Health & Wellbeing Breaks
Our Health & Wellbeing Breaks provide smaller group experiences for children aged 5–12 experiencing difficult circumstances who would benefit from more tailored support.
This dedicated programme is designed to target specific learning needs and offer more personalised time in a supportive group setting for children who may struggle in larger groups at school.
Children attend in groups of up to 12, ranging from one day with an overnight stay to multi-day residential experiences, depending on the needs of each group and school. The breaks take place at one of our three sites in England, Scotland and Wales, and include outdoor challenges, team activities and fun learning exercises designed to build confidence and emotional wellbeing.
Delivered in partnership with schools, we liaise closely with teachers before each break to understand individual needs, challenges and goals for each child. Following the break, we review progress together, helping to reinforce positive outcomes back in the school environment.
Through structured activities and supportive group experiences, children develop resilience, improve social confidence and gain skills that help them manage challenges at school and in their daily lives.
Our survey methodology uses the Stirling Children’s Wellbeing Scale – a highly statistical and validated measurement framework that establishes improvements in a child’s subjective or emotional wellbeing, and in their objective or psychological wellbeing.
In 2023, our Health and Wellbeing Programme achieved the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOC) Quality Badge, recognising the quality and impact of our approach.
I feel more resilient because I didn’t give up. My motivation is better, I had to communicate. I feel better about myself.
Building confidence and resilience
How the programme works
Our minibus collects 12 children from their school on a Monday morning and takes them to one of our sites. They are greeted by our Health & Wellbeing team; our aim is for each group of children to work with the same consistent team of four skilled adults throughout their journey.
Having already established relationships with the Honeypot team and each other during pre-break sessions in school, children embark upon a bespoke programme of tasks and challenges throughout their residential stay. Our sites have a wealth of scientific and environmental learning opportunities for the children, which are incorporated into activities such as habitat exploration, understanding food chains and even building their own hedgehog houses!
Other tasks and challenges enable the children to explore PHSE/citizenship topics, including being an active global citizen, respect, rights and responsibilities, diversity, identity and wellbeing. Many of the tasks are designed to be hands-on and creative, including designing, producing and presenting their own creations such as board games and worry monsters.
All tasks seek to develop teamwork and social skills, completing a range of challenges and problem-solving tasks, helping children to recognise, understand and celebrate their capabilities. During scheduled break or exercise times, children focus on their physical health and wellbeing, exploring healthy routines and enjoying a range of activities and sports, including go-karts, trampolining, cycling, basketball and football.
Every evening the children take time to reflect, updating their Honeypot journal with skills they’ve developed, challenges they’ve overcome and achievements they have celebrated.
What schools say
Christchurch
Junior School
“The trip has helped some of our children to realise that they have capabilities and capacity beyond what they previously believed. It was good to watch children being highly motivated to take part in a range of activities that they had not previously encountered. I have seen increased confidence in those children and a greater willingness to engage and interact with adults back in the school environment.”
Caersws Community
Primary School
“Having time away with their friends and classmates can help children to socialise in a more 'homely' setting and to complete a range of activities in a safe and structured environment. As a result we find that the children attending Health & Wellbeing Breaks often grow in confidence and seem more comfortable with different settings and activities.”
Holy Family
Primary School
“The children returned to us full of stories and happy memories. It was lovely to see the bonds they had created with children they did not previously know. (Child’s name) in particular presented as a completely different child, approaching me for a hug and initiating conversation, which is very unlike her usual quiet self... she has really grown in confidence in such a short time!"
