How to build your resilience

Use this free teaching resource for secondary school students to help them build resilience whilst showing kindness to themselves and others.

Four people jumping up with joy and excitement against coloured squares.

Age:: 10 - 19
Type:: Quick activities
Subjects:: PSHE, Tutor time
Topics:: Kindness, Disasters and emergencies

Young people are faced with many different challenges each day. As educators, it is important that we help young people develop the skills that can help them to grow their resilience in order to help them cope with adversities they may be faced with.

The activities in this resource were co-produced by a group of young people from around the UK who worked alongside staff at the British Red Cross. The successful co-production project gave the team an insight into the challenges faced by young people, as well as the activities that young people would like to see in the classroom.

We would like to thank Eliza, Ruby, Chloe, Leon, Bernelene, Annabelle, Jazmin, Xanri, Holly, Jack, Shyanne, Yvie, Eden, Jacob, Henry, Alexandra, Noor and Rowan for their ideas and contributions to this resource.

Learning objectives 

Learn about the challenges faced by young people.
Apply your learning and practice empathy to help others build resilience.
To share ways in which people can be helped through the power of kindness.

How do I use this resource? 

These six activities help you explore the challenges faced by young people and discuss the techniques they could use to help build their resilience to overcome the challenge they are faced with.

Download the PowerPoint ‘How to Build Resilience’ and the ‘Educator guide’ for resources and activity guidance. Use one, some or all the activities depending on your needs.

Each activity can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes. Use these activities in your lessons, assembly or tutor time.

When running this session with children and young people, it is important to remember that these topics may bring about some difficult conversations within your setting.

It is important to let your learners know that they do not have to share personal experiences if they don’t feel comfortable, and to ensure your learners know that they are in a safe environment. If learners need time to have a breather, ensure a safe space is set up for them.

Resource overview

1. Discuss Challenges

Discuss the challenges young people face and place them into categories, thinking carefully about who these challenges specifically effect.

A graphic showing examples of personal, local, national and global issues.

2. Snakes and Ladders

Play the snakes and ladders game with your learners to allow them to discuss with their peers the challenges (snakes) and positive actions (ladders) that affect their lives to help them build empathy and personal resilience.

An illustrated red and white board for playing snakes and ladders.

3. Achievement

Help learners prepare for future challenges by allowing them to picture their goals whilst thinking about barriers that may stop them from achieving them.