Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Ramalli, and thank you for joining me for today's RE lesson.

Today's lesson is the second lesson in our unit called Religion and belief in the workplace: how do we work together?

This unit is all about how we might use religion and belief to better understand our work and our careers.

This lesson is called religion and worldviews in wellbeing.

Okay, let's start the lesson.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain how and why religious literacy is important for people working in wellbeing.

In today's lesson, we have four key words.

Our key words are ambassador, inclusivity, religious literacy, and wellbeing or wellness.

Ambassador refers to a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a particular body or activity; inclusivity is treating all people fairly and equally; religious literacy is a knowledge of how religions world views and beliefs shape lives; and wellbeing and wellness is about a positive state determined by social, economic, and environmental conditions.

Today's lesson on religion and worldviews in wellbeing takes two parts.

So we are going to start by exploring religious literacy in wellbeing.

So let's recap and remind ourself what is meant by religious literacy.

Well, having religious literacy means being able to understand and engage thoughtfully with religion and belief as it is lived and expressed in society.

Religious literacy includes understanding that religions and beliefs are diverse and they change over time.

They're part of an identity that people may have in their jobs and in their social lives.

But the wellbeing sector is a growing industry in the UK.

The wellbeing sector includes the any job that helps improve our physical health, our mental health, our emotional balance, or our quality of life.

So a job in wellbeing may include the following.

It could be a personal trainer or a swimming instructor, it could be a hairdresser or beautician, it could be a therapist or counselor, or it could be a meditation or yoga teacher.

These are just some of the jobs that you might find in the wellbeing sector.

So here we have Andeep and Sofia, and they're gonna help us in today's lesson.

Andeep and Sofia are discussing career choices.

They're both considering working in the wellbeing sector Andeep says to Sofia, "I want to work in the fitness industry.

I'm good at PE and I play football in my spare time.

I think as long as I'm fit and healthy, I could be a personal trainer.

" Sofia says, "I think you might also need to be a good communicator.

I want to be a yoga teacher, but I don't think communication skills are that important.

" So what do you think about Andeep and Sofia's views?

Are they correct?

Great discussions, well done.

I wonder what you thought about Andeep and Sofia's views.

Okay, let's pause for a moment and complete a check for understanding.

Select three jobs that are included in the wellbeing sector.

a, personal trainer; b, software developer; c, therapist; or d, meditation teacher.

Remember here, you're looking to select three answers.

Well done if you selected a, c, and d as the correct answers.

A personal trainer, a therapist, and a meditation teacher are three jobs that are included in the wellbeing sector.

Andeep and Sofia's school is holding a careers fair.

It is a chance for them to interview some people to find out about the skills needed to succeed in the wellbeing sector.

Do you think having good religious literacy would be useful?

How and why that might be?

So now we're gonna meet some people to help us find out.

Andeep and Sofia meet Katrina at the careers fair.

Katrina works as a fitness instructor.

She has a Buddhist worldview Andeep and Sofia ask Katrina, "How did you become a fitness instructor?

What knowledge and skills do you think are important in the wellbeing sector?

" Katrina replies, "I completed a qualification in personal training and fitness, but it isn't just qualifications relating to PE that I need to be in the wellbeing sector.

Communication skills and religious literacy are both really important factors to build positive relationships with my clients.

" Andeep and Sofia ask, "If you are working as a fitness instructor and helping people to be fit, how is religious literacy relevant?

" Katrina replies, "I work in Leicester and my client base is diverse.

Religious literacy helps me avoid stereotypes and assumptions.

Not everyone practices their religion in the same way.

I need to know about different religious practices, dietary requirements, and respecting modesty.

" What are the missing words?

Katrina says which two factors can help build positive relationships in the wellbeing sector?

Well done if you said the missing words were communication skills and religious literacy.

Katrina explains how she uses religious literacy in her role.

Katrina says, "As a personal trainer, I regularly give advice on diet and nutrition.

I need to know about food laws, for example, halal meaning permitted; and kosher.

Understanding religious dietary laws is essential for me to offer inclusive, safe, and effective nutritional guidance for my clients.

