Hummingbird Project Conference 2025
- Catherine North
- 36 minutes ago
- 7 min read
The very first Hummingbird Project Conference took place on Friday 11 July 2025 at the Deane Lecture Theatre, University of Greater Manchester. Attended by around 100 people, the event brought together educators, healthcare professionals, students, and others with a shared interest in the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. The Hummingbird Project is a six-week Positive Psychology intervention for North West schools, delivered free of charge in the classroom by children’s charity MedEquip4Kids.
The conference was chaired with warmth and humour by Professor Jerome Carson, Professor of Psychology at the University of Great Manchester, and one of the key figures in setting up the Hummingbird Project. The talks covered a range of topics related to the project, as outlined below.
Catherine North – From the Beating of Tiny Wings: How the Hummingbird Took Flight
In a reflective and personal presentation, Catherine North began by tracing the origins of the Hummingbird Project, which grew out of children’s charity MedEquip4Kids’ visits to overwhelmed CAMHS units and helping them by funding additional resources. After a visit to a CAMHS inpatient unit, Catherine and her colleague discussed the charity helping to prevent mental health problems before they escalate to crisis point. From this the Hummingbird Project was born, developed in collaboration with academics from the University of Greater Manchester, the University of Chester and the Open University, and piloted in 2017. Catherine shared the project’s journey, the values that guide it, and the growing mental health challenges facing today’s children. She is now Development Manager for the project and responsible for achieving funding for the programme.
Ian Platt – The Past, Present, and Potential of the Hummingbird Project
Since its launch in 2017, Project Manager Ian Platt has been the driving force behind the Hummingbird Project, guiding it from an ambitious pilot into a region-wide initiative that has reached over 8,600 pupils across 66 schools in the North West. In his presentation, Ian explained the urgent need for school-based mental health support, referencing the rise in young people with diagnosable mental health conditions and the growing gaps in CAMHS provision. The Hummingbird Project offers a simple, scalable solution: a brief, evidence-based programme that boosts wellbeing, hope and resilience, delivered by non-specialist school staff with minimal training. Ian also introduced Bounce Back, a digital companion resource for families, and outlined plans for future expansion, including trials in new regions and broader evaluation. His presentation set the tone for the conference, grounded in research, shaped by real-world experience, and full of potential for wider impact.
Ifthakar Khaliq – From Intervention to Prevention: Aiding Minds
Ifthakar Khaliq is a qualified MBACP counsellor currently delivering mental health support at Essa Academy in Bolton. He presented a compelling case for early identification of mental health needs through his innovative Aiding Minds assessment system. While the Hummingbird Project effectively supports pupils with visible emotional challenges, Ifthakar recognised a gap: many quiet or internalising students were going unnoticed. Aiding Minds introduces a whole-school check-in system, followed by layered assessment and tailored interventions, enabling staff to spot and respond to emotional needs before they escalate into crisis. The results are impressive, rising attendance, improved engagement, and more timely referrals. His approach complements the Hummingbird Project, offering a preventative, data-led model that helps schools embed mental health support into their everyday safeguarding culture.
Claudine McFaul – Creating New Pathways for Positive Psychology with Children & Families
With creativity and warmth, Claudine McFaul reflected on her pioneering work co-creating the Hummingbird Primary programme with children themselves. Drawing on her background in education, counselling and academia, she emphasised the power of giving children a voice in shaping wellbeing interventions. The results? Not just improved hopefulness and resilience among pupils, but ripple effects that extended to parents and carers. Children became wellbeing ambassadors at home, sparking powerful moments of connection and emotional insight. Now a lecturer at The Open University, Claudine has continued to innovate, co-developing the Bounce Back course for families and a digital wellbeing game designed with pupils. Her talk was a celebration of creativity, empowerment and the value of joy in learning.
Ana-Cristina Tuluceanu – Preventing Crime Through Early Intervention: The EAGLES Programme
In a powerful and timely talk, Ana-Cristina Tuluceanu from the University of Greater Manchester explored how early school-based support can steer young people away from crime and gang involvement. Presenting her research on the EAGLES Programme: Educate, Aspire, Grow, Learn, Empower and develop Skills, she argued that schools are crucial environments for shaping socially adaptive behaviour. Drawing on criminological and psychological theories, she highlighted how punitive responses to so-called “disruptive” behaviour can push vulnerable pupils out of education and into risky peer groups. Instead, Ana-Cristina advocated for co-designed interventions that build positive identities and strong social bonds, especially for Year 7 pupils at risk of referral to Youth Justice Services. Her approach centres young people’s voices and lived experiences, aiming to create targeted, preventative solutions to a complex societal challenge. The message was clear: meaningful early intervention can change the trajectory of young lives.
