Our Journey

How we’ve grown — from grassroots campaign to national movement

2019 — Campaign beginnings

  • Free From Diets campaign launched by Molly Forbes

  • Grassroots call for better regulation of weight-loss marketing to children

  • First roundtables held with parents, educators and health professionals

Group of nine women standing and sitting in front of a blackboard with the hashtag #ReefFromDets written on it. They are smiling and laughing, dressed in various outfits including animal print, striped, and solid colors.
Pink downward pointing arrow.

2020 — From idea to organisation

  • Began writing Body Happy Kids (published 2021)

  • The Body Happy Organisation incorporated as a Community Interest Company

  • Early insight gathering with educators and parents

  • Crowdfunded CPD workshop series delivered to schools virtually during Covid lockdowns

Screenshot of the Crowdfunder website featuring the #FreeFromDiets Campaign by Molly Forbes. The main image shows a woman with long blonde hair smiling, surrounded by various posters and images promoting body positivity and a campaign to ban ads for diets around the UK. The page includes text about fundraising for workshops, resources, and promoting positive body image in schools and youth clubs, along with social media and donation links.
Pink illustration of a downward-pointing hand with the middle finger extended.

2021 - CIC launch

  • Released first printable resources and a digital parent masterclass

  • Published Body Happy Kids (Vermilion, Penguin Random House)

  • Delivered small-scale online CPD workshops and began wider conversations

Man speaking into a microphone with a red cover that has the word 'heart' on it, wearing headphones, in a radio studio with a red background.
Pink hand showing the middle finger gesture

2022 - Laying foundations / early products

  • Developed early classroom tools and piloted CPD sessions

  • Launched the Pocket Booster affirmation activity card deck for schools and families

  • Began expanding our Body Happy bookshop, curating inclusive titles for educators and
    parents

A young girl with blonde hair holding colorful cards in front of her eyes, with one card reading 'There is only one me' visible, smiling and wearing a red sparkly sweater.
Pink hand symbol with middle finger extended in a flipping gesture

2023 - Deepening connections and
classroom tools

  • Wrote Every Body (Puffin, published 2024)

  • Delivered more in-person school sessions across primary and secondary

  • Designed and released stickers, posters and classroom display resources

  • Continued building school partnerships and sector trust

  • Strengthened links with researchers and collaborators

Three girls working together on a worksheet and a diagram on a desk in a classroom.
Pink hand making a downwards pointing gesture, like a finger pointing down.

2024 - Recognition / laying the groundwork

  • Published Every Body (Puffin)

  • Named a Fair Education Alliance Innovation Award winner

  • Began developing the Body Happy Schools Programme

  • Created foundational tools: Theory of Change, impact evaluation framework,
    funding strategy and financial planning

  • Won funding for a fully funded PhD studentship on the programme
    (via     SeNSS and the University of Lincoln)

  • Community fundraising launched by supporters (including Channel swim
    challenge and London Marathon!)

A woman smiling and holding a large colorful book titled 'Every Body' by Molly Forbes, standing in a room with wooden wall decor, two white chairs, and a wooden table.
Pink hand with fingers pointing downward

2025 - Pilots and first rollout

  • Continued pilot delivery of the Body Happy Schools Programme

  • Full programme made available for schools from September 2025

  • Appointed a fully funded PhD student (studentship begins October 2025)

  • Began work with Bitpod to digitise the programme — supported by
    funding from     South Yorkshire Eating Disorders Association

A student in a white shirt, blue and gold striped tie, and a 'body happy' badge, holding a handwritten journal page about a superhero idea, with stars and doodles on the paper.

Looking ahead

  • National scaling of the Body Happy Schools Programme

  • Further development of our digital offer (KS1–KS4, CPD, Peer Advocacy)

  • Expansion into youth clubs, sports and early years settings

  • Launch of Parent Advocacy and Body Happy Week

  • Growth of Associate Schools and alumni engagement

  • Ongoing research and policy engagement through our Research Hub

A woman sits smiling in front of a white backdrop during a video recording or virtual interview, with various cameras and screens around her capturing the scene.

Still driven by the same vision:

A world where every child and young person celebrates, respects and accepts ALL bodies - especially their own.