About The Mindful Partnership

The Mindful Partnership was founded by experienced teachers and practitioners Cat McCaw and Christine Dewar to help more people discover a grounded, compassionate approach to living.

By gently training our attention and deepening our sense of kindness towards ourselves and others, we can learn to be more present, open, and resilient. Over time, these qualities don’t just help us navigate daily stress — they can transform how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the challenges we face.

Regular practice has been shown to support emotional balance, reduce anxiety and depression, boost creativity, and strengthen our capacity to handle change. Cultivating compassion in particular can foster greater self-acceptance, deepen our connections with others, and even enhance physical health by reducing inflammation and supporting the nervous system.

Yet despite these well-documented benefits, such practices are often misunderstood, diluted by commercial trends, or only available through costly programmes and retreats that many can’t access.

The Mindful Partnership exists to change this — making these life-enhancing approaches available to anyone in Scotland, regardless of background or income.

We offer free or subsidised courses, training and retreats for individuals, and we partner with charities, community groups and frontline organisations to bring these skills to staff and service users alike. By collaborating with other experienced practitioners, we’re able to offer a rich variety of courses and workshops rooted in awareness, compassion and evidence-based approaches.

Together, we aim to create a kinder, more resilient and connected society — one person and one practice at a time – never too far from light heartedness and humour. It’s important to not take ourselves too seriously.

Our Practice, Our Path

At The Mindful Partnership, we are not only highly experienced and qualified teachers in these approaches — we are long-term practitioners ourselves. For many years, we have been deeply engaged in these traditions, including more advanced forms of meditation.

As is essential for anyone teaching mindfulness and compassion-based practices, our own daily practice is at the heart of who we are — it shapes how we live, work and relate to others.

We don’t just ‘talk the talk’; we ‘walk the walk’ — fully embracing the reality that practice includes its own challenges, insights, and continual learning along the way.

The Mindful Partnership Way

Our Mission, we believe that:

The Mindful Partnership makes mindfulness and compassion-based practices accessible to everyone in Scotland — regardless of background or income. Through free and subsidised courses, partnerships with community organisations, and evidence-based teaching, we aim to foster greater kindness, resilience and connection in society — one person and one practice at a time.

Our Aims

Make mindfulness and compassion-based practices accessible to all — regardless of background or income, through free or subsidised courses, training and retreats.
Foster emotional balance and resilience by helping people cultivate presence, openness and kindness towards themselves and others.
Strengthen communities and organisations by partnering with charities, community groups and frontline services to share practical, evidence-based skills.
Challenge misconceptions and commercial barriers that limit access to authentic, grounded mindfulness and compassion practices.
Contribute to a kinder, more connected and resilient society — one person and one practice at a time.

“Mindfulness is a capacity imbued with compassion and kindness for ourselves – and others as we evolve. It has the capacity to transform feelings and emotions so we can become more responsive to our experiences rather than reactive.”