Sonia and Ayo Ebenezer-Bamigbayan – Adapting the Hummingbird Project for Special Schools
Sonia Ebenezer-Bamigbayan, Hummingbird Project Co-ordinator at medEquip4Kids, is breaking new ground with her research into adapting the Hummingbird Project for students with special educational needs. Drawing on interviews with SEN leaders and evidence from the field, she identified a need for tailored, inclusive approaches that accommodate sensory sensitivities, trauma histories, and neurodiversity. Her presentation introduced “The Hummingbird Project for SEN Schools,” a developing model that builds on the strengths of the original programme while incorporating sensory-friendly practices and trauma-informed strategies. Sonia was joined by her daughter Ayo, who spoke passionately about how volunteering for the project has boosted her own confidence and skills, a reminder of the intergenerational power of wellbeing work. Their talk was both moving and motivating, pointing the way towards a more inclusive future for school mental health.
Kati-Anne Roughley – A Headteacher’s Perspective
In one of the most heartfelt moments of the day, Kati-Anne Roughley, Headteacher at Haslam Park Primary School in Bolton, spoke movingly about the challenges faced by her pupils, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and live with the daily realities of social deprivation, addiction, and the risk of going into care. Yet even in such difficult circumstances, the Hummingbird Project had a positive impact. Kati-Anne shared how her pupils, children with little reason to feel hopeful, began to talk about kindness, and about how being kind to others made them feel better too. One child summed it up simply but beautifully: “Every school needs Sonia [Ebenezer-Bamigbayan] to visit and help them be happier.” It was a reminder that even small, simple interventions can make a difference to the most vulnerable children, and that emotional wellbeing isn’t a luxury, but a lifeline.
Dr Kevin Hochard – How Do We Know Educational Interventions Really Work?
In a brilliantly clear and accessible talk, Dr Kevin Hochard from the University of Chester demystified the science behind evaluating wellbeing interventions. He explained complex concepts like regression to the mean, placebo effects and the value of control groups, highlighting why rigorous evaluation matters to ensure interventions do more good than harm. Using the Hummingbird Project as a case study, he outlined how pragmatic trials can strike a balance between scientific rigour and real-world feasibility. Delivered in school settings by non-specialists, the Hummingbird intervention still produced measurable gains in wellbeing, hope and resilience. Kevin’s engaging presentation empowered the audience to think critically about evidence, encouraging a thoughtful approach to scaling up school-based mental health programmes. For many attendees, it was a welcome confidence boost in navigating the world of research.
Sarah Hobson – The Hummingbird Project at St Bede Academy Primary School
Bringing the voices of young people to the forefront, Sarah Hobson shared touching and joyful feedback from children at St Bede Academy. Pupils spoke warmly about how the Hummingbird Project helped them feel calmer, kinder, and more connected, both in the classroom and at home. Activities like the hula hoop challenge, mindfulness exercises, and scent-based savouring tasks left a lasting impression, with some children still using the techniques in everyday play. Sarah’s presentation was a heartwarming reminder of why this work matters. Hearing directly from the children about how the programme improved their emotional wellbeing and relationships underscored the value of practical, accessible mental health education.
Dr Michelle Tytherleigh – Positive Education: What It Is and Why It Matters
Closing the conference on an inspiring note, Dr Michelle Tytherleigh from the University of Chester offered a compelling overview of Positive Education, the philosophy underpinning the Hummingbird Project. Drawing on key theories such as Seligman’s PERMA model and Fredrickson’s Broaden and Build theory, Michelle showed how positive psychology can transform school cultures by nurturing wellbeing alongside academic achievement. She explored the wide-ranging benefits of this approach for pupils, teachers, parents and schools, and introduced practical frameworks for embedding it into everyday practice. Michelle also addressed the importance of inclusivity, sharing how VIA character strengths can be mapped to neurodiverse traits, and how frameworks like EMPATHICS can support SEN students. Her talk offered a hopeful vision of education that left delegates feeling energised.
Concluding comments – The Mayor of Bolton and Dr Ghazala Baig, CEO of MedEquip4Kids
The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor David Chadwick, joined the conference and said some kind words about the impact the Hummingbird Project is having on children’s mental health in local Bolton schools. The event concluded with remarks from Dr Ghazala Baig, CEO of MedEquip4Kids, who celebrated the charity’s 40th anniversary and thanked everyone involved in the event, including the speakers, organisers, and volunteers Ayo Ebenezer-Bamigbayan and Charlie Middleton. Special thanks were given to PhD student Aishath Shahama for designing the visuals and supporting logistics on the day.
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