What's Been Happening?
Session: Wey Eye LEGO Man – Identity & Belonging Project
Session: Wey Eye LEGO Man – Identity & Belonging Project
Session: Wey Eye LEGO Man – Identity & Belonging Project
What We Did
Children and adults from a range of community groups and schools were invited to design and personalise their own “Wey Eye” LEGO figure, representing identity, interests, culture and individuality.
Participants used colour, symbols and character design to express who they are, with each figure contributing to a wider collection that reflects the diversity and voice of the local community.
The collection was brought together as a shared exhibition piece, giving visibility to individual voices and creating a collective representation of the community.
What We Saw
A diverse and highly individual collection of figures, each reflecting personal identity and lived experience.
The combined display created a powerful visual representation of community voice, with participants showing pride in their contributions and interest in the work of others.
Session: Exam Stress & Performance Workshop
Session: Wey Eye LEGO Man – Identity & Belonging Project
Session: Wey Eye LEGO Man – Identity & Belonging Project
What We Did
We delivered a structured workshop supporting children and young people to understand and manage exam-related stress using simple, accessible psychoeducation and practical regulation strategies.
Participants were introduced to how the brain and nervous system respond under pressure, alongside tools to support calm focus, memory and confidence.
Resources were designed to be child-friendly and were used within the session and taken away to support continued use at home and in school.
Outcomes
- children developed a clearer understanding of how stress affects thinking, memory and performance
- participants practised simple strategies to manage pressure and improve focus
- increased confidence was observed when approaching challenging or high-pressure situations
Participants were able to explain key concepts (e.g. fight/flight response) and apply calming strategies during the session.
What We Saw
Children engaged positively with the content, showing interest in understanding how their brain works and applying strategies to manage stress.
Many demonstrated increased confidence and willingness to participate when discussing exam or performance situations.
HAF Regulation: Understanding & Managing Emotions
Session: Wey Eye LEGO Man – Identity & Belonging Project
HAF Regulation: Understanding & Managing Emotions
What We Did
We delivered a structured HAF session focused on helping children recognise, name and understand feelings of dysregulation.
Children were introduced to simple, accessible language around emotions and body responses, alongside practical strategies to support calming and self-regulation.
Activities were designed to be engaging and hands-on, allowing children to explore emotional experiences in a safe, supported environment.
Outcomes
- children developed language to identify and describe feelings of dysregulation
- participants practised simple techniques to support calming and emotional control
- increased confidence was observed in recognising when support or regulation was needed
Children were able to begin linking physical sensations with emotional states and identify strategies to help themselves.
What We Saw
Children engaged positively with the session, showing growing confidence in naming emotions and using simple regulation strategies.
The group environment supported openness, with children beginning to share experiences and respond to each other with reassurance.
Breathing Board – Regulation Under Stress
HAF Regulation: Understanding & Managing Emotions
What We Did
Children were supported to develop a simple, portable breathing tool to practise paced breathing and support regulation under stress.
Using a structured visual pathway, the board guides slow, controlled breathing, helping children regulate their nervous system in a way that is accessible, repeatable and easy to use independently.
The tool was personalised to increase engagement and ownership, encouraging children to use it beyond the session.
Outcomes
- children practised paced breathing to support emotional regulation
- participants developed a simple strategy to use during moments of stress or overwhelm
- increased confidence was observed in managing physical responses to anxiety
Children were able to use the board to slow their breathing and support calm during the session.
What We Saw
Children engaged fully with the tool, demonstrating focus and calm while using it, and showed understanding of how it could support them when feeling overwhelmed.
Children’s Mental Health Week – Community Programme Delivery
Children’s Mental Health Week – Community Programme Delivery
What We Did
We developed and shared a structured programme of activities for Children’s Mental Health Week, supporting local community groups to deliver consistent, accessible wellbeing sessions for children and families.
The scheme of work provided simple, evidence-informed activities linked to our Better Together framework (Safe · Calm · Create · Connect · Grow), enabling partners to deliver meaningful support without requiring specialist training.
Outcomes
- community organisations were able to deliver structured wellbeing support with confidence
- children accessed consistent messages and activities across different settings
- increased reach of early intervention support beyond direct delivery
Multiple groups were able to deliver sessions independently using the programme.
What We Saw
Community partners engaged positively with the materials, using them flexibly to support children’s wellbeing and creating wider access to early support during Children’s Mental Health Week.
Session: Online Use & Digital Wellbeing
Children’s Mental Health Week – Community Programme Delivery
What We Did
We delivered a structured session supporting children and young people to reflect on their use of social media, gaming and digital devices.
