Care and support

United Kingdom Resilience Project

Hertfordshire is part of a national pilot project to deliver a course known as the UK Resilience Programme (UKRP) to year seven students.

The programme is designed to help combat the growing incidences of depressive illness among young people. The UKRP is based on a programme developed and tested by the psychology department of Pennsylvania University. It uses the theories and practice of cognitive behavioural therapy to help young people develop the skills and attitudes they need to withstand the stresses and strains increasingly placed upon them as they grow and develop through their teenage years.

Research on the Pennsylvania programme, conducted by Professor Martin Seligman and his team over 16 years, has shown that children who have been through the programme have 50% fewer incidences of depression compared to control groups, and the effects last for several years. In addition studies have shown that programme students are recorded by parents and teachers as exhibiting better behaviour, attendance and improved attainment compared to the control group.

The UKRP is being piloted in six schools in each of Hertfordshire, South Tyneside and Greater Manchester and will be delivered to over 2000 eleven year olds.

The London School of Economics has been awarded a contract to complete a three year evaluation of the project to monitor its delivery and ongoing effectiveness.

Hertfordshire will focus on six secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley. Eighteen teachers from these schools, together with thirteen CSF officers who will support the delivery to schools, travelled to Philadelphia for two weeks in August 2007 to be trained to deliver the course.

Delivery to the students began in September 2007 and early signs are that it is being received with considerable enthusiasm by the young people.

Anybody wishing to know more about the programme should contact Andy Cunningham on 01582 830348.