Pic: Action for children: Ms Hanbury with her class that have been inspired by the books to be their best selves
Pupils at Brynhyfryd Primary School in Swansea are growing in confidence and resilience thanks to a new collection of wellbeing books funded through the Action for Children and Nationwide Enrichment Fund as part of Nationwide’s Fairer Futures social impact strategy.
The school received £500 to purchase a range of books focused on emotional wellbeing, resilience, self-esteem and positive mental health, helping children better understand their feelings, build positive relationships and navigate challenges through reading.
The books are supporting and enhancing the work of Ospreys in the Community and Action for Children’s Bouncing Back programme, which has already been making a positive difference at the school by helping pupils develop emotional literacy, coping skills and resilience.
Staff say the books have quickly become a valued resource, with children engaging enthusiastically with the stories and relating to the experiences of the characters.
Pupil at Brynhyfryd Primary School, Rudi, said: “The books are amazing, we’ve used them and enjoyed them. My friends enjoy them a lot too, we always read them together and discuss them at break times.”
Classmate Amber added: “I read the books a lot and I feel like it really helped me as I used to be in some of those situations and it helped with what to do and made me a better person.”
Ms Hannah Hanbury, teacher at Brynhyfryd Primary School, said: “The impact of these books has been wonderful to see. Our pupils have really related to many of the situations and emotions experienced by the characters, which has opened up meaningful discussions and reflections.
“The stories help children see that challenges are a normal part of life and that there are positive ways to overcome them. We’ve noticed pupils drawing on the messages within the books and talking about how they can show kindness, resilience and empathy in their own lives.
“The books have genuinely inspired many of our children to be their best selves, and we are incredibly grateful to Action for Children and Nationwide for making this possible.”
The books cover topics including friendship, managing worries, confidence, belonging and overcoming adversity, providing pupils with engaging resources that support both learning and wellbeing.
Christina Williams, Bouncing Back Coordinator at Action for Children, said:
“The Bouncing Back programme has already been making a real difference at Brynhyfryd Primary School, helping children develop the confidence, resilience and emotional skills they need to thrive.
“These books complement that work perfectly. They bring many of the themes we discuss to life through relatable characters and stories, giving children another way to explore emotions, relationships and wellbeing.
“It has been fantastic to see how engaged pupils are with the books. They are eager to read them, discuss them and share their thoughts, which shows just how powerful reading can be in supporting children’s emotional development.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Nationwide for supporting the Enrichment Fund and helping us provide resources that will continue to benefit pupils long into the future.”
The Action for Children and Nationwide Enrichment Fund provides funding for projects and resources that benefit children, young people and families in communities across the UK. The fund forms part of a longstanding partnership between Action for Children and Nationwide Building Society, which also includes the Fairer Futures programme, helping children and families facing challenges to access support and opportunities to build brighter futures.
By investing in initiatives such as the Enrichment Fund and Bouncing Back, the partnership is helping children develop the resilience, confidence and emotional wellbeing they need to flourish both inside and outside the classroom.