Through guided discussion and self-assessment, participants explored patterns of use, emotional responses and the impact of screen time on sleep, relationships and wellbeing.
The session introduced simple, practical strategies to support balance, self-awareness and healthier digital habits.
Outcomes
- participants developed increased awareness of their digital behaviours and habits
- children identified links between screen use, mood, sleep and daily functioning
- participants began to reflect on boundaries and healthier ways to use devices
Children were able to recognise both positive and negative impacts of their digital use and consider changes.
What We Saw
Participants engaged openly in discussion, showing honesty in reflecting on their habits and increasing awareness of how device use affects their wellbeing and relationships.
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
What We Did
Children were supported to explore and externalise worries through structured, hands-on activity using symbolic objects.
Each child created a Worry Bracelet to hold their thoughts and selected a Worry Star as a personal comfort object, providing a contained way to manage worries beyond the session.
The activity was shared alongside trusted adults, modelling that worries can be acknowledged and held safely within relationships.
Outcomes
- children communicated worries safely without pressure to verbalise
- emotional arousal reduced through repetitive, hands-on engagement
- shared participation reduced isolation and increased openness
All children remained engaged throughout the session, with increased participation observed as the activity progressed.
What We Heard
“I made mine for my dreams.” – Child, age 9
“This is tremendous work.” – Mark Squires, Trustee, The Lighthouse Project
Session: Warm Fuzzies
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
Session: Worry Bracelets & Worry Stars
What We Did
Children were supported to reflect on positive relationships and experiences through the use of symbolic objects (“Warm Fuzzies”).
Using simple prompts, they identified moments of kindness, joy or connection and chose whether to keep or give their object, encouraging emotional expression, decision-making and social interaction in a calm, structured way.
Outcomes
- children expressed positive emotions using simple language and symbolic representation
- acts of giving strengthened peer and family connections
- calm, tactile engagement supported focus and emotional regulation
All children engaged with the activity, with increased confidence observed in sharing and interaction.
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
What We Did
Children contributed individual pieces to a shared artwork without seeing the final outcome in advance.
As the session progressed, they worked together to place their pieces, revealing a collective image that required cooperation, trust and shared effort.
Outcomes
- new peer connections formed through shared purpose and collaboration
- individual contributions were valued within a collective outcome
- sustained, purposeful activity supported focus and calm engagement
All children remained engaged, with increased collaboration and interaction as the activity developed.
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: Small Action, Big Impact
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
Session: Collaborative Identity Art
What We Did
As part of a wider wellbeing session delivered with The Lighthouse Project, children took part in a structured activity focused on contribution and collective impact.
Each child created an individual piece without knowing the final outcome, before coming together to assemble the full image, demonstrating how small actions contribute to a wider shared result.
Outcomes
- children developed an understanding of their role within a wider group context
- participation supported a sense of contribution and shared ownership
- clear structure and purposeful activity supported calm engagement and sustained focus
All children engaged with the activity, with increased awareness of working as part of a group.
What We Saw
Children began to recognise how their individual contribution connected to others, with growing curiosity and discussion as the final piece came together.
Session: Guided Relaxation & Breathing
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
What We Did
Children were supported to develop awareness of their physical and emotional state through structured relaxation techniques, including progressive muscle relaxation and simple breathwork.
The session provided a calm, predictable environment where children could notice, release and regulate physical tension at their own pace.
Outcomes
- children demonstrated reduced physical tension and slower, more regulated breathing
- children began to recognise and describe internal sensations using their own language
- shared calm experience supported a sense of safety and ease within the group
Most children were able to engage in stillness for sustained periods, with visible reduction in restlessness.
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
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
Project: Book Launch - A Sky Full of Poems
What We Did
Children and young people were supported to express thoughts, feelings and experiences through structured creative writing, contributing original pieces to a published community poetry book.
The project provided a safe framework for expression, culminating in a shared outcome that celebrated children’s voices and creativity.
Outcomes
- children communicated personal thoughts and experiences through creative language
- contributors developed confidence in sharing their voice within a wider community context
- writing provided a reflective outlet for processing thoughts and emotions
26 children and young people contributed as published authors, with sustained engagement throughout the project.
What We Saw
Children showed clear pride in seeing their work in print, sharing their writing confidently with peers, families and the wider community.
Resource: A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
Session: Messages to the Next Generation – Intergenerational Activity
Resource: A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
What We Did
We developed a child-friendly sleep resource, co-authored with a child, to support families in understanding sleep routines, managing bedtime worries and building calm, consistent habits.
