In recent years, mental health and wellbeing have gained significant recognition and importance in the UK and worldwide.

The stresses and pressures of modern life, compounded by the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, have made it crucial for individuals to seek support and resources to maintain their mental and emotional health.

One unexpected source of assistance in this realm comes from a surprising place: UK franchises. These businesses are increasingly taking steps to address the mental health and wellbeing of their students, clients, participants and staff. 

In this blog post, we will explore how some UK franchises, that Those Who Can work with, are making a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of their clients, not just through their sessions but by creating purposeful policies for their staff.

“The importance of good mental health has always been part of our DNA here at Little Voices – we’ve been talking about the benefits of our lessons on children’s mental wellbeing long before it became headline news – but we want to take it even further. So last year, to build on what we already do in our weekly lessons and workshops, we launched an initiative for our whole network to take part in accredited mental health awareness training, including franchisees, tutors, Head Office staff, employees, and even our trusted suppliers. This training will:

• Help us to be more aware of how we’re doing with our own mental health, as well as that of our colleagues, our family, and our friends.

• Better equip us to help and support the families and children we teach.
• Educate us to help ourselves and others, and have the confidence to signpost them if we see that they’re struggling. 

But this is just the start. Our vision is to have mental health awareness ingrained in our culture to the extent that it permeates all the layers of how we teach, how we approach our lessons, and how we deliver our programme in schools. We want to promote long-term impact on everyone associated with Little Voices and the wider communities.” Jane – Director of Little Voices

We look at 5 franchise categories and spoke with their founders to gain an insight into exactly how they are supporting children and adults through their sessions and policies.

1. Mental Health & Wellbeing: Self-Awareness & Mindfullness

Giving ourselves the tools to understand our own emotions can increase our confidence, build resilience and reduce stress.

Karen Gibb is the Founder of Mind Marvels, using her teaching and her lived experience she is making a huge impact on young people’s lives:

“We had the opportunity to work with a primary class of six-year-olds, teaching them about breathing techniques and explaining how the brain works. As we were delivering the session, we noticed one boy who was particularly engaged and curious about what we were teaching. He was amazed by how he could understand his mind and what was happening inside it. We could see his eyes light up with curiosity and excitement as he learned about different techniques to manage his emotions and stress levels. We could tell that he was eager to apply these techniques in his life. 

Fast forward 2 years later, we were back at the same school conducting another session. As we were walking down the corridor, we heard someone running up behind us. It was the same boy from two years ago, and he came charging towards us, calling out “Karen, I do the breathing hand when things stress me out and it really helps!” We were ecstatic to hear that he had not only remembered what we had taught him but had also incorporated the techniques into his life. It was incredible to know how much of a direct impact Mind Marvels was making on this child’s life, now and for his future.” 

This is just one example of how Mind Marvels is helping children develop the tools they need to manage their emotions and stress levels.

Karen is now confidently growing her business and her values say it all ‘educate with empathy, make a difference every day and always be kind’

As a franchisee, you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping children in your community to become more resilient, confident and successful in their lives.

1. Nature & Outdoors: Reduced Anxiety & Stress Reduction 

Nature’s profound impact on our mental health and wellbeing is well-documented and widely recognised for reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of calm.

Nature has the ability to create a calming effect on our nervous system, connecting with the natural world, our stress levels decrease.

“Mental Health Awareness and training is so important for us which is why we started our Wild Wellness sessions that are proving really successful and we can see such emotional growth with the children that we help in schools. Some of my team also run wellness circles for adults.” Faye – Nature Makers

Spending time in natural settings, such as parks and forests, provides a multifaceted approach to enhancing mental health and wellbeing and can significantly reduce cortisol levels.

“This is fundamental to our mission as a brand. Getting kids outside and away from the pressures of modern technology. See our blog Battle of the Screens on how we’re going some way to helping families navigate this new world” Ben – The Outdoors Project

3. Fitness Franchises: Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing

Regular exercise is a well-established means of improving mental health. Numerous UK fitness franchises, such as Active Sports Group and Active Totz, recognise this and strive to offer their children more than just a place to work out. They provide a supportive environment, access to mental health resources, and even classes like yoga and mindfulness, which can help reduce stress and anxiety.

According to Dr. Sarah Clarke, a Clinical Psychologist, “Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. It also provides a sense of accomplishment and can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.” 

Many fitness franchises have incorporated these principles into their offerings, understanding the importance of not only a healthy body but also a healthy mind.

4. Drama, Music & Singing: Increased Resilience, Self-Care and Stress Reduction

The creative and expressive arts promote resilience by providing opportunities for reflection and a sense of perspective. 

Participation is often in groups and therefore promotes a sense of belonging, the freedom to express yourself in a creative way can be very empowering.

They also offer ways to look after your body physically and protect your voice and therefore promote self-care

These franchises offer their participants a way to learn a new skill but also an effective way to relieve stress and improve overall wellbeing.

Whilst interviewing Rachel McKenna C0-Founder of Pyjama Drama and former teacher, she talks about looking after the mental health and wellbeing of their franchisees:

“Our franchisees often comment on how happy running our sessions makes them. Time and again we are told that Pyjama Drama is the highlight of their week, that even if they have struggles in other parts of their life, running the sessions brings them joy and escapism :)”

Loving your job can have a profound impact on your students’ wellbeing.

5. Educational Franchises: Skills Development and Lifelong Learning

Learning new skills and engaging in education can be fulfilling and boost self-esteem. Educational franchises like Choice Home Tutors and Magic Link Handwriting aim to provide clients with opportunities for personal growth and development. By offering tutoring and educational programs, these franchises contribute to improving students’ mental wellbeing by enhancing their confidence and cognitive abilities.

Magic Link Handwriting’s mission is to empower individuals with improved handwriting skills through a personalised and supportive approach. They prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of students by fostering a positive learning environment that encourages self-confidence and resilience in the journey to better handwriting.

“I never thought improving my handwriting could have such a positive impact on my mental health. Magic Link Handwriting’s approach not only transformed my writing but also boosted my self-esteem and overall wellbeing.” Harry

In the words of Dr. Andrea Kane, a Clinical Psychologist, “Lifelong learning and skill development can increase self-efficacy and resilience, which are key factors in maintaining good mental health.” Educational franchises play a role in fostering these qualities in their students.

Conclusion

UK franchises are recognising the importance of addressing the mental health and wellbeing of their clients and franchisors.

“Work-life balance is so important to us. Many of our franchisees have come from a teaching background where they felt overworked and micromanaged. That’s why we put flexibility above all else. At the start of their franchise journey, we sit down together and work out how their new business will fit around them with mental health and wellbeing at the centre of that. When something happens in our franchisees’ lives, be that a bereavement, birth or illness, our first step is to meet with them to reduce their workload. We do this by temporarily reducing their franchise fee, taking over some of their emails or by covering some of their bookings.” Cressida Managing Director of Fun Science

Through various initiatives such as connecting with the natural world, promoting physical health, increasing our resilience, encouraging self-care, and providing opportunities for personal development, these franchises are making a positive impact on the mental health landscape in the country.

As mental health continues to be a critical issue, it is heartening to see businesses across different sectors taking steps to support their students, clients, participants and staff’s mental and emotional wellbeing.

References:

1. Mental Health Foundation UK: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
2. NHS – Benefits of Exercise: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-benefits-of-exercise/

If you are considering a franchise after dedicating time to the classroom, we have handpicked franchises that value your skills and abilities, they are either founded by teachers, make an impact on schools or actively hire teachers.

Please visit our Franchise Opportunities Board

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