Who We Help
Inspiring Self-Confidence and Self-Belief
At I Can & I Am, our mission is to ignite self-belief and self-confidence in young people. We also support teachers, parents and businesses to create environments that nurture healthy self-esteem, develop self-confidence and positive self-talk, and foster a sense of belonging.
Through simple yet powerful tools, we help people recognise their inner strengths, embrace their individuality, develop a mindset that fosters growth and resilience and to learn how to face challenges head-on and overcome them.
Low self-belief is more than just a lack of confidence - it directly impacts mental health and well-being. It can affects how people view themselves and their entire outlook on life. If not addressed early, it can spiral into deeper struggles and result in longer-term mental health issues, including recurring negative thoughts, anxiety, depression, bullying, eating disorders and much more.
The Importance of Self-Belief
The increased emphasis on academic achievements, growing social and economic disparities, peer pressure, body image and personal expectations, often fuelled by social media, is causing many young people to move through their formative years with negative self-talk, self-doubt and diminished sense of self-worth. These challenges can significantly impact their emotional well-being, academic performance and ability to thrive in everyday life.
Studies show that children and young people who have low self-esteem are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems over their life time. According to recent studies, over 50% of young people feel anxious about the future and 1 in 5 aged 8-25 suffers from a probable mental health disorder - a stark rise in recent years. Additionally, the data also suggests, that half of all long-term mental health issues begin by age 14, which underscores the urgency of early intervention in mental health care.
This is further compounded by a lack of adequate mental health support in schools, with 88% of school leaders reporting the prevalence of student mental health issues over the last year, and 66% of teachers feeling that there isn’t enough access to mental health services for young people.
who we help
Our Approach to Building Confidence and Self-Belief
At I Can & I Am, we are committed to tackling these challenges head-on. Through our programmes, we equip young people with the tools they need to build positive self-belief, which leads to greater well-being, reduced stress, stronger relationships and enhanced resilience.
We focus on teaching transferable skills that empower them to turn negative things and life experiences into opportunities for growth. By reframing challenges as springboards for learning and self-improvement, they gain the confidence to thrive in any situation.
Inflating 'Balloons of Self-Belief'
The I Can & I Am approach centres around a simple but powerful concept: we all have a metaphorical ‘balloon’ inside us. When this balloon is fully inflated, we feel confident, strong and capable. However, when it is deflated, our resilience and self-confidence can wane. While this message may seem simple, it resonates with a huge cross-section of the population regardless of age and background.
By helping people understand and nurture their ‘balloons of self-belief,’ we aim to empower them to build lasting confidence and resilience that will positively impact every aspect of their journey.
The I Can & I Am Areas of Focus
Recognising Strengths:
We encourage young people to focus on their unique talents and abilities, helping them see their value and potential in the world.
Accepting Weaknesses:
Everyone makes mistakes. By fostering self-acceptance, we teach young people that their weaknesses do not define them – rather, these are opportunities for growth.
Developing a Growth Mindset:
We inspire young people to view challenges as stepping stones, helping them adopt a mindset of perseverance and continuous improvement.
Fostering a Sense of Belonging:
We work to create environments where every young person feels safe, connected, supported and valued.
Promoting a Positive Attitude:
By encouraging optimism, we help young people develop resilience and an attitude that empowers them to face challenges head-on.
Where We Work
We deliver our programmes across a variety of locations, primarily focusing on schools in the South West of England.
Our outreach spans primary, secondary, SEN schools and universities, where we work closely with students and teachers to promote self-belief, resilience and mental well-being. Our work is offered free of charge to state schools, ensuring that every young person, regardless of their background, has access to the tools and support they need to thrive.
Our Work with Young People
At the core of our work is a commitment to helping students build self-confidence and resilience. Through incredibly engaging and often humorous talks, we equip students with the tools to navigate both academic and social challenges. We guide them on how to handle setbacks while maintaining self-belief, offering practical advice on inflating their imaginary ‘balloons of self-belief.’
A standout feature of our outreach is our specially designed buses, which provide a unique and inclusive learning environment during school visits. These mobile classrooms allow us to bring our message directly to schools, creating an interactive and memorable experience for students.
Our Work with Parents
Parents play a crucial role in nurturing a young person's self-esteem. This is why we also work directly with parents, offering insights on how best to support their children in maintaining self-belief and confidence. We focus on viewing education as a holistic experience, beyond just academic achievements.
Through humour, self-love and heart, we challenge parents to appreciate their child’s full potential and provide them with practical guidance on how best to help their children succeed inside and outside the classroom.
Our Work with Teachers
Teachers are central to shaping the lives of young people, and we strive to remind them of the incredible impact they have on them. Our workshops emphasise the importance of treating students as individuals rather than focusing solely on academic outcomes. In addition, we also touch on the importance of teacher well-being, encouraging educators to prioritise self-care so they can more effectively support and nurture their students. We find that our uplifting and practical advice often resonates with staff, offering encouragement and insight into navigating the challenges of the education system.
Our Work with Businesses
Our work extends into the corporate world, where the themes of self-belief, resilience and ambition resonate strongly and are highly applicable to professional growth and success. Our presentations encourage employees to embrace collaboration, teamwork and a positive mindset - all essential for success in any workplace.
These talks, tailored for business audiences, help individuals and teams build the confidence they need to excel in their professional lives while supporting our mission to expand the reach of our work with young people.