Why We’re Supporting Our Wellbeing, Our Voice
At Body Happy Org, we believe every child and young person deserves to celebrate, respect and accept ALL bodies – especially their own. But to get there, we have to change the conditions shaping how children experience their bodies in schools, families and communities.
That’s why we’re proud to support Our Wellbeing, Our Voice, a campaign calling for a national wellbeing measurement programme that ensures children’s wellbeing is taken as seriously as their academic attainment. Find out more here.
Why wellbeing measurement matters for body respect
Poor body image isn’t a niche concern, it’s a public health and education issue. It affects safeguarding, school attendance, participation in sport and PE, mental health, and even future life chances. Yet right now, we have no national picture of how children are doing in this area.
A robust, consistent wellbeing measure would:
Shine a light on hidden issues - including body image concerns, appearance-related bullying, and weight stigma.
Give children a voice - ensuring their lived experiences, not just test scores, shape decisions about education and health.
Support better policy - guiding investment to where it’s most needed, from early prevention through to specialist services.
Beyond measurement: a call for culture change
Measuring wellbeing is not enough on its own. It’s what we do with the data that matters. For us, the real opportunity is to embed a culture of body respect in education:
Recognising that body image is central to safeguarding, not an optional extra.
Building classroom cultures where every child feels seen and valued, whatever their body looks like or can do.
Giving educators the confidence, language, and tools to address these issues with care and evidence.
This is why our Body Happy Schools Programme exists and why we see Our Wellbeing, Our Voice as such an important step in the bigger picture of systemic change.
What we’re committing to
Advocacy and evidence: sharing insights from our pilots and programmes to keep body image central in national wellbeing conversations.
Partnership: working with schools, local systems and sector partners to translate measurement into practice that improves daily experiences for children.
Prevention at scale: continuing to design and deliver practical, curriculum-aligned resources and programmes that help schools and communities build cultures of body respect.
If we are serious about children’s education, mental health and equality, we can’t ignore the conditions that shape how they see and treat their bodies. With consistent national data, we can prioritise what works and fix what doesn’t.
Learn more and add your support: ourwellbeingourvoice.org