" Katrina meets with Sarah.

Sarah has a Muslim worldview and is seeking guidance on nutrition during Ramadan.

Sarah asks, "Katrina, during Ramadan I can feel thirsty, weak, and fatigued.

Do you have any advice to help me stay healthy and productive?

" Katrina replies, "Try to avoid caffeine.

Tea and coffee are diuretics, which can lead to fluid loss.

Before fasting, avoid sugary cereals and white bread.

They will cause a rapid spike in blood sugar, followed by a sharp crash, leaving you tired and hungry by mid-day.

" Katrina offers more advice to Sarah, including when to exercise during Ramadan: "Try to consume foods that are going to give you energy.

This could be a bowl of oatmeal made with milk or water.

You could add chia seeds, walnuts, and sliced bananas or even dates.

These will release energy slowly throughout the day.

Taking supplements will also help you maintain energy.

There are companies that specialize in halal supplements.

These are also suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Still come along to fitness classes but after iftar, once you have broken your fast.

" Katrina explains how as a Buddhist, she applies religious literacy in her own life.

"As a Buddhist, I believe that exercise and staying healthy helps me feel present and practice mindfully.

I'm also a vegetarian, so I fully understand why my clients have different needs and values.

" Select two ways that a personal trainer can show religious literacy to a client who is fasting.

a, tell clients what they should eat or drink; b, offer advice on foods and drinks to avoid during fasting; or c, keep up to date on emerging products, for example, halal supplements.

Well done if you said that b and c are the correct answers.

So now we're going to complete a practice task.

Andeep and Sofia were not sure how religious literacy was relevant to working in the wellbeing sector.

Using the interview with Katrina, can you describe three ways in which she said having good religious literacy meant she was more effective in her job?

So in your answers, you may have said the following points.

In the wellbeing sector, religious literacy is really important.

It helps her avoid stereotypes and assumptions about her clients.

Not everyone practices their religion in the same way.

Having these insights can help build better relationships.

You may also have said that many religions follow dietary laws.

Understanding religious dietary laws is essential for Katrina to offer inclusive, safe, and effective nutritional guidance.

For example, halal supplements to Muslim clients.

And thirdly, good religious literacy will mean adapting nutrition and exercise programs around clients who fast for longer periods of time.

She needs to advise on which foods are best to avoid and which foods should be included in order to maintain energy.

So that leads us to the second part of today's lesson on religion and worldview in wellbeing.

And in this part of the lesson, we are going to be exploring religious literacy and inclusivity.

Andeep and Sofia are discussing their learning so far.

Andeep says, "I can see how religious literacy could be useful in wellbeing now.

But is it just enough to know about different religions and beliefs?

" Sofia says, "Well, we know how Katrina uses religious literacy to meet the needs of clients.

I wonder if there may be other ways?

" What do you think?

Can you think of any examples?

Andeep and Sofia meet Melona Headley at the careers fair.

Melona Headley is the founder of Bold Waters, a social impact movement using nature and open water to increase wellbeing.

Melona explains the vision behind Bold Waters.

Melona says, "I founded Bold Waters because each year, hundreds of lives are lost to drowning in the UK.

Many of these deaths are preventable.

They happen in open water and disproportionately affect young people from racially minoritized and low-income communities.

In 2023, 236 people died from water-related incidents in the UK.

The vision of Bold Waters is to remove barriers by increasing swim access, water safety education, and connection with natural spaces.

" How does Bold Waters aim to remove barriers?

Well, Bold Waters aims to remove barriers by increasing swim access, water safety education, and connection with natural spaces.

Bold Waters aims to increase inclusivity and wellbeing by getting more young people from racially minoritized and low-income communities outdoors and in nature, encouraging young people to participate safely in outdoor swimming, and teaching young people how to be safe around water.

Amina is an ambassador for Bold Waters.

Amina has a Muslim worldview.

Amina says, "I'm currently studying public services at college.

I want to help people.

When I heard about Bold Waters and their work to increase inclusivity and water safety, it spoke to my heart.

