European Reiki Group Update

Gavin Ford : ERG President & UKRF Governance & Operations Director

A growing media team, a new website on the way, Spain back around the table, and a role that was always meant to be shared.

Autumn feels like the right season to be writing this update, because the theme of this issue is change and the European Reiki Group has had a good deal of it. All of it welcome.

When we met face to face in Sweden earlier this year, our international media team was a small group with a lot of promise. A few months on, it has become one of the strongest parts of what we do.

Maria and Annica from Sweden and Leo from Austria have built real momentum, and we were delighted to welcome Daniella from Italy as our newest member. Between them they are producing content that is thoughtful, professional and genuinely representative of Reiki across Europe.

It is worth saying plainly that every one of them is a volunteer. They give their time because they believe in what the ERG is here to do, and the difference they have made in a matter of months has been remarkable.

Alongside that, our new website is well under way and will be ready to launch shortly.

This matters more than a website normally would. Our current site has served us loyally, but it no longer reflects where we are heading.

The new one will give us an identity that matches our ambition and our vision for the future, and it will sit properly alongside the social media channels the media team have been working so hard on.

Federico from Italy is leading the project and will formally take over as our webmaster.

In doing so he takes the baton from Gilbert in France, who has looked after our website for many years with great care and generosity. Gilbert has given the ERG a huge amount of his time, quietly and without fuss, and we owe him our thanks.

I am also very pleased to share that Spain are back in the fold.

We have been in conversation with our Spanish colleagues for some time about returning to the group, and at our most recent meeting they were voted back in unanimously. John and his team bring real experience and energy, and we are looking forward to the contribution they will make.

Conversations with other European Reiki organisations are continuing too, and they are making good headway. Every new member organisation widens the perspective around the table, and that is where the value of the ERG has always been.

Finally, a word about the role I hold.

This may be my last update as President. Our AGM takes place next month, and it gives other member organisations the opportunity to step forward and take on the role.

I would like to be clear that this is by design rather than by difficulty. The ERG works best when responsibility is shared around our member organisations rather than resting in one place, and a change of President is a sign of a healthy group, not an unsettled one.

If nobody comes forward I am very happy to continue. If someone does, they will have my full support and everything I have learned.

Either way, the direction of travel does not change. A stronger media team, a website worthy of our ambition, more organisations around the table, and a group that keeps finding new ways to support Reiki practitioners across Europe.

My thanks to every representative, volunteer and member organisation who has given their time this year. It has been a privilege to work alongside you.