People • Evidence • Greater possibilities
One relationship.
Twenty years of influence.
Lord Richard Layard has helped shape Bounce Forward’s journey — and a much bigger movement to put happiness and wellbeing at the heart of how society measures progress.
Better prepared for life
Lord Richard Layard
A shared journey.
From a question in 2006 to a global movement today, Richard has been a constant champion — asking the big questions, building the evidence and taking it further.
The question begins
The Local Wellbeing Project asks whether emotional resilience and wellbeing can be deliberately strengthened in young people.
Healthy Minds
A sustained, independently evaluated programme tests what happens when psychological skills are taught over time — not once.
Evidence into influence
Richard continues to champion Healthy Minds and children’s wellbeing through research, policy, books, speeches and international platforms.
Real impact at scale.
An ambitious programme. A substantial study. Evidence with the potential to change what happens in schools.
Healthy Minds became one of the most substantial longitudinal studies of sustained life-skills teaching in UK secondary education.
In Richard’s own words
For twenty years, Bounce Forward (and its predecessor) has led the way towards evidence-based teaching of psychological fitness in schools. First came the Penn Resilience Programme, which was only 20 hours, and then Healthy Minds – a complete weekly programme for Years 7-10. It was Lucy Bailey who made this happen and who, building on its successful trial, has spread Healthy Minds to schools across the country. And today, the outlook for this approach is brighter than ever.
Lord Richard Layard Economist, Professor, Co-Editor World Happiness Report
Carrying the evidence further.
Richard has taken the case for happiness and wellbeing to national and international platforms, helping to shape policy and public understanding.
