You Can Flourish are extremely grateful for the King Henry VIII Endowed Trust’s grant of £15,000 in 2024, which helped 51 girls from Warwick to flourish through their group and 1:1 mentoring. These girls sought their support for various challenges, including low self-esteem, anxiety, isolation, and self-harm. Thanks to King Henry VIII Endowed Trust’s support, they have been able to equip girls in Warwick with the tools, strategies, and emotional resilience they need to overcome obstacles, improve their wellbeing, and build stronger self-esteem. In addition to this, 4 girls from Warwick were supported to raise their voices, grow in confidence, and shape their services through our Flourish Advisory Board. An incredible 207 parents/carers, 115 young people and 3 school staff members from Warwick attended workshops on supporting girls’ self esteem and wellbeing.
One of the girls they supported is Ella (name changed)
When Ella first attended one of Flourish’s group mentoring courses, she was struggling deeply with her emotions and intrusive thoughts. It took a lot of bravery for her to step into that space, unsure of what to expect. But from the moment she joined the Flourish Course, everything changed.
Ella immediately connected with the course content, finding solace in journaling—a tool she continues to use at home to process her emotions. For the first time, she realized she wasn’t alone in her struggles. She met other girls who shared her feelings, who were also seeking a safe space to be open and honest. At school, no one talked about the challenges they were facing, but in this group, Ella found acceptance and understanding.
Her newfound confidence led her to become a passionate advocate for the mental well-being of teenage girls. They invited Ella to join their Flourish Advisory Board (FAB), where she connected with even more like-minded girls. Ella’s wisdom and compassion have allowed her to become a leader within the group, helping other girls find their voices and realize they don’t have to suffer in silence.
Ella’s impact doesn’t stop there. She has played a pivotal role in creating our soon-to-be-published journal for Year 6 girls, contributing content like the positive affirmation “Be the Sunshine” that will inspire countless girls. Ella’s motivation? Her little sister, who will soon start secondary school. She wants her sister—and every girl—to feel heard, supported, and empowered to be themselves.
Ella is also collaborating with Flourish staff to develop training for teachers, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to support girls effectively. Her vision – like theirs – is to create a world where every girl can walk into a classroom knowing that her voice matters and her struggles are understood. They will support her every step of the way.
