About Pathways to Resilience
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
OUR VISION
To equip ALL children and their communities with tools that build resilience to improve emotional well-being
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.
In the three years that Pathways to Resilience has been running, we have seen the phenomenally positive impact the programme has had on those we have worked with. Children and adolescents 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 the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents, and so do 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 to deliver the programme and workshops to their communities
Our first cohort of facilitator trainees will be ready to deliver more programmes and workshops across the UK in 2025. As this network of facilitators grows, so does the level of resilience among children and families across the UK. More facilitators and more funding means more communities receive these tools for resilience.
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:
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 & Adolescents’ Programme is 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 with the programme and are delighted to be making a difference to the lives of children, adolescents and their parents and carers. If you would like to support this project please contact us.
East Hampshire District Council
Funding over 3 years to take our programme and parent workshops into primary and secondary schools in the 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).