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Where it began ... a long time ago
I’m a qualified teacher with over 20 years in education, and a mum of three brilliant children.
Several years ago, my life changed suddenly after a serious hit-and-run accident. I live with permanent physical reminders and ongoing mental health challenges as a result.
It deepened my understanding of resilience, identity, and what it truly means to cope in everyday life. At the same time I learnt how much of a people pleaser I really was and how detrimental it was for me.
But The Mindful Academies didn’t begin here it started after a conversation with my daughter.
We were talking about how often people fail to notice the inner worlds of others — how rarely we pause, listen, or hold space. We wished people were put simply … more mindful.
That conversation became an idea that has since been planted, for far too long.
Now, it’s time to let it grow.
What The Mindful Academies is
The Mindful Academies creates creative, evidence-informed tools that sit between education and therapy.
- Not clinical.
- Not curriculum-driven.
- Not crisis-led.
This is preventative, reflective learning that helps people, children, teenagers, and us adults to understand:
• who we are
• how the world shapes us
• how we relate to others
• how we choose to act
It offers structure without diagnosis, support without dependency, and reflection without pressure.
Why this matters
Many people fall through the gap:
• not “unwell enough” for therapy
• not supported enough by education
• expected to cope, but not taught how
The Mindful Academies exist in that gap.
As an educator, a parent, and someone living with mental health challenges,
I don’t believe people need fixing.
I believe they need better tools and better conversations
As a stationary-obsessed mum, tutor, and teacher the resources are designed to complement journaling, as a means of personal development and empowerment. Through exploration of coaching materials and strategies, through aspects of psychology, counseling techniques, and the Law of Attraction, from Maslow to Dweck the resources are reflective and educational in nature, focused on personal development and encouraging self-empowerment and 'healthy/adaptive' mental health - it's all about developing and instilling those really good habits of mind and behaviour.
Let's not forget - I also get to play with cute washi tape, pens, and stickers - and I get to buy loads ... I will probably never use.
From Worksheets to a Co-Learning System: Celebrating Growth
I first started making worksheets during COVID-19, and I uploaded around 50 single-page worksheets that I later discovered had been downloaded almost 1 million times.
The goal and the 'work' was simple back then, help children to explore themselves, their strengths and their values, whilst building conversations with the adults around them.
But in the past couple of years, I have not been able to let this idea go and I have been very slowly still building. This build though has led me to learn, reflect and grow so much that I have started to build a co-learning system - where adults and children learn and reflect at the same time.
Side by side.
While a child works through activities to understand themselves, the adult is learning how to guide, listen, and reflect in ways that truly support the child’s growth.
This project has reminded me that ideas often outgrow our initial expectations and I think this has scared me ... still does a little, especially when starting to consider how it could be marketed.
Its quite scary to think that simple worksheets has really evolved into tools for real honest meaningful conversation, reflection and ultimately connection!
So it has grown, and continues to grow and I continue to keep it my little secret project ... slowly sharing with the world, but today I will quietly celebrate its growth to a system that I hope and believe can make for real lasting change. The project is not yet finished but its alive and kicking.
So whilst I continue to learn to draw, read and grow myself, and celebrate who I am intentionally becoming this project gets closer and closer to being ready to be shared.
Does it feel a little big? Overwhelming? Yes of course, but today it also feels exciting so I will leave the computer, the to do lists, the sketches and reading and go de clutter another cupboard indoors, after all it is really about balance.