What's Been Happening?
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Safe · Create · Connect
What We Did:
Children used simple craft activities to explore worries in a contained, symbolic way. Each child created a Worry Bracelet to hold their thoughts overnight and chose a Worry Star as a personal comfort object.
The activity was shared alongside trusted adults, modelling that worries can be acknowledged and held safely together.
Outcomes:
- Expression: Children communicated worries through making, without pressure to verbalise
- Regulation: Repetitive, hands-on activity supported calm focus and emotional settling
- Connection: Shared participation reduced isolation and encouraged openness
What We Heard:
“I made mine for my dreams.” – Child, age 9
“You are doing tremendous work.” – Mark Squires, Trustee, The Lighthouse Projectyou can explore your thoughts and feelings, gain insights into your behavior, and develop strategies for positive change.
Session: Warm Fuzzies
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Safe · Create · Connect
What We Did:
Children were each given an orange pom-pom — their “Warm Fuzzy” — to represent a moment of kindness, joy or connection. Using a simple prompt card, they identified someone or something that made them feel good and chose whether to keep their Warm Fuzzy or pass it on to another person.
The activity encouraged reflection, choice and gentle social interaction in a calm, sensory-led way.
Outcomes:
- Expression: Children shared positive feelings through symbolic objects and simple language
- Connection: Acts of giving strengthened family and peer relationships
- Regulation: Soft, tactile materials supported calm engagement and focus
What We Heard:
“I gave mine to my sister because she let me go first.” – Child, age 7
“My Mam makes me happiest and it’s for her.” – Child, age 9
Session: Collaborative Identity Art
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Session: Collaborative Identity Art – Small Action, Big Impact
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Create · Connect · Grow
What We Did:
Children were each given an individual tile to decorate, without knowing the final image. At the end of the session, they worked together to place their tiles into position, revealing a shared artwork that only became clear through cooperation and collective effort.
The activity required patience, trust and collaboration, supporting children to contribute as individuals while working towards a shared outcome.
Outcomes:
- Connection: Children formed new peer relationships through shared purpose and teamwork
- Expression: Individual creativity was valued as part of a collective whole
- Regulation: Focused, purposeful activity supported calm engagement and sustained attention
What We Heard:
“I didn’t even know him but our bits matched!” – Child, age 10
“It felt like we made something important together.” – Child, age 11
Session: Collaborative Identity Art – Small Action, Big Impact
Session: Collaborative Identity Art – Small Action, Big Impact
Session: Collaborative Identity Art – Small Action, Big Impact
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Create · Connect · Grow
What We Did:
As part of our wellbeing launch activities, children who had not met before were each given a random tile to decorate. They were not shown the final image and were encouraged to focus only on their individual contribution.
Each tile was later brought together to form a larger community artwork, revealing how small, separate actions combine to create something meaningful when placed within a shared structure.
Outcomes:
- Connection: Children experienced belonging through contribution, even without prior relationships
- Expression: Individual creativity was respected and valued without comparison
- Regulation: Clear structure and simple tasks supported calm participation and focus
What We Heard:
“Working together for a greater good means sometimes you don’t even know what your role will be.”
Session: Guided Relaxation & Breathing
Session: Collaborative Identity Art – Small Action, Big Impact
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Safe · Calm
What We Did:
Children were introduced to progressive muscle relaxation and simple breathing techniques in a quiet, supported space. The session focused on noticing physical sensations, releasing tension and practising stillness in a way that felt safe and achievable.
The structure was gentle and predictable, allowing children to engage at their own pace.
Outcomes:
- Regulation: Children demonstrated physical relaxation, slowed breathing and sustained stillness
- Expression: Children were able to describe internal sensations using their own words
- Connection: Shared calm experience supported a sense of safety within the group
What We Heard:
“It was the best bit of the whole night.” – Child
Children described feeling “calm,” “sleepy,” and “floaty.”
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
Session: Collaborative Identity Art – Small Action, Big Impact
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Create · Connect · Grow
What We Did:
Children and young people were invited to contribute original poems exploring thoughts, feelings and experiences of the world around them. The project culminated in the publication of A Sky Full of Poems, a community poetry book celebrating children’s voices and creative expression.
The process focused on permission, authenticity and pride, allowing contributors to share words in a way that felt safe and meaningful.
Outcomes:
- Expression: Children used language creatively to communicate feelings, ideas and perspectives
- Connection: Contributors became part of a shared community project, strengthening a sense of belonging
- Regulation: Writing offered a reflective, calming outlet for processing thoughts and emotions
What We Saw:
Children demonstrated pride in seeing their words in print and shared their work confidently with peers, families and the wider community.
