School Engagement & Wellbeing Report
Turning youth voice into action.
School-based wellbeing & youth engagement
AMPLIFY gives young people in Havering secondary schools the space to talk honestly about the things that affect them — and makes sure what they say leads to action.
Delivery notes: schools were closed over April for the Easter holidays, and in June our mentor was away for 3 days’ annual leave — both reflected in the session counts. A positive, open atmosphere was recorded in every session.
Eight themes, ten sessions
Each group moves through a structured journey — calm, non-judgemental and led by what young people raise themselves.
Belonging & Mental Wellbeing
Stress Management & Coping
Emotional Awareness & Regulation
Resilience & Growth Mindset
Healthy Relationships & Boundaries
Self-Care & Support Pathways
Vision Boards & Creative Expression
Reflection, Recognition & Next Steps
In their own words
Real quotes captured across every school and theme. This is what young people in Havering told us — unfiltered.
The themes beneath the quotes
Across the eight weeks, the same threads came up again and again in every school.
Trust is the headline
Many young people don’t feel safe sharing with adults in school — held back by fear of judgement, worry that things won’t stay private, and uncertainty that speaking up changes anything.
Recognise the good
They want to be praised and noticed for effort — not only when something goes wrong. Genuine praise and being treated fairly came up repeatedly.
Pressure is constant
Academic pressure, exams and social media weigh heavily on confidence and wellbeing, with comparison and “fitting in” adding to the load.
Bullying & exclusion
Verbal and cyberbullying are felt to be ongoing and not always dealt with, and isolation as a sanction “doesn’t work.”
Carrying battles alone
Many cope by dealing with their “battles” by themselves — and ask adults for empathy rather than judgement.
They know what helps
Trusted adults who listen, a calm space, someone to talk to who isn’t a teacher, and more positive activities that bring people together.
The face behind our sessions
Our mentor leads AMPLIFY sessions in our schools week to week. Drawing on his own journey — from struggling at school to building a career inspiring young people — his sessions are high-energy, honest and rooted in lived experience, helping young people grow in confidence, resilience and self-belief.
It’s that consistency and trust — the same familiar face each week — that young people respond to, and it’s the heart of why the programme works.
“He is a great mentor and the young people really enjoy his sessions.” — Head of Year, Brittons Academy
Three priorities, led by young people
We’re refocusing podcasting and filming on the three things young people consistently asked for help with — in every school. These are student-led asks, and they echo what we saw in the Kailo project.
Money & budgeting
The most consistent ask — raised in every school.
Looking after mental health
Practical, everyday ways to stay well and seek support.
Healthy friendships & relationships
Trust, boundaries and respect with peers and adults.
Filmed for reach
Every podcast is filmed — each episode also becomes short video reels for social.
Action-focused
Positive, achievable content and workshops built around each theme.
Borough-wide ambition
Aiming for change that reaches beyond the school gates.
Partners ready
Key people we can call on to help deliver alongside young people.
What young people said
Based on 11 end-of-programme surveys returned across The Brittons Academy, Harris Academy and Emerson Park (Year 8–9).
What improved most
“That it is good to talk.”
“Someone in school we can talk to who isn’t a teacher.”
“That we’re not stupid — we’re dealing with a lot, and so much pressure, not just in school.”
What schools said
From the Youth Unity School Mentor Feedback form, completed by the Support & Guidance Manager at The Brittons Academy (24 June 2026).
“We couldn’t be happier with the support and service from Youth Unity. The students feel listened to and equipped to independently deal with the issues they’re having.” — Support & Guidance Manager, The Brittons Academy
- Confidence
- Emotional wellbeing
- Self-esteem
- Relationships with peers
- Relationships with staff
- Resilience
- Ability to seek support
- Behaviour
- Attendance
- Engagement in learning
All 10 areas improved — none rated ‘no change’ or ‘decline’.
Emerging themes & impact
Trauma-informed · youth voice · trusted relationships.
What young people told us
- Trust is the headline — many don’t feel safe sharing with adults in school.
- They want to be praised and recognised, not only noticed when something goes wrong.
- Academic pressure and social media weigh heavily on confidence and wellbeing.
- Bullying and exclusion are felt to go unaddressed.
- They cope by carrying “battles” alone — and want empathy, not judgement.
Safeguarding themes
- Low trust in adults & fear of disclosure
- Anxiety, stress & academic pressure
- Bullying, peer conflict & exclusion
- Low self-esteem & confidence
- Reluctance to seek help
Recommended next steps
- Embed trusted-adult relationships in every group.
- Launch The Small Circle (September) for consistent, focused support.
- Develop the podcast strand to amplify youth voice.
- Keep safe spaces for open, non-judgemental discussion.
- Recognise effort and wellbeing, not just attainment.
Where the voice goes next
Closing Quarter 1 by celebrating what young people achieved — and agreeing where their voice goes next.
The Small Circle
A smaller, more focused group giving a core of young people consistent, trusted space to keep building confidence and voice. The start was moved to the new term: the young people interested were sitting exams, and Year 11s had left the school — so we’ve set it up properly for September.
Podcasting & social
Youth-led podcast episodes — filmed, and turned into short social clips — built around money, mental health and healthy relationships. Episodes will be shared publicly once school consent is confirmed.
