The Goodness Collective

The Goodness Collective meets at The Crown in Hastings Old Town on Monday 2 November, from 10:30am to 12:00. It's a fortnightly gathering for women, run by Jo Gray, a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist who started the sessions in June 2021 to bring people together to share knowledge, inspiration and ideas, and to help them live fuller, more meaningful lives. Over the years it's grown into what she calls a 'living practice' — a steady rhythm of reflection and growth.

Each month is given a theme, and that's the starting point for the session. The twelve are Intend, Grow, Balance, Self, Create, Pause, Embrace, Awe, Gratitude, Change, Trust and Reflect. From there, you can meander, muse or journal, with plenty of tea to keep you going. Regulars describe walking in as 'walking into a big cuddle', a safe and welcoming space to explore your own life while making new friends. It's not group therapy, and it's not a substitute for it, so it's more about the quiet, shared company than anything clinical.

Jo runs the sessions for free and invites support through Buy Me a Coffee. There's no need to book, so you can just turn up. It runs on alternate Mondays, bank holidays permitting, from 10:30am to 12:00 at The Crown in Hastings Old Town. The 2 November session is one of several throughout the year — other dates in 2026 include 16 and 30 November, and 14 December.