My family are from a small village in Bengal.

My mum grew up scared of the water, and so was I.

Having swim lessons wasn't part of my childhood.

I'm Muslim and have grown up in a culture of modesty.

Religious fuse may prevent people from feeling comfortable while swimming.

" Amina explains why religious literacy is important to her.

"As a youth ambassador, I have seen how people's ethnicity and where they grow up affects their experience of swimming and water safety.

As a Muslim, I was able to share religious literacy through my insights.

I know the importance of having inclusive open spaces where Muslim girls feel comfortable to swim.

Swim spaces where Muslim girls do not need to wear their hijab.

Having inclusivity is really important for people's wellbeing.

" True or false?

Religious literacy promotes inclusivity and wellbeing.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

Religious literacy most definitely promotes inclusivity and wellbeing.

Andeep and Sofia ask Melona, "How does Bold Waters promote inclusivity and wellbeing?

" Melona replies, "At Bold Waters, all are welcome.

It is important that our participants feel safe, seen and included in order to improve water safety.

Our sessions aim to reduce fear around water.

Our instructors are trained to be respectful and know that a child's fear of water might be rooted in family history, not just the present moment.

This approach ensures inclusivity and increases wellbeing.

" How does Bold Waters promote wellbeing?

Andeep and Sofia ask, "As a youth ambassador for Bold Waters, how do you promote inclusivity?

" Amina says, "As an ambassador for Bold Waters, I'm representing other girls and women like me.

Children are malleable and it is important to have representation and inclusivity so they can see people who look like them.

Offering female-only swimming lessons with female instructors and lifeguards is another way to promote inclusivity.

" A Bold Waters session can include participants being in cold water, such as a lake or river, learning lifesaving skills whilst fully clothed, and learning how to float without panicking.

Amina explains about one of the Bold Waters programs that she's involved in.

"I'm involved in Global Flow.

This is a six-month leadership and employability program, including swim qualifications, mentorship, and a four-week international teaching placement.

This involves traveling to countries such as Thailand, where there are high drowning rates amongst young children.

The Global Flow instructors teach locals how to swim, and they then teach others.

My hope is that a small ripple makes a big wave and generations will learn to swim.

" Select two ways an organization can promote inclusivity.

a, ensure a representative workforce; b, train employees on religious literacy; and c, make assumptions about religions and worldviews.

Well done if you selected a and b.

Two ways an organization can promote inclusivity is by ensuring a representative workforce and training employees on religious literacy.

So now you are going to create a press release showcasing the work of Bold Waters.

In your press release, include the following information.

What is Bold Waters and why was it founded?

How does it aim to remove barriers to water safety?

And how does Bold Waters promote religious literacy?

And why is that important?

Okay, welcome back.

Your responses may look something like this.

So you may have said, Bold Waters is a social impact movement using nature and open water to increase wellbeing.

It was founded in response to hundreds of lives being lost in the UK each year due to drowning in open waters.

Many of these deaths disproportionately affect young people from racially minoritized and low-income communities.

Bold Waters aims to remove barriers to water safety by increasing swim access, water safety education, and connection with natural spaces.

One way that Bold Waters promotes religious literacy is through inclusivity.

As a youth ambassador, Amina offers representation for Muslim females.

Amina can give personal insights into the barriers that Muslims females can face when learning to swim and be water safe.

But this is important because it ensures the important message on water safety is given to the right communities.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on religion and worldview in wellbeing.

Here is a summary of our learning.

The wellbeing sector includes any job that helps improve physical health, mental health, emotional balance, or quality of life.

Religious literacy helps build positive relationships with clients in the wellbeing sector.

People working in wellbeing may need to know about different religious practices, dietary requirements, and respecting modesty.

Bold Waters aims to remove water safety barriers for racially minoritized and low-income communities.

One way that Bold Waters promotes religious literacy is by having an inclusive and representative advisory board.

Ambassadors can more effectively identify and reach the right audiences with important messages.

Thank you very much for joining me for your RE lesson today, and I hope to see you again soon.