circle can even move forward step by step – a true experience of the power of functional community.

Over three days, presenters and participants explored the different definitions of health, research and ‘social experiments’ demonstrating the impact of social networks and community on individual health.

In the opening session Dr. Cornelia Featherstone asked questions such as

What makes communities so attractive?
Is it the ‘longing for belonging’ that makes people’s eyes light up when they talk about community?
How does shared purpose, traditions, and mutual respect create a nourishing environment for individuals.

As a successful example of the community-health connection, she shared her experience of the Findhorn Bay Holistic Health Centre. Established by the Findhorn Foundation Community itself, this centre focuses on providing care and support for its members with the motto “A thriving community strengthens your immunity!“. She also kept it real, acknowledging potential downsides of community with historical examples of insider/outsider dynamics, including present global conflicts between ethnic or religious groups.

Cornelia went on to reflect on different health definitions, exploring the World Health Organization’s definition “Not the mere absence of symptoms or infirmities but a state of physical, psychological, spiritual and social well-being.” and looking at others, emphasising the ever-evolving nature of health.

She illustrated the difference between healthcare and disease cure: imagine a bathtub overflowing – healthcare is like turning off the taps, while disease cure is like mopping up the flood on the floor.

Andrew Arthur, a psychologist with experience in shamanic healing practices, talked about “New and Old Knowledge of Community Medicine”. He explored the role of family, friends, and support groups in keeping us healthy. Andrew highlighted the growing recognition within science of the significant impact social connections have on health and longevity. He shared historical and contemporary examples of healers who have utilized social support to promote healing and well-being and studies showcasing the positive impact of support groups on health outcomes. This included research indicating that women with metastatic breast cancer who participated in a support group lived an average of 18 months longer compared to those without such support. Andrew expressed optimism about the medical field’s openness to these findings, but also acknowledged the unfortunate necessity for such groups in the modern world, where community support may not be as readily available.

Dr. Gordon Paterson, the public health consultant in the local Health Board added the questions:

Is the community healthy?
Does the community care?
Referring to the World Health Organisation’s definition of health he asked: Does the National Health Service (NHS) make a significant contribution to health?

He acknowledged that recent NHS reforms recognise that health care services, particularly institutional care, have been used inappropriately. And he wondered:

Have medical/clinical solutions been imposed on problems that are not amenable to clinical cure?
Have the NHS and state care systems neglected and eroded the health and healing potential of the community?
Has this in turn created a dependency on inappropriate and expensive health care systems, including a system which until now has boasted a cradle to grave coverage which is ‘free’ at the point of delivery?

As British society is looking at the viability of the NHS, he asked whether or not it is reasonable to expect the community to take on a greater burden of caring, including the cost burden.

This frank assessment was very much appreciated, and a lively debate ensued.

The next presentation was the perfect complement. Dr Derek Browne’s entrance to the stage made the point: with a skipping rope and wig and a short waltz with Cornelia who introduced him. Derek provided a fascinating overview of the Peckham Experiment of the 1930s: In the 1920s two doctors, Drs Scott Williamson and Innes Pearse, started this experiment to study which conditions foster health. In 1935 the first Pioneer Health Centre was built, designed by Sir Owen Williams. It had plenty of open space and light, a swimming pool, leisure facilities, cafeteria, dance hall, billiard room, children’s playground and theatre. The holistic approach to health included the provision of a regular family health check, health promotion and a more positive approach to the prevention of disease. By encouraging community integration, the Centre was able to improve the physical and social capabilities of people of all ages. After the Second World War, the National Health Service as we know it was favoured over the Peckham model and this put an end to the Pioneer Health Centre. The Centre’s building is now used as a College of Education, having been sold to London County Council.

Derek shared about the Brockenhurst Village Project, his work as a NHS GP and his role a founder member of the Wessex Positive Health Team and as medical advisor in Health Promotion to the Southampton Community Health Services Trust. His work is takes inspiration from the Peckham Experiment and he endeavours to implement similar principles to empower his community.

The highlight of the conference was the talk by Patch Adams, MD, from the Gesundheit! Institute in West Virginia, USA. Patch is a true champion of community. Talking about “Community: Medicine For Life,” he emphasised the importance of close-knit communities for human well-being. He traced the evolution of communities from hunter-gatherer groups to nuclear families, highlighting the burden of isolation in modern society. He shared the importance of friendship and a large circle of friends and his belief that successful communities require commitment, patience, and a healthy balance between work and play.

As his talk was on the day of his 50th Birthday the Community put on a fabulous birthday party for everyone. Walking the talk right there and then.

Beside the plenary sessions there were many workshops which the participants could choose from to allow them to share and ground what they had heard in the presentations. They included

‘Peckham Experiment: Living Health in the Family and Community’ with Lisa Curtice, Douglas Trotter and Dr Derek Browne
‘Scottish Community Health Projects’ with Mary Tynan, Norma Neil and Gillian Strong
‘The Role of Ritual in a Therapeutic Community’ with Roland Schutzbach
‘Community based Indigenous Healing’ with Andrew Arthur,
‘The Healing Potential of Group Discovery Games’ with Sandy Barr,
‘Setting up a Self-help Group’ with Carol Wetherell,
‘Self-help through 12 Step Groups’ with Janice Eddy,
‘Grandmothers’ Council’ with Anna Gahlin,
‘Community and Health’ with Pat Robbins,
‘Spiritual Healing’ with Robin Robinson and Ruth Pfitzenmaier,
‘Human Service Alliance’ with Dr Stephen Leighton,
‘Patients as Friends’ with Dr Patch Adams
‘Sacred Dance’ with Hillary Millichamp.

The 3 days concluded with a final plenary session giving participants the opportunity to share about their experience of the Conference and explore next steps.

***

The conference schedule