Last Friday, the Hummingbird Project was excited to play a key role in the “Have a Go” event at Manchester Youth Zone: an enlightening day of hands-on activities for schools centred on wellbeing, nutrition, and physical fitness.
The event, organised by FEC UK and Rebecca Kirkland, drew pupils from schools across Manchester. Hosted at Manchester Youth Zone, the festival aimed to inspire young people to discover imaginative ways to boost their mental health, nutrition awareness, and active lifestyles.
A diverse range of local organisations joined the celebration, including Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, MoreLife, Pop Up Bikes, Winning Hearts & Minds, Collyhurst & Moston Lads Club, and Thomas McDonagh.
Delivered by MedEquip4Kids and backed by university research, the Hummingbird Project is a six-week course for schools based on Positive Psychology, which is achieving measurable improvements in young people’s wellbeing. Topics covered include mindfulness, character strengths, kindness, gratitude, resilience, and growth mindsets.
Hummingbird Project Manager, Ian Platt, hosted a stand focused on mental wellbeing and sensory awareness, particularly the power of smell, which can often be overlooked. Ian invited students to experience ten mystery glass jars filled with scented cotton wool, ranging from sweet familiar aromas to more unusual, quirky scents, prompting laughter, suspense and lively reactions as pupils guessed what they were smelling.
Some smells are pleasant, others less so, but noticing them sharpens our awareness and connects us more deeply to the moment. Through this simple yet effective sensory game, pupils learned that everyday scents can help them ground themselves in the here and now.
Interested in bringing the Hummingbird Project to your school? Contact us to discover more about our Positive Psychology course and how to get involved.
