Christmas Cook and Connect
The team was delighted to be back in the kitchen with families who have enjoyed Cook and Connect this year, coming together for some festive specials filled with warmth, creativity and connection. There was a real sense of joy in the room as families returned to a familiar and much-loved space, happy to be cooking side by side once again.
Led by our experienced team of Success Club chefs, families worked together to create simple, nourishing recipes designed to be recreated at home. Head chef Paulette guided everyone through each step with care and encouragement, sharing tips, building confidence and reminding us all that cooking doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful. Chopping, stirring, tasting and laughing, children and parents took on roles together so that food preparation became a shared experience rather than a task.
Cook and Connect is a beautiful opportunity to practice mindful food preparation; it encourages families to slow down and enjoy the process as much as the end result. For many, it also offers the chance to experiment with new but accessible recipes. Even more, it opens up conversations around food, culture and healthy habits in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Most importantly, the programme creates space for genuine parent-child connection and good fun. These festive one-off sessions were made possible thanks to the generosity of the Sinyinza family, held in loving memory of Dan Sinyinza, their son and home-chef extraordinaire. His passion for food and bringing people together continues to be felt in every shared meal and smiling face.
Wellbeing Days: Creating Space to Move, Connect and Enjoy!
The day began with a morning ‘Talk Workshop’ centred on intention setting and mindfulness. Students were encouraged to reflect on the school values, set positive intentions for the day ahead and learn some simple mindfulness techniques and affirmations they could use both in and out of the classroom.
After this, students rotated through a range of engaging workshops themed on their school values. A lively music session saw pupils moving to the beat, using rhythm to release energy and express themselves. Boxercise sessions provided a high-energy outlet, supporting physical health while building confidence and resilience. Yoga offered a slower pace, giving students time to stretch, breathe and reset; while multi-sports encouraged teamwork, inclusion and fun.
Feedback from school staff and students was overwhelmingly positive as they described it as, “An overall brilliant day. The students were happy and engaged and gave positive feedback at the end of the day.” The Success Club staff were complemented for their, “fantastic rapport with the students. Supportive yet firm leading to full engagement.”
The Head of Year remarked: “Very well thought out. A lovely enrichment day.” with another staff member commenting “Our best enrichment day yet.”
Most importantly of all, the students told us: “This was just like a really nice environment and everything… I liked it because I got all my stress out and I was stressed a lot that day.”
We deliver wellbeing days, tailored to meet the needs of each setting. If you would like to find out more about hosting a wellbeing day, please email us – we’d love to hear from you.
First Aid Training: Building Skills, Confidence and Safety
Across the day, staff developed vital skills that will help keep the children and young people, parents and colleagues we work with safe, ensuring that our work continues to be rooted in best practice. From responding to everyday bumps and injuries to managing more serious emergency situations, the training gave everyone the confidence to act calmly, quickly and effectively when it matters most.
We are proud to congratulate 12 team members who successfully qualified as first aiders. This achievement represents more than a certificate; it reflects Success Club’s ongoing commitment to high standards of care, safeguarding and professionalism across all our programmes and settings.
Days like this are another important stepping stone in our wider pursuit to positively change the landscape for the communities we work in and with. A huge thank you and shout out goes to our trainer for the day, Rob Dalton of Dalton Healthcare, who expertly guided the group through such important material. Rob’s knowledge, clear delivery and approachable style helped make a very serious subject both accessible and engaging. We also want to thank Laurel Bank School for giving us use of their facilities for the day.
Celebrating Our New Mindful Mentors at Brimsdown School
Brimsdown School was full of pride and positive energy as we celebrated the graduation of our newly qualified Mindful Mentors and what a fantastic occasion it was!
Throughout the programme, pupils explored a range of mindfulness techniques and learned how to use them in everyday life, whether in the playground, in the classroom or at home with friends and family. The confidence and care they’ve developed truly shone through at the graduation ceremony.
The children marked this milestone by delivering a special presentation to the whole of Year 5, supported by their parents. Several of our Mindful Mentors even led the entire room in guided mindfulness practices, helping everyone experience moments of calm and emotional wellbeing together.
Each student received a certificate in recognition of their hard work, followed by snacks and refreshments shared with families to celebrate their achievements. It was a wonderful way to recognise their dedication and officially launch them into their school community as peer-to-peer mentors.
A huge well done to all of our Mindful Mentors, we’re so proud of you!
New to the team
Sarah
Sarah is the new Volunteer Manager at Success Club. She first heard about the charity through a volunteer last year and went on to volunteer herself, giving her the chance to experience the many rewards of being part of the team. Always passionate about volunteering and making a difference, Sarah leapt at the opportunity to apply for the Volunteer Manager role. Since starting, she has been busy learning everything she can to support and develop Success Club’s amazing volunteer team.
Sarah is proud to be part of an ambitious, dynamic team of staff, volunteers and trustees who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people. Outside of Success Club, she continues to volunteer and enjoys music, art and reading especially with her young children.
Amanda
Amanda Carlile is a fundraising strategist, partnership builder and accredited coach with over two decades of experience across the UK and Australia helping organisations turn their purpose into tangible, sustainable impact. She specialises in shaping high‑value relationships, crafting compelling narratives and designing mission-aligned campaigns that feel human, hopeful, and transformative. Whether she’s guiding a charity through a major bid, building a corporate partnership from scratch, or mentoring individuals through life transitions, Amanda brings warmth, clarity and a steady belief that meaningful change is always possible.
‘Success Club perfectly aligns with my values and my belief that given the opportunity and tools, everyone has the ability to live a fulfilling life. I can’t wait to contribute to growing our impact and supporting more young people to thrive.’
Mindful Moment: New Year; New Beginnings
A new year invites us to pause and reflect. Not on what we didn’t manage to do last year, but on what we can gently grow from here. At Success Club, we see the New Year as a reminder that every day offers a fresh beginning, a chance to reset, refocus and move forward with kindness towards ourselves and others.
Mindfulness teaches us that change doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic. Sometimes, new beginnings are quiet: taking a breath before reacting; believing in yourself after a difficult moment or choosing to try again. Small steps, taken with intention, can lead to meaningful change.
As we step into this year, we encourage our children, families and school communities to carry one simple intention with them; perhaps calm, confidence, curiosity or kindness. There’s no pressure to be perfect: just permission to begin again.
Here’s to another year of growth with many mindful moments along the way.
