• "I believe this is possibly the most important thing children, teens and adults might learn for their life. Please make it available to everyone!"

    Year 7 Parent

  • “Excellent, very beneficial. Parent workshops are extremely helpful to help build resilience in children. Every child should be able to do this, reduce burden on the NHS budgets and support mental health.”

    Year 10 Parent

  • "When I went on a Taster Day visit recently I was soooo nervous and me and my friends used finger tapping under the desks. It really really helped.”

    Year 6 Pupil

  • "Really enjoyed the session - insightful and will help me personally and also ways to help children - individuals and as a whole class."

    Primary School Staff

  • "This was such a good workshop! Really enjoyed everything about it and would love to attend more sessions on a regular basis."

    Primary School Parent

  • "I use finger breathing when I am nervous or when I want to be calm."

    Primary School Pupil

  • “This should happen for every child in every year group and the staff should also experience the techniques to help support the students. I’m so pleased TPS is keen on running this! There is such a need.”

    Year 10 Parent

  • "I go to hospital to have my tummy checked because I’m in so much pain and I use breathing to help me. I’m sad the programme is ending."

    Primary School Pupil

Pathways to Resilience is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that equips children and their communities with tools for resilience and emotional wellbeing.

Resilience Programmes for Children

Workshops for Adults

  • 10 session resilience programmes for 8 - 11 year olds and 12 - 16 year olds

  • Parent/Carer Workshops

  • Staff Training

  • Pathways to Resilience Facilitator Training

THE PTR VISION

Equipping children and their communities with tools for resilience & emotional wellbeing.

Why is this needed?

According to NHS England and The Mental Health of Children and Young People report carried out in 2023, a staggering 20.3% of 8 to 16-year-olds had a probable mental disorder. This statistic has nearly doubled since 2017 meaning that an incredible 1 in 5 children and young people are suffering with issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, poor sleep, loneliness and bullying.  Another recent NHS study found that antidepressants prescriptions have risen by a third amongst 13 - 19 year olds since 2020.

Since 2021 Pathways to Resilience seen the phenomenally positive impact its programmes and workshops has had on those who have attended. Children have fed back to us that they have vastly improved sleep, experienced less anger, more tolerance (of siblings in particular!) and an expanded willingness and ability, for those that were struggling, to attend school. Pathways to Resilience can have a significant impact on children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing , as well as on parents and carers.

“Excellent, very beneficial. Every child should be able to do this, reduce burden on the NHS budgets and support mental health.”

- Primary School Parent

How will we achieve our vision?

  • By attracting funding to bring the programme to children, families and communities free of charge

Embedded in our long term vision is for our programmes and workshops to be financially accessible to everyone by providing free places. In the last few years, we have been successful with funding bids that have meant children have been able to attend our programmes and families have been able to attend our workshops free of charge. We know how difficult it is right now for families, particularly for those with children who need additional support (NHS report)

  • By training more facilitators across the UK and beyond to deliver the programmes and workshops to their communities

Our first cohort of Accredited Facilitators are already delivering programmes and workshops across the UK and Europe.  As this network of facilitators grows, so does the level of resilience among children and communities.

Many families and professionals are excited about this project and are keen to help reach as many people as possible in their communities.  If that sounds like you, there are ways you can support this work:

  • "Such a helpful workshop. Realise now how I can help influence how my children deal with strong emotions."

    Primary School Parent

  • "I do the breathing whenever I’m stressed, it makes me feel calmer. I really liked the activities, they were really fun."

    Primary School Pupil

  • “So great to have some practical skills for myself and a tool box for my son. Thank you.”

    Primary School Parent

  • “Really interesting workshop. Love learning about the brain and how we learn and feel!”

    Primary School Staff

What do we mean by resilience?

The Oxford dictionary defines resilience as ‘the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties’ - this can be physical, mental, emotional or social. But what exactly is resilience and what does it look like in everyday life?

What does resilience look like?

Someone who is resilient has good self-awareness, they are able to notice when their body is sending stress signals and can implement tools and strategies to bring about calm in moments of challenge and raise energy when feeling low. This means they are able to rely on themselves to move between different states and, in turn, change their emotions and behaviours depending on the situation they find themselves in.  We believe this is done through navigating the nervous system by returning to a sense of balance. In addition, someone who is resilient, has good self-expression, is able to verbalise how they are feeling and confidently ask for help when needed.

Pathways to Resilience - 4 Pillars of Resilience

Combining our extensive work with children and adolescents over the last two decades, along with our keen interest in the latest research by great clinicians, psychologists and doctors, such as Deb Dana, Martin Seligman and Gabor Mate, the founders of PTR have highlighted 4 Pillars of Resilience and how the programmes and workshops aim to nurture them:

Balance - regulating the nervous system through breathing practices

Self-Belief - identifying strengths and building confidence

Optimism - using positive-psychology tools in daily life

Perseverance - understanding the importance of rest whilst not giving up

The Children’s Programmes are specifically designed to be in-person and without the use of tech. This creates a deeper group connection, building mutual respect amongst peers and gives participants time and space to think, contribute and to be heard.

“I do the breathing whenever I’m stressed, it makes me feel calmer. I really liked the activities, they were really fun.

- Primary School Pupil

Funding & Donations

We have been awarded a range of funding to bring this work to children at no charge to families. We are grateful for all support and delighted to be making a difference to the lives of children, families and their communities. If you would like to support this project please contact us.

East Hampshire District Council

Funding over 3 years to take our Junior & Senior Programmes and Parent/Carer Workshops into East Hampshire District 2023-2026.

The Co-operative Bank 

1 of 1,252 companies awarded funding for resources by the Customer Donation Fund 2023.

Petersfield Town Council

One-off funding for a programme for Year 11 pre-GCSE students at The Petersfield School (TPS).