Bounce Forward

Our innovative programme helps children to improve their resilience and wellbeing.

We all face challenging times throughout our lives. How these experiences impact on our mental health and wellbeing depends on how resilient we are.

If children are supported to understand their mental health at an early age and know how to build their resilience, they are more likely to be able to navigate life’s ups and downs whilst remaining mentally healthy.

Our innovative, evidence-based programme, Bounce Forward, combines the knowledge and skills of our dedicated team, who have teaching and/or coaching backgrounds, with our experience of partnership working with schools. We provide an adaptive and flexible programme that helps children to improve their resilience and wellbeing. Bounce Forward gives children skills and strategies that they can carry with them throughout their lives, making them more likely to ‘bounce forward’ through tough times.

Bounce Forward is based on a resilience framework, co-designed with children and adapted from Hart & Blincow with Thomas. The full 10-week, coach-led programme offers more embedded learning opportunities, however a shorter programme can be delivered over 5 weeks and can be adapted to the needs of each school. The programme is mapped against the national curriculum, supporting PSHE and SMSC development.

It can be delivered to all Key Stages but is particularly aimed at Years 5, 6 and 7 as they transition from primary to secondary school.

Thank you to the Eric Wright Charitable Trust for their support of this project.

We understand that teachers often feel ill-equipped to support children with their emotional health and wellbeing so we’ve built opportunities into Bounce Forward for teachers to co-deliver activities, to access support from our staff outside of the classroom sessions and we provide teachers with a reference pack for use after we have left the school.

What people say about Bounce Forward:

“Bounce Forward has been hugely successful at Highfurlong School, pupils from KS2 to 5 have thoroughly enjoyed a wide range of exciting activities promoting resilience. The Bounce Forward Team are outstanding practitioners and show great interest and empathy with all our learners. Both staff and students have benefited from the sessions – we would highly recommend to all schools.” Highfurlong School & Specialist College, Blackpool

“Observing and taking part in the delivery of Bounce Forward has increased my knowledge and understanding of how to teach resilience. I’m much more confident in talking to others about the subject – as are the children.” Year 5 Teacher, Blackpool

“A fantastic team delivered Bounce Forward with our Year 5 children. It has increased their resilience and awareness of others. This has now started to cascade down through school with the children leading sessions. A great way of supporting our children’s mental health offering them solutions to manage any tricky situations.”
Bradley Primary School, Nelson

Bounce Forward enquiry