The Flourishing Learning Network

Grow their tribe.
Widen their world.
Strengthen their belief in “I can.”

We are creating welcoming opportunities for children and young people whose worlds have become smaller because education, community participation or social connection has become difficult.

Our starting focus: girls and young women who need more connection, confidence and opportunity around them.

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Currently being established as a charitable organisation

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Belonging
Connection
Confidence
Opportunity

Our charitable aim

To improve the lives and future opportunities of children and young people who experience barriers to education, community participation or social connection by creating opportunities which strengthen belonging, confidence, capability, independence and engagement with learning and wider life.

Why Flourishing was established

Children should not have to reach crisis before something different becomes possible.

Flourishing began with a simple concern. For some children and young people, anxiety, neurodivergence, difficult experiences, social isolation or a mismatch between their needs and the environments around them can gradually make their world smaller.

School may become difficult. Friendships reduce. Activities stop. Confidence can fall. Families can find themselves carrying more and more.

Yet these same young people may thrive when they experience trusted relationships, meaningful activity, practical opportunities, a sense of belonging and adults who genuinely believe in what they can do.

Flourishing was established to create more of those opportunities earlier, widening the routes back into connection, confidence, participation and possibility.

The journey to this point

Flourishing did not begin as a finished model.

The idea has changed through conversation, challenge and listening. That is part of how we want Flourishing to continue growing.

01

A question

Could earlier, more practical and relational support help before difficulties become deeply established?

02

A different kind of place

The first idea centred on a flexible learning environment where young people could reconnect, experience success and learn differently.

03

Listening widened the idea

Conversations with families, teachers, SEND professionals and community members shifted the focus from creating one place to strengthening connection and opportunity around young people.

04

A community vision

Flourishing evolved towards growing a young person’s tribe, widening their world and building confidence through relationships, experiences and community.

05

Starting carefully

We are now establishing the charity, building governance and beginning with small community activity so we can learn before we grow.

Listening. Learning. Building trust. Testing what helps. Growing from there.

Who we are starting with

Our first focus is girls and young women.

In its first phase, Flourishing will focus particularly on girls and young women whose worlds may be becoming smaller because of anxiety, neurodivergence, barriers to education, social isolation or a loss of confidence and connection.

Some girls and young women can become increasingly disconnected while their difficulties remain relatively unseen, particularly where they mask distress or continue to appear outwardly compliant.

Starting with a defined group will allow us to build relationships, learn carefully and develop a model that is safe, responsive and genuinely useful.

This is where we are beginning, not necessarily where Flourishing will end. As the charity grows, learns and develops capacity, the offer may evolve or branch out to support other groups of children and young people.

Starting small. Growing carefully.

What Flourishing will do

We will begin with girls and young women, building trust and community first, then widening opportunities as the charity develops the capacity and safeguards to do so well.

01
🌿

Community, connection and trust

Flourishing Outdoors, nature and animal based gatherings, practical activity, shared interests and informal parent and carer connection.

  • Positive experiences without pressure
  • Increased social connection and finding their tribe
  • A welcoming community around families
02
☀

Widening opportunities

Small group experiences that help young people explore interests, contribute, build capability and develop supported independence.

  • Practical and creative learning
  • Volunteering and community experiences
  • Trips, projects and real world opportunities
03
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Sidekicks

A carefully safeguarded matching model helping young people grow their tribe, access interests and build confidence and independence.

  • A trusted adult who gets to know them
  • Training, DBS checks and ongoing support
  • Clear boundaries and safeguarding throughout

The principles we want to protect

What matters to us

01

Connection

Relationships come first.

02

Belonging

Young people should not have to earn their right to belong.

03

Capability

Create opportunities for young people to experience what they can do.

04

Agency

Young people should have meaningful choice and influence.

Who we are

Being built by people who believe in widening possibility.

Flourishing brings together experience from education, SEND, families and community life. It is not intended to belong to one profession or one person. As founding trustees, volunteers and partners come together, this page will grow with us.

Founder

Jane Robinson

Jane founded the Flourishing Learning Network following more than two decades working with children, families and schools.

She began her career as a primary teacher after graduating with a First Class degree in Education from Homerton College, Cambridge. Her career has included classroom teaching, SEND leadership, senior school leadership and specialist advisory work.

Across those roles, one question became increasingly difficult to ignore: what happens to young people who have enormous potential, but who are not flourishing within the opportunities currently available to them?

Jane’s role in Flourishing is not to have all the answers. It is to bring people together, keep asking the questions and help build something useful alongside the community it hopes to serve.

Growing our team

The people growing Flourishing

We are currently bringing together our founding trustee board and wider community of supporters.

We want Flourishing to be shaped by complementary perspectives, including lived experience, education, SEND, community development, governance, finance, safeguarding and charity development.

As our founding team is confirmed, you will meet them here.

Small
moments.
Big impact.
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A future Flourishing strand

Could you be someone’s Sidekick?

Some children and young people need to grow their tribe, their sense of belonging and connection. A Sidekick would be a reliable, interested adult who spends time with a young person, shares interests and helps widen their world.

You would not need to have all the answers. You would need to be kind, reliable and ready to show up.

Sidekicks will only launch when the charity has the right governance, training, safer recruitment and safeguarding arrangements in place.

Register early interest →

Help build the village

Flourishing is at the beginning.

We are bringing together people who believe children should not have to reach crisis before something different becomes possible.

FamiliesHear about early community activitiesGet in touch → VolunteersShare time, skills or local connectionsGet in touch → PartnersExplore ways to work togetherStart a conversation → Founding trusteesHelp shape safe, credible governanceFind out more →

Follow our journey

See Flourishing as it grows.

We are sharing the conversations, ideas, community connections and early steps that are shaping Flourishing.

@flourishinglearningnetwork

Stay connected

Interested in Flourishing?

Whether you are a parent, potential trustee, volunteer, professional or local partner, we would love to start a conversation.

Email Flourishing

flourishinglearningnetwork@gmail.com

flourishinglearningnetwork.org