The resource is used alongside sensory sleep sessions, providing a structured, accessible tool that children and families can return to at home.
Outcomes
- children developed a clearer understanding of calming routines and body-based strategies to support sleep
- children were able to explore and communicate bedtime worries in a safe, non-threatening way
- shared use of the resource supported more consistent and positive bedtime interactions
Families were able to apply strategies at home, supporting improved routines and increased confidence around sleep.
What We Heard
Families reported improved bedtime routines and greater confidence in supporting sleep in calm, predictable ways.
Project: Community Raffle
Session: Messages to the Next Generation – Intergenerational Activity
Resource: A Guide to Your Best Night’s Sleep
What We Did
We delivered a community raffle as part of our engagement strategy to raise awareness of early intervention support and connect families, local organisations and partners around children’s and family wellbeing.
Local businesses and community members contributed prizes, creating a shared, low-pressure entry point for engagement and conversation.
Outcomes
- increased awareness of available early intervention support within the local community
- strengthened connections between families, local organisations and partner networks
- created accessible opportunities for families to engage with support without formal referral
High levels of participation were observed, with strong community involvement and contribution.
What We Saw
Strong community engagement, with families and partners actively participating and engaging in conversations about wellbeing support.
A clear sense of shared ownership and pride was evident across the activity.
Session: Messages to the Next Generation – Intergenerational Activity
Session: Messages to the Next Generation – Intergenerational Activity
Session: Messages to the Next Generation – Intergenerational Activity
What We Did
Children and adults were supported to reflect on experiences, values and advice through a structured writing activity focused on intergenerational voice.
Participants created messages for the younger generation of Byker, providing a safe and accessible way to share thoughts, humour and lived experience, with contributions displayed publicly to reinforce value and visibility.
Outcomes
- participants expressed thoughts and experiences openly through written reflection
- intergenerational contributions strengthened a shared sense of identity and belonging
- structured, reflective activity supported calm engagement and emotional processing
Strong participation was observed across age groups, with sustained engagement and willingness to share.
What We Saw
Participants engaged thoughtfully with the prompts, often pausing to reflect before writing, with visible enjoyment and openness throughout the activity.
Session: Take Five – Regulation Hand
Session: Journalling for Reflection & Emotional Processing (Adults)
Session: Messages to the Next Generation – Intergenerational Activity
What We Did
Children were supported to develop practical self-regulation strategies using a structured “Take Five” prompt.
Each finger represented a simple grounding or calming focus (e.g. breath, trusted people, strengths), creating an accessible framework children could personalise and use independently when feeling overwhelmed.
Outcomes
- children practised simple, repeatable strategies to support emotional regulation
- children identified personal sources of support and internal strengths
- shared discussion normalised emotional experiences and encouraged peer reassurance
Children were able to refer back to their tool independently during the session, demonstrating early self-regulation.
What We Saw
Children engaged thoughtfully, taking time to personalise their tool and returning to it as a calming prompt when needed.
Session: All About Me Book
Session: Journalling for Reflection & Emotional Processing (Adults)
Session: Journalling for Reflection & Emotional Processing (Adults)
What We Did
Children were supported to reflect on their identity, relationships and sources of happiness through a structured “All About Me” booklet.
Using simple prompts, they explored what matters to them in a way that felt safe and manageable, with choice around how much they shared.
Outcomes
- children expressed thoughts, feelings and relationships through words and images
- identifying trusted people strengthened a sense of belonging and support
- quiet, reflective activity supported emotional settling and sustained focus
All children engaged with the task, with increased confidence observed as they shared their work.
What We Saw
Children took time to reflect on their responses, showing care and pride in their booklets and increased willingness to share with others.
Session: Journalling for Reflection & Emotional Processing (Adults)
Session: Journalling for Reflection & Emotional Processing (Adults)
Session: Journalling for Reflection & Emotional Processing (Adults)
What We Did
Adults were supported to use gentle journalling as a structured tool for reflection, emotional processing and self-awareness.
Simple prompts encouraged participants to explore thoughts and feelings without pressure, creating a safe and manageable way to engage with internal experiences.
Outcomes
- participants reported feeling calmer and more settled following structured reflection
- journalling provided a safe outlet for processing thoughts and emotions
- shared discussion normalised experiences and reduced feelings of isolation
All participants engaged with the process, with increased confidence in sharing reflections as the session progressed.
What We Saw
Participants engaged quietly and attentively, pausing to reflect before writing, and demonstrated increased openness and confidence during discussion.