Today we’re delighted to share our evaluation over the past school year of the Hummingbird Project, a six-week Positive Psychology programme delivered by MedEquip4Kids to support pupil’s mental health. .In 2024–2025 a record 2,231 pupils across 29 North West schools took part, showing strong growth and continued demand for the programme.
We surveyed 592 secondary school pupils before and after the course, using three validated psychological scales: the WHO-5 (wellbeing), YP-CORE (emotional distress), and the Children’s Hope Scale. Once again we saw significant improvements across all three measures, with reductions in signs of anxiety and depression, and increases in wellbeing and hope. Feedback from primary school pupils and teachers has also been overwhelmingly positive.
A waitlist control trial at Christleton High School added further evidence. While the students on the waiting list showed little or no change over two months, those who completed the Hummingbird Project reported clear gains in wellbeing and hope, alongside a reduction in distress. These improvements were maintained at follow-up, showing that the benefits last beyond the course itself.
We’ll be sharing a more detailed breakdown of these results, including the full analysis from the trial, in our Impact Report in September.
Well done to our facilitators Sonia and Ian, and thank you to all the schools and pupils who took part.
