I’m beyond honoured that during my time as CEO of the Proton Foundation I was able to encourage and facilitate Hannah Williams to action the dream that God had placed in her heart, which led her to founding the Flourish Project.
Hannah joined the Proton Foundation in 2014 as my Executive Assistant, by 2021 as the project was truly Flourishing, she became the CEO! Hannah’s own personal journey fuelled her passion for empowering youth, making this initiative a lifeline for those grappling with feelings of inadequacy.
The Flourish Project is more than a program; it's a sanctuary for young individuals to be truly seen and heard, navigating their journey towards self-discovery and recognising their inherent value. It helps young people to develop a growth mindset, creating helpful thinking patterns and enabling young people to start to understand their potential, realising future aspirations and setting goals for the future.
This thinking starts a ripple effect which will positively impact their future!
The programme is run as a 1 hour session by a trained facilitator, over an 8 week period, targeted towards 9-16 year olds. Usually delivered in small groups of up to 10 students. They currently have 67 Flourish Hubs across the country which have trained facilitators who run the training in their local communities, 57 hubs are in schools and 10 are churches. Since the project started 5,372 young people have been through the programme and they’ve trained 337 facilitators.
Here’s some of the feedback they’ve received from the young people who’ve taken part in the program
Here’s some of the feedback they’ve received from the young people who’ve taken part in the program:
"I've learned to care for myself more and not to think that I'm rubbish and not hate myself," Their comment reflects the profound impact of being acknowledged and valued. Through The Flourish Project, young individuals find solace and strength, realising that they are worthy of love and respect.
"Before Flourish, I thought I wasn't very smart because I'm in the red group and I'm not very good at Maths or anything, but through Flourish, it felt like I'm smart in my own ways." Their comment highlights the importance of creating spaces where individuals feel valued and understood.
Hannah also shared with me the story of Ben, a student with Autism who struggled with attendance and expressed thoughts of self-harm throughout the program. However, by the end of the Flourish 8 week program. Not only was he attending every session but he also displayed a genuine smile – the first smile in five years at the school. The teaching assistant, overwhelmed by the transformation, rushed to share the moment with the school staff, highlighting the significance of even the smallest of victories in a young person's journey. Ben's story is a powerful testament to the impact of The Flourish Project.
This is only the beginning for Hannah and her dedicated team at the Proton Foundation. They realise they’re just scratching the surface of a world grappling with mental health challenges and recognise true impact requires collective action. So they're inviting churches, schools and youth organisations to join them on this journey, aiming to empower even more young individuals – envisioning a future where 100,000 hearts and minds are touched.
Would your church, school or community be interested in working with the Flourish Project?
Please visit www.protonfoundation.com to find out more about empowering young people to realise their full potential.
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