Our Strategy
Building a body respectful world, together
Why we exist
Too many children and young people grow up believing their bodies are wrong.
This harms confidence, learning, mental health and belonging.
More than half of young people are bullied about how they look, and only a quarter of teachers feel confident tackling body image issues.
We’re here to change that - by working with schools, communities and families to create cultures of body respect.
Our Vision
A world where children and young people celebrate, respect and accept ALL bodies - especially their own.
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To build a body respectful world where every child and young person can grow up celebrating, respecting and accepting ALL bodies - especially their own.
We do this through education, peer advocacy, community engagement and systems change.
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We are a prevention-focused organisation guided by five core values:
Preventative – we act early, before harm occurs
Transformative – we shift culture, not just individual attitudes
Inclusive – we centre difference and equity in everything we do
Evidence-informed – we’re grounded in research and youth voice
Joyful – we believe this work can be hopeful, creative and empowering
These values don't just shape the programmes and resources we deliver - they guide how we work together every day.
We live our commitment to prevention, transformation, inclusion, evidence and joy through a working culture rooted in respect, curiosity and collaboration.
By embedding these principles both inside and outside our organisation, we aim to create the kind of body respectful world we believe every child and young person deserves.
Three clear stages:
Guiding Principles – Preventative, Transformative, Inclusive, Evidence-informed, Joyful
Working Culture – Respect, Curiosity, Collaboration
Impact – Body Happy Schools, Educated Communities, Systems-wide Change
Our Roadmap for Change
The Body Happy Skills
Our approach is built around four core Body Happy Skills - the building blocks of body respect for every child, educator, parent and community:
Body Happy Literacy
Body Happy Resilience
Body Happy Kindness
Body Happy Advocacy
These skills underpin all our programmes and form the foundation of our Theory of Change.
Our Impact Model
We are working to create positive change at every level - from the classroom to national policy.
Our work spans education, community, research and advocacy, with a focus on long-term, systems wide prevention.
Our Strategic Priorities
To bring this vision to life, our current priorities are:
Launch and scale the Body Happy Schools Programme (in-person and digital)
Build a strong operational team to support national growth
Develop our Research Hub in partnership with the University of Lincoln
Support Alumni Peer Advocates to stay engaged as mentors and volunteers
Grow our Associate Schools network, where experienced schools support others
Expand advocacy strands including Parent Advocacy and Body Happy Week
Lay the groundwork for the Body Happy Communities Programme (youth clubs, sport, early years)
