Hundreds of children across ten schools in South Wales, including one in Penarth, have reported improved self-esteem, wellbeing and happiness after completing the Flourish Project, sponsored by the Edenstone Foundation.

Flourish is a Proton Foundation project designed to improve mental and emotional wellbeing, self-esteem and resilience among nine to 16-year-olds over the course of eight one-hour sessions.

During 2022, funding from the Edenstone Foundation provided training and resources for 10 new schools – Hengoed Primary School, Blackwood; St. Patrick's RC Primary and St Michael's R.C. Primary Schools in Newport; Cwmtawe Community School in Pontardawe, Swansea; Victoria Primary, Penarth; Cwmffrwdoer Primary School, Pontnewynydd; Archbishop Rowan Williams CiW, Monmouthshire; The Federation of Kymin View & Llandogo, Monmouth; plus St Helen's RC Primary School and Nant-y-Parc Primary School, Caerphilly.

The Edenstone Foundation funding has committed to two years' funding for the project at a rate of around £30,000 a year.

Chris Edge, from the Edenstone Foundation, said: "The funding we've provided has helped train 30 Flourish facilitators who've delivered the programme to 216 children so far. Feedback from schools is that it's led to a 14.85% increase in self-esteem, a 13.05% improvement in mental and emotional wellbeing and a 13.31% average increase in general levels of happiness. The results speak for themselves – working with the Proton Foundation we're helping make a real difference to young people's lives now and in the future."

One year five pupil who took part in the project said: "I've enjoyed Flourish because we got to talk about what we enjoyed. We got to talk about our feelings and what we believe in. My favourite part was the elephant story because it showed us not to let people tell us we can't do something. If you keep trying you will be able to."

Another added: "It was fun. We got to do activities in groups that changed our self-belief."

Feedback from teachers has also been positive.

Kris Wharton, deputy head at Cwmffrwdoer Primary School, said: "Children have absolutely loved every session. I have really noticed confidence and how they carry themselves at school and how they communicate with each other. A lot of the activities have also been taken to school assemblies. Children are using all the Flourish vocabulary they have picked up from the sessions in normal classes. It has been fantastic. I can see the improvement and see that the kids can see it too. We even got the children to do a session for the governors."

Across the UK there are 32 Flourish hubs. Edenstone Foundation funding accounts for more than 40% of them.

Thanks to the Edenstone Foundation a further 184 children are due to take part in the project by the end of the summer term.

Flourish Project manager Philip Man said: "At the Proton Foundation we are all too aware of the importance of partnership with the Edenstone Foundation. We know that alone we can only go so far, but together, we can have a larger and longer-lasting impact. Our partnership with the Edenstone Foundation is proof of this. We have seen over 200 children's lives changed and expect many more to be changed in the future. We are so encouraged when reflecting on the impact we have had together so far, and are even more excited to see the impact our partnership will continue to have."

The Edenstone Foundation funding for the project is fuelled by the success of the Edenstone Group's two housing brands – Edenstone Homes and Bluebell Homes. It receives a proportion of the proceeds from every home the Groups sells to support good causes.

For more information about the Edenstone Foundation see http://edenstonefoundation.com. To find about more the Flourish Project see https://protonfoundation.com/flourish-project.