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Beyond Bricks: Lego-Based Play For Schools
Beyond Bricks is Lego® Based Play that uses a 'recovery to discovery' approach to enhance children's overall mental health and wellbeing, now and in the future.
What Is Beyond Bricks
Beyond Bricks is a program dedicated to enhancing the emotional wellbeing of young people across Northern Ireland. Using engaging, interactive methods like LEGO-based therapy, we help young people develop emotional intelligence and regulation skills, equipping them to thrive in all areas of life.
Why Beyond Bricks?
We’re committed to creating lasting change in schools and communities. Our program:
- Uses LEGO-Based Therapy – Fun, play-based learning to develop emotional intelligence and key social skills.
- Trains Educators – Teachers gain the tools and resources needed to sustain the program long-term.
- Offers Personalised Toolkits – Practical strategies to help manage emotions effectively.
Who is it for?
"Beyond Bricks is for primary schools in Northern Ireland, offering a full classroom approach to support young people of all ages and abilities in developing emