Past festival events

“Journal Club” – open discussion of the latest in pain science

03/10/2024
"Journal Club" is for ANYONE who is interested in research into pain, in any way. Whether you are someone who lives with pain, a professor of neuroscience, a new PhD student, a clinician or someone who cares for someone who lives...

Research into Women’s Chronic Pain and Disbelief – participants needed

30/04/2024
Call for Participants for Research into Women's Chronic Pain and Disbelief This research is looking to hear from women who live with chronic pain or illness, and have experienced feeling silenced, or disbelieved, in relation to their symptoms. These accounts...

“Family Fortunes” survey for Pain Education events with Flippin Pain

26/04/2024
  This June our friends Flippin Pain are going to be running some workshops  with Health Care Professionals and the general public to help increase their understanding of persistent pain - and as part of good learning is fun - ...

Monthly Mindfulness Group

29/03/2024
Announcement! New monthly mindfulness group planned! Are you interested in joining a monthly "drop-in" session to remain connected with others who live with pain and share your mindfulness practice? Then this may be the session for you! Please register your...

Zine Library – Curated by Footsteps Festival and the PPA

31/12/2023
Welcome to the Footsteps Festival and PPA Zine Library. “Zines” are small booklets which can be made individually or collectively – historically used as social action, they provide a way of expressing your story or creativity. This is a collection...

The Power of Breath

31/12/2023
The breath is one of the most powerful tools humans have - yet all too often we don't utilise the many ways we can help ourselves with this basic life giving skill. Join Footsteps Festival Team Member and person with...

Pets, People and Persistent Pain – Information Event

31/12/2023
So many people who live with persistent (or chronic) pain find that having a companion animal in their life to be an active and important part of their pain management strategy. In this “information event” we explore how and why...

Wellbeing Videos with Opera North

31/12/2023
Opera North - Reconnect: Wellbeing Singing Videos. Back in 2020 the Footsteps Festival worked with the awesome Opera North to produce a series of singing workshops for people living with pain. These were hugely successful (check some of them out...

Footsteps into Pilates – THREE Taster Video Classes!

31/12/2023
Footsteps into Pilates - (for strength, balance, flexibility and wellbeing) THREE Pilates Classes FREE to try again and again With Physiotherapist and Pilates teacher Zoe Rex   This is a web based course which culminated in a live event on...

Facing Up To Pain – exploring Facial Pain Video conversation (with Prof Zak)

31/12/2023
Facial Pain affects a surprising number of people - with varying conditions having major impacts on quality of life. In this Information Event we explore this area, with contributions from the doyenne of Facial Pain Professor Joanna Zakrzewska , Clinical...

Welcome to the Discovery Zone

30/12/2023
Welcome to the Discovery Zone! We will look at what Research on pain is, how it works and how and why its important to people who live with pain. We will look at how you can access research results, how...

Do you have chronic pain? Do you want to be included in pain research?

31/07/2023
Do you have Chronic Pain? Take part in a Focus Group! We are recruiting participants to discuss the barriers and facilitators to taking part in chronic pain research. What is involved: 1 hour 30 mins focus group (online with breaks)...

Participate in research exploring the relationship between pain, movement, and music!

27/07/2023
Researchers in UCL are seeking participants with low back pain who live in London and surrounding areas to help explore this fascinating topic. It will not take up much of your time, should be fun and will contribute to valuable...

Chronic pain: want to get unstuck and step forward? with Richmond Stace

27/06/2023
Chronic pain: want to get unstuck and step forward? Your questions answered to help you take that first step, or build on what you know   Two sessions with Richmond Stace - the videos can be found below.   Further...

Video – Chronic pain: want to get unstuck and step forward? With Richmond Stace, the Pain Coach

23/05/2023
Chronic pain: want to get unstuck and step forward?   Your questions answered to help you take that first step, or build on what you know   This event was held on 12.00 pm BST on 23rd May 2023 on...

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR) 8 week course

05/05/2023
Announcement! New course planned for May-June 2023! If you are interested please register your interest (button below) for further details and application form. Commences Friday 5th May at 2pm. Running for 8 consecutive weeks (occasionally we postpone one week if...

Feedback From Festival Goers

31/12/2022
*Loving the festival activities especially the origami, cooking, and singing sessions. Good luck with the fundraising, such a great idea, thanks so much  L W May 13, 2021 *Thank you for the delicious duffin bakealong!  Anonymous May 11, 2021 *It's...

Niki’s Cycling Video Diaries

31/12/2022
NEW VIDEOS!   Hi Everyone, my name is Niki, I’m now 52 and these are my video diaries documenting what recovery from many years of chronic pain looks like for me. They were made in 2020 onwards. Recovery looks different...

Developing a new drug-free approach for people with painful diabetic neuropathy

31/12/2022
Developing a new drug-free approach for people with painful diabetic neuropathy This research is led by David Hohenschurz-Schmidt, osteopath and pain researcher at Imperial College London. "People with diabetes and associated nerve damage (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) lack good non-drug treatment...

Footstep Festival Past Events – the Video Playlists!

30/12/2022
On this page is a collection of past event video Playlists from the Footsteps Festival - all in one place for your convenience! Click each link and you can play them one after the other. Please subscribe to the Footsteps...

“Betwixt and Between”

09/12/2022
Do you live with pain and find that you are mostly managing the pain yourself rather than having treatment in healthcare services? Have you ever felt like your pain has meant you are not able to live the life you...

Uni of Bath looking for Knee Osteoarthritis Study Participants

01/10/2022
Take Part in an important research study looking at the effects of diet and exercise on knee osteoarthritis - this great study is looking for participants 45 - 69 years of age, click for further information!

Online interviews about pain and self-compassion

19/08/2022
Are you an adult living with persistent pain? Are you interested in taking part in research? Laura is a trainee clinical psychologist at Newcastle University. She is researching  pain and of self-compassion. Would you like to sign up for an...

Research Questionnaire “Exploring stakeholders’ perceptions of peer support for adults with chronic pain”

01/06/2022
Have your voice heard about peer support! At the Discovery Zone we welcome researchers at Robert Gordon University who are looking at the importance of peer support and how it should be best designed in the future. To this end...

Zentangling – Calm and Creative Doodling with Mindfulness Skills4Life

24/05/2022
This is a new series of creative doodling sessions especially prepared by Mindfulness Skills4Life for Footsteps Festival. Our previous sessions were VERY well received and we are delighted that Sands is back! Zentangling and creative doodling is for everyone! It...

Video – Mindfulness for Better Sleep

12/05/2022
Pain often stops us from sleeping well. Pain and sleep have a bidirectional relationship - Pain makes good sleep difficult and poor sleep makes pain feel worse. In this event we discover how Mindfulness can help us improve our sleep...

Important Research Study to participate in – Understanding the role of cognitive performance in persistent pain

02/05/2022
Chance for anyone (living with pain or not) to participate in this important study under the auspices of Professor Lorimer Moseley. "Understanding the role of cognitive performance in persistent pain" It is estimated that 1 in 5 people experience pain...

Research Questionnaire – Have your say about future “nerve block” research (regional anaesthesia)

28/04/2022
Opportunity to contribute to deciding what research is carried out in the future about nerve blocks (regional anaesthesia). This is a quick questionnaire to fill in and is a great way for people with lived experience to really have an...

Fundraising Twitch Stream for Footsteps Festival with PetraPhoenix

15/04/2022
Video summary available below. This event was joining long term Footsteps Festival supporter PetraPhoenix at a fundraising Twitch stream on Friday 15th April. The stream was live from 10.00 am BST for a marathon NINE hours. The stream included special...

Your Story Matters – Writing Workshop

11/04/2022
"There is no greater agony than carrying an untold story inside you" - Maya Angelou   Our aspiration is to find joy and connection from the simple act of writing and sharing – and this may even be something that...

Cookfulness – Season Three

09/04/2022
Cookfulness is a series of six Cookery workshop sessions specially created for people with pain and/or conditions that make cooking difficult or seemingly off-limits. You’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt cooking, adapt ingredients and adapt dishes, so...

Book Club

31/03/2022
Join us for a fun and relaxed Book Club on Zoom!   Next Book Club has been postponed - please check back for the new date.... The book is How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

Video – Wild Swimming – Whet your appetite for the cold water

08/03/2022
Video available below! Wild swimming has really taken off over the last couple of years and the Footsteps team are really excited to host this session where we will hear from people who live with pain and a clinician who...

Video – Footsteps into Mindfulness – an information and taster event

28/02/2022
"Footsteps into Mindfulness" was a FREE information and taster event with the Footsteps Festival team. Mindfulness has become a bit of a "buzz word" or "trendy" thing in the last few years - but many people who live with pain...

Can you help us research how to measure self-management?

26/02/2022
Here at Footsteps Festival we think self management is very important. So we were surprised when we looked for a questionnaire that measures it. We couldn't find any questionnaire that asked the kind of questions that we wanted to know...

Book Plug – Dancing Through Life: A Guide to Living Well by Ann Parkinson

23/02/2022
POSTPONED! sadly we have had to postpone this event on compassionate grounds - we will rearrange soon! Join us for this Footsteps Festival Book Plug to discuss the fascinating book  "Dancing through Life: A Guide to Living Well" written by...

Video – Origami for Wellbeing with Dr Lizzie Burns

12/01/2022
Origami for Wellbeing Was held on Wednesday 12th January 2022 and the video is below. Make something beautiful in your hands through paper folding for self care. No experience needed - just bring any piece of paper!

Join in Research!

30/12/2021
Pain research opportunities for people who live with Pain. Visit this page to view research projects that are looking for participants. Please check back regularly as the Event will be updated. 1) WITHIN study with the University of Warwick (Amazon...

Step Into Singing Block Three

14/12/2021
Step Into Singing is a series of online singing workshops run by Opera North in collaboration with the Footsteps Festival 2021 – designed especially for people living with persistent pain. The next block starts Tuesday 26th October 12.00 BST! Feel...

VIDEO – Book Plug – Drew Coverdale “The Pain Habit”

14/12/2021
We welcomed Drew Coverdale to the Book Plug on Tuesday 14th December to talk about his book "The Pain Habit".   As with all Book Plugs its a relaxed and interesting on line event where you have great access to...

VIDEOS (3) En-Joy (Energy and the Joy Of You) Gentle Movement Class

11/12/2021
En-Joy (Energy and the Joy Of You) is gentle movement class developed for people who live with pain by Physiotherapist Despoina Karargyri. This class is a gentle, mindful, stretch and movement opportunity suiting all levels of function and ability. It...

Pain-Less Nutrition – can food change your pain?

10/12/2021
Pain-Less Nutrition - can food change your pain? Join Dr Deepak Ravindran, Alicja Wypasek and "Mr Cookfulness" Ian Taverner as they discuss how and why nutrition is important for people living with persistent pain and whether the food we eat...

VIDEO – Jelly Movement – a fun movement class

10/12/2021
Jelly Movement is a fun movement class developed for people who live with pain by Physiotherapist Despoina Karargyri. It took  place on 10th December and the video is below.

Coffee and Chat

06/12/2021
Coffee and Chat is an informal monthly drop-in that's happening throughout the year, where you can come and meet others online who are living with pain or caring for someone living with pain, for a chat. The theme for December...

VIDEO – Pain-Less Nutrition – can food change your pain? (plus additional information)

02/12/2021
Welcome to Pain-Less Nutrition   Pain-Less Nutrition - can food change your pain? Join Dr Deepak Ravindran, Alicja Wypasek and "Mr Cookfulness" Ian Taverner as they discuss how and why nutrition is important for people living with persistent pain and...

VIDEO – The Step – breathwork class

26/11/2021
The Step is a unique breathwork class developed for people who live with pain by Physiotherapist Despoina Karargyri and inspired by Opera North’s Step Into Singing Programme. Previously it included some stretches but this iteration will focus on the breathwork....

Video – Book Plug – Dr Monty Lyman “The Painful Truth”

25/11/2021
Join Dr Monty Lyman and his guest Ben Morris as he discusses his brilliant book "The Painful Truth - The new science of why we hurt and how we can heal" This event was held on Thursday 25th November and...

Video – Patient-led Peer Support Groups – the why, what and how!

24/11/2021
What’s the value of self organised peer support groups for people with chronic pain? How to set up and run such a group – a Camden experience. The importance of peer support in managing chronic pain is increasingly recognised. This...

#UPLiFT2021 – the on-line conference for people living with pain

23/11/2021
On-Line Conference running from 2nd to 23rd November 2021 This is an amazing opportunity for people living with pain, those who care for them and health care professionals to attend events at an on-line conference run by The Global Alliance...

VIDEO – Book Plug – Tim Atkinson “Where does it Hurt?”

16/11/2021
Welcome to the Book Plug. Tim's latest book is called "Where does it hurt - A memoir" and is an engagingly written, intensely personal and fascinating dance amongst the experience of persistent pain and its impacts on his life. Entwined...

Video – Cookfulness Autumn Season (2) – Session 1

11/11/2021
Cookfulness Autumn Season (2) Session 1 - cooking with chronic pain & disability and making it easy!   In this second series of six sessions specially created for people with pain, you’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt...

Video – Seated Salutation – seated yoga class

05/11/2021
Seated Salutation is a new seated yoga movement class with Despoina Karargyri. It took place live on 5th November at 6.00 pm BST the video is below

VIDEO – Living well with Fibromyalgia

30/10/2021
Join experts and people living with Fibromyalgia for this exploration of how living well despite Fibromyalgia is possible. This event was held on the 30th October 2021 - the video is below. This session intends to provide an overview of...

Video – An Introduction to Breathworks Mindfulness with Stanter Kandola

22/10/2021
Video of the sessions are included below. Are you curious about Mindfulness and how it can help in pain management? Highly experienced mindfulness teacher Stanter Kandola will guide you through the core principles of the Breathworks compassion-based mindfulness method in...

“Zines” – the creative way to tell your story

18/10/2021
Join us for an easy, creative and highly personal way of telling your story - to the world, to yourself or to your loved ones. "Zines" are small booklets which can be made individually or collectively - historically used as...

VIDEO – Book Plug with Professor Irene Tracey ‘Queen Of Pain’

03/10/2021
“The Ladybird Expert Book, “Pain” by Irene Tracey provides a clear, accessible introduction to the experience of pain through some of the best and most recent scientific research available. Professor Tracey joined us to discuss her book and answer audience...

Step Into Singing Block Two

07/09/2021
Step Into Singing is a series of online singing workshops run by Opera North in collaboration with the Footsteps Festival 2021 - designed especially for people living with persistent pain. The next block starts Tuesday 7th September 12.00 BST and...

Video – Mr Cookfulness presents!

31/08/2021
Ian Taverner aka Mr Cookfulness talks about his involvement with Footsteps Festival & forthcoming sessions.  

Pet Show and Tell – social gathering

08/08/2021
A friendly informal social occasion where we can show each other our pets (the more portable ones!) and have a lively discussion about the many and varied ways they help us live better with pain. These are no longer running...

VIDEOS – En-Joy (Energy and the Joy Of You)

24/07/2021
En-Joy (Energy and the Joy Of You) is gentle movement class developed for people who live with pain by Physiotherapist Despoina Karargyri. This class is a gentle, mindful, stretch and movement opportunity suiting all levels of function and ability. It...

The Wizardry of Sleep Gadgetry: Help, Hindrance or Indifference?

22/07/2021
21st July 6.00 - 7.00 pm BST Join this session  with Professor Nicole Tang and colleagues from Warwick University Research Lab on SLEEP and PAIN who will share their experiences using different at-home sleep-tracking gadgets (such as Fitbit and Apple...

Smart Phone Smart Photography with Jo Bradford

21/07/2021
Have you ever wished you could take better photos with your smartphone? Join us for an hour with Jo Bradford, best-selling author of 'Smart Phone Smart Photography' for a beginner’s introduction to smartphone photography with an emphasis on the benefits...

Video – The Wizardry of Sleep Gadgetry: Help, Hindrance or Indifference?

21/07/2021
Professor Nicole Tang and colleagues from Warwick University Research Lab on SLEEP and PAIN share their experiences using different at-home sleep-tracking gadgets (such as Fitbit and Apple Watch). They cover other areas like using sleep diaries to record and analyse...