Project: Book Launch - A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
Project: Book Launch - A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
Project: Book Launch - A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Safe · Calm · Grow
What We Did:
We created A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep, a child-friendly book designed to help families understand sleep hygiene through simple language, routine-based strategies and gentle reassurance. The book supports children to explore bedtime worries, body calm and healthy sleep habits in an accessible, non-clinical way.
The resource is used alongside sensory sleep sessions and shared with families as a practical tool they can return to at home.
Outcomes:
- Regulation: Children developed a clearer understanding of calming routines and body-based strategies to support sleep
- Expression: The book provided a safe way for children to talk about bedtime worries and night-time fears
- Connection: Shared reading supported positive bedtime interactions between children and caregivers
What We Heard:
Families reported improved bedtime routines and greater confidence in supporting sleep in calm, predictable ways.
Project: Community Raffle
Project: Book Launch - A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
Project: Book Launch - A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Connect · Grow
What We Did:
We ran a community raffle to raise awareness of Family Mental Fitness North East CIC and to bring local people, businesses and partners together in support of children and family wellbeing.
Local organisations and individuals donated prizes, and the raffle was shared widely across the community, creating opportunities for conversation, connection and shared purpose.
Outcomes:
- Connection: Families, community members and local businesses engaged together around a shared wellbeing cause
- Expression: Community supporters showed care and encouragement through participation and generosity
- Regulation: The event offered a positive, low-pressure way for families to engage with wellbeing activity in the community
What We Saw:
Strong community participation, meaningful conversations about wellbeing support, and a shared sense of pride in contributing to something local and purposeful.
Session: You Are Byker – Community Messages
Project: Book Launch - A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
Session: You Are Byker – Community Messages
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Create · Connect · Grow
What We Did:
Children and adults were invited to write positive messages for the younger generation of Byker — sharing memories, hopes, humour and life advice. The activity created space for honest reflection and intergenerational voice, allowing contributors to express themselves freely without pressure to be serious or “perfect.”
Messages were displayed publicly, giving value to community voice and lived experience.
Outcomes:
- Expression: Participants shared thoughts and feelings openly, using humour and honesty to communicate meaning
- Connection: Intergenerational contributions strengthened a sense of shared identity and belonging
- Regulation: Writing and reflection supported calm engagement and emotional processing
What We Saw:
Participants engaged thoughtfully with the prompts, often smiling, laughing and pausing to reflect before sharing their message.
Session: Take Five – Regulation Hand
Session: Introduction to Adult Journalling
Session: You Are Byker – Community Messages
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Safe · Calm · Create
What We Did:
Children were introduced to a simple “Take Five” regulation tool using a hand-based prompt. Each finger represented a calming or grounding focus, such as slow breathing, naming trusted people, identifying strengths, or noticing things that bring comfort.
Children personalised their hand by writing, colouring and adding details that felt meaningful to them, creating a practical tool they could return to when feeling worried, overwhelmed or sad.
Outcomes:
- Regulation: Children practised structured breathing and grounding strategies to support emotional settling
- Expression: Personalisation allowed children to reflect on feelings, strengths and sources of support
- Connection: Shared discussion normalised emotional experiences and encouraged peer reassurance
What We Saw:
Children engaged thoughtfully with the activity, taking time to personalise their hand and referring back to it during the session as a calming prompt.
Session: All About Me Book
Session: Introduction to Adult Journalling
Session: Introduction to Adult Journalling
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Safe · Create · Connect
What We Did:
Children created a simple All About Me booklet, using short prompts to reflect on what makes them happy and the people who matter to them. The activity focused on choice, simplicity and personal meaning, allowing children to share as much or as little as they felt comfortable with.
Writing and drawing were used as low-pressure ways for children to express feelings, experiences and relationships that are important to them.
Outcomes:
- Expression: Children communicated emotions, needs and relationships through words and images
- Connection: Identifying trusted people strengthened feelings of belonging and support
- Regulation: Quiet, reflective activity supported emotional settling and focus
What We Saw:
Children engaged thoughtfully with the prompts, often pausing to consider their responses and taking pride in their finished booklets.
Session: Introduction to Adult Journalling
Session: Introduction to Adult Journalling
Session: Introduction to Adult Journalling
Purpose (Better Together focus):
Safe · Calm · Create · Grow
What We Did:
Adults were introduced to gentle journalling as a tool for reflection, emotional processing and self-awareness. The session focused on removing pressure to “write well” and instead encouraged participants to explore thoughts and feelings in a way that felt safe, private and manageable.
Simple prompts were offered to support reflection, with emphasis on curiosity rather than judgement.
Outcomes:
- Regulation: Participants reported feeling calmer and more settled after structured reflection
- Expression: Journalling provided a safe outlet for thoughts and emotions that are often held internally
- Connection: Shared discussion normalised experiences and reduced feelings of isolation
What We Saw:
Participants engaged quietly and attentively, often pausing to reflect before writing, and shared insights with increased confidence as the session progressed.