We Mind the Gap – Healthy Relationships Programme

The sessions recognised that young people bring very different experiences of relationships with them. Rather than focusing on an idea of a “perfect” relationship, the programme encouraged participants to develop realistic expectations, recognise healthy behaviours, communicate effectively, understand boundaries, and reflect on their own patterns and experiences.

The programme focus extends beyond standard relationship advice to build transferable life skills, exploring the connection between self-awareness, communication, boundaries, emotional wellbeing, relationship awareness, and choice/responsibility. Rather than standalone talks, the four workshops build on one another—moving young people from understanding individual concepts towards greater confidence in applying them to themselves and their lives.

The lived experience and relationship expertise of the Young & Mindful facilitators was central to the programme. The team doesn’t believe young people need to be told what to think; instead, they created a carefully facilitated environment where young people could question, reflect, listen to different perspectives, and explore complex subjects without judgement, retaining control over how much they chose to share.

Workshop 1 – What Makes a Healthy Relationship?

Through discussion and activities, participants considered what healthy relationships actually look like in everyday life. Young people explored what contributes to healthy relationships, how expectations can differ from reality, and how to recognise behaviours that may indicate a relationship is becoming unhealthy.

 

Workshop 2 – Boundaries, Communication and Respect

The focus moved towards the skills that help relationships work in everyday life—communicating needs, understanding boundaries, responding to difficult situations, and developing mutual respect. Key gains in this phase included:

• Building Healthier Relationships: Confidence in building healthier relationships through clear communication grew from 76% to 88%.
• Navigating Difficult Situations: Confidence in communicating needs respectfully during difficult situations increased from 76% to 86%.
• Expressing Boundaries: Confidence in expressing boundaries calmly when necessary, rose from 84% to 88%.

Workshop 3 – Controlling, Coercive, Toxic and Abusive Behaviours

Participants finished this workshop with a particularly strong understanding of unhealthy and harmful relationship behaviours, alongside social and cultural influences. Key outcomes included:

• Recognising Harmful Behaviours: Understanding of the difference between controlling, coercive, toxic, and abusive behaviours reached 100% (up from 96%).
• Finding Help: Understanding of where to find support increased from 82% to 100%.
• Self-Care & Wellbeing: 100% of participants recognised that making choices to protect their wellbeing can be a vital part of self-care.

 

Workshop 4 – Breaking Unhelpful Patterns and Moving Forward

The final session brought the learning together through a focus on self-awareness, emotional regulation, communication, conflict, and making healthier choices in future relationships. This session produced the strongest gains of the entire programme, jumping from an average pre-workshop understanding of 82.7% to 98.0%. Notably, understanding of how the Johari Window can support self-awareness and relationships surged by 50 percentage points (from 48% to 98%).

Overall Programme Impact & Participant Feedback

Across 23 pre- and post-workshop measures, participants’ average self-rated knowledge and confidence increased from 84.5% to 93.0% (an overall improvement of +8.5 percentage points).

Participants described the programme as engaging, educational, helpful, informative, useful, and refreshing. They particularly valued opportunities to explore unhealthy behaviours, set boundaries, express their feelings, and discuss healthy vs. unhealthy dynamics.

When asked about their biggest takeaways, young people highlighted:

• More confidence and new knowledge
• A better understanding of themselves and healthy choices
• Skills to support others

Encouragingly, 4 out of 5 participants (80%) reported that something had changed in the way they think, feel, and behave because of the workshops—providing early evidence of meaningful, real-world impact.

Creating Space to Grow

Throughout the programme, Young & Mindful provided more than information about healthy relationships. The workshops created a space where young people could question, reflect, listen to different perspectives, and develop their own understanding of what healthy relationships mean to them.

By connecting practical relationship skills with self-awareness and emotional wellbeing, the programme supported the We Grow cohort to leave with greater awareness of themselves, greater understanding of others, and more confidence to make healthy choices in their families, friendships, communities, and future workplaces.

Why book Healthy Relationships with Young & Mindful?

✔ Evidence-informed

We use participant feedback and evaluation to understand what young people are learning and where further support is needed.

✔ Interactive

Young people are active participants rather than passive listeners.

✔ Relevant

The programme connects relationship skills to the situations young people actually encounter.

✔ Safe

Sensitive subjects are facilitated carefully, with respect for individual experiences and personal boundaries.

✔ Practical

Young people develop understanding and skills they can take into their everyday lives.

✔ Adaptable

We can work with schools, colleges, youth organisations, employability programmes and community groups to shape delivery around the needs of their young people.

Bring Healthy Relationships to your organisation

Whether you are supporting young people in education, employability, youth services or community settings, our Healthy Relationships programme can provide a valuable addition to your personal development and wellbeing offer.

We can deliver the programme as a four-workshop series or discuss how the content can be adapted for your group, setting and objectives.

Give young people the tools to understand themselves, recognise healthy relationships and make choices that support their wellbeing.

Talk to Young & Mindful about booking the programme.