VIDEO – The Step

11/07/2021
 Video of the class is here!  The Step is a unique movement and breathwork class developed for people who live with pain by Physiotherapist Despoina Karargyri and inspired by Opera North’s Step Into Singing Programme. It will be a calm,...

Video – Book Plug with Ian Taverner aka Cookfulness

07/07/2021
Ian has written the successful cookbook, Cookfulness, aimed at helping fellow sufferers and their loved ones find some pride and passion in the kitchen and actually starts to want to cook. Watch him talk about his book and his desire...

VIDEO – Fibro Fundamentals with FMA UK

10/06/2021
Fibromyalgia potentially affects up to 4.7% of the European population and is a complex condition which is still poorly medically understood. It causes widespread pain and fatigue and can be disabling. Fibromyalgia has a worldwide presence affecting nearly 1 in 20 people globally. In...

VIDEO – Queen of Pain – Professor Irene Tracey

06/06/2021
A very informative and fascinating presentation by the extraordinary Professor Irene Tracey - one of the top neuroscientists in the UK. How the brain impacts the pain we experience and how we can harness the power of the brain and...

VIDEO – Cookfulness Season 1 Session 6

04/06/2021
In this first series of six sessions specially created for people with pain, you’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt cooking, adapt ingredients and adapt dishes, so you can cook them and celebrate them no matter how bad...

VIDEO- Therapeutic Knitting with Betsan Corkhill

02/06/2021
  Enjoy learning the therapeutic power of knitting with the wonderful Betsan Corkhill - she uses her years of experience to show how knitting can help with pain management and social connection, creativity, personal empowerment and many other wonderful outcomes...

The Nature’s Audio project

01/06/2021
The Nature's Audio project needs you – so tune into nature and take part in Citizen Science!

Mammal Web

01/06/2021
Understanding wild mammals one image at a time. Mammal Web have many "camera traps" that are producing thousands of images - and they need volunteers to help them identify the mammals. More knowledge about the distribution and abundance of wild...

VIDEO – Book Plug with Phil Sizer chronic pain the drug-free way

31/05/2021
Enjoy the Book Plug presentation of Phil Sizer’s great book “Chronic Pain the drug free way” – this is a comprehensive book detailing methods of managing chronic pain with personal empowerment and self care garnered from years spent working in...

VIDEO – Everything You Wanted To Ask About Painkillers But Were Afraid To Ask

24/05/2021
A expert panel discussion about medications for pain - wide ranging and very informative. It includes a lively question and answer session.  

VIDEO – Cookfulness Season 1 Session 5

21/05/2021
In this first series of six sessions specially created for people with pain, you’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt cooking, adapt ingredients and adapt dishes, so you can cook them and celebrate them no matter how bad...

Laughter Is The Best Medicine!

20/05/2021
Life can be challenging, especially when living with chronic pain. While it may seem hard to laugh when you hurt, it has been said that laughter is the best medicine. And that’s no joke. Laughter creates physical and emotional changes...

VIDEO – Baking Nanna Session Two

18/05/2021
The Twitter queen of home baking "Baking Nanna" famous for her "Twitter Bake-alongs" joins the Footsteps Festival (a celebration of living well with pain) for fun and chat in this relaxed and engaging session (two of two). Shown live on...

VIDEO – Baking Nanna Session One

10/05/2021
The Twitter queen of home baking "Baking Nanna" famous for her "Twitter Bake-alongs" joins the Footsteps Festival  for fun and chat in this relaxed and engaging session (one of two). Shown live on the 10th May 2021 Find Baking Nanna...

VIDEO – Cookfulness Season 1 Session 4

07/05/2021
In this first series of six sessions specially created for people with pain, you’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt cooking, adapt ingredients and adapt dishes, so you can cook them and celebrate them no matter how bad...

VIDEO – Sleeping with Pain Event

28/04/2021
Sleep is a built-in ability that usually doesn’t take much effort at all. After all, how simple can it be to sleep? You just close your eyes, relax and get taken away to your dreams. But for many people living...

VIDEO – Step into Easeful Movement

26/04/2021
A three session series of Movement classes suitable for any level of ability. The video of session Three is here!

Video – Cookfulness Season 1 Session 3

24/04/2021
Cookfulness Spring Season (1) Session 3 - cooking with chronic pain & disability and making it easy!   In this first series of six sessions specially created for people with pain, you’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt...

