Kent company The HappySelf Journal wins government money from Innovate UK to send free journals to pupils

A company, which designs journals for children to encourage good mental health and happiness, has won a slice of government money to distribute the unique diaries for free amongst thousands of school pupils.

Kent start-up The HappySelf Journal has turned science backed principles known to boost happiness and wellbeing into a child-friendly journalling format to help youngsters recognise and practice gratitude, kindness and mindfulness in their everyday lives.

The company, founded by Francesca Geens and husband Nazz Ahammad, produced its first HappySelf Journal in 2018 when the mum-of-two was looking for something her own children could use to benefit their own mental health, appreciating that they were growing up in an increasingly pressurised and fast-paced world.

Since then the journals have been sold around the world, translated into several languages, and most recently owing to demand have evolved into a second additional version for teenagers.

But this week the company - having won a chunk of £40m government funding being given to firms addressing the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak - will begin the process of sending hundreds of thousands of its yellow journals, suitable for children aged six to 12, to schools.

Innovation agency Innovate UK announced this week that the husband and wife pair have beaten off thousands of other applicants to receive a share of the cash.

The funding will pay for several thousand of the HappySelf Journals to be distributed free to support the mental health of pupils who receive free school meals.

Francesca, who lives with her family just outside Sissinghurst, said: "To be able give them for free to children least likely to be able to get hold of a journal - I can't think of anything more important for our business to be doing."

Headteachers can apply online for journals for children in their care, who meet the criteria in years three to six, and those who are successful will be given them ahead of the end of term.

Nazz Ahammad, co-founder, added: "We have seen the positive benefits and transformational change that the journal has had on over 100,000 children around the world and are happy that we can make our journals more accessible to the children that need them most in these unprecedented times."

Schools across the UK can apply at happyselfjournal.com/schools

To learn more about The HappySelf Journal visit the website happyselfjournal.com

Read more family-related news from around the county by visiting www.mykentfamily.co.uk