Video – Book Plug with Tom Bowen “Chronic Pain won’t Stop Me”

22/04/2021
Welcome to Book Plug - for our first ever Book Plug we are delighted to be joined by patient advocate and author Tom Bowen - to talk about his book "Chronic Pain won't Stop Me". The video of the event...

VIDEOS – Step into Singing – all sessions inc session 7.

20/04/2021
Footsteps Festival 2021, in partnership with Opera North, is proud to bring you Step Into Singing – a series of online singing workshops designed especially for people living with persistent pain. Led by opera singer, Marie Claire Breen, Step Into...

Calm and Creative Doodling: Zentangling

19/04/2021
Zentangling is back! Due to popular demand we have a further 6 sessions please see back in the Creative Zone for details and booking information (19th April to 24th May) Zentangling was held in April-May-June 2021 This is a creative...

VIDEO – Origami for Wellbeing; Focusing the Mind

17/04/2021
The video of this event is here! Please enjoy! Make something beautiful in your hands through paper folding. No experience needed - just bring any piece of paper! Try something new and wonderful with Dr Lizzie Burns who helps people...

VIDEO – Cookfulness Season 1 Session 2

09/04/2021
In this series of six sessions specially created for people with pain, you’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt cooking, adapt ingredients and adapt dishes, so you can cook them and celebrate them no matter how bad a...

Pain is more complex than I thought

08/04/2021
An advocate of living well, with extensive experience of living with pain chats to a clinical psychologist about what she has learned about the complex nature of pain and why, in her experience, everything matters when it comes to pain.

VIDEO – Step into Singing – session 6

06/04/2021
Footsteps Festival 2021, in partnership with Opera North, is proud to bring you Step Into Singing – a series of online singing workshops designed especially for people living with persistent pain. Led by opera singer, Marie Claire Breen, Step Into...

VIDEO – Chronic Pain the Dr Seuss Way

05/04/2021
Learn what the wisdom of Dr Seuss has to do with chronic pain! Video of the event.

VIDEO – Your Story Matters

30/03/2021
Have some fun and connect with others in this live creative writing workshop by Clair, Debra, Jenny and Sanja.

VIDEO – Cookfulness Season 1 – session 1

26/03/2021
In this series of six sessions specially created for people with pain, you’ll learn amazing and very simple ways to adapt cooking, adapt ingredients and adapt dishes, so you can cook them and celebrate them no matter how bad a...

VIDEO – Step into Singing – session 5

23/03/2021
Footsteps Festival 2021, in partnership with Opera North, is proud to bring you Step Into Singing – a series of online singing workshops designed especially for people living with persistent pain. Led by opera singer, Marie Claire Breen, Step Into...

VIDEO – Step into Singing – session 4

09/03/2021
Footsteps Festival 2021, in partnership with Opera North, is proud to bring you Step Into Singing – a series of online singing workshops designed especially for people living with persistent pain. Led by opera singer, Marie Claire Breen, Step Into...

VIDEO – Step into Singing – session 3

23/02/2021
 Watch a video recording of the Zoom session here. Audio tracks The audio tracks for the songs we have sung are all hosted on Soundcloud with a special playlist for Step Into Singing here. Facebook Group During the first...

The Ten Footsteps Programme

18/02/2021
Applications to the current programme are now closed. However we'll be running it again soon so if you're interested in joining the next series, get in touch...

VIDEO – Step into Singing – session 2

09/02/2021
Watch a video recording of the Zoom session here. Audio tracks The audio tracks for the songs we have sung are all hosted on Soundcloud with a special playlist for Step Into Singing here. Facebook Group During the first session,...

VIDEO – Step into Singing – session 1

26/01/2021
Watch a video recording of the Zoom session here. Audio tracks The audio tracks for the songs we have sung are all hosted on Soundcloud with a special playlist for Step Into Singing here. Facebook Group During the first session,...

Flippin’ Pain Event Video

08/12/2020
Flippin’ Pain is a public health campaign that provides resources for people living with persistent pain and their families, so they can understand it better. Felicity Thow from Flippin’ Pain shares some of the campaign’s key messages and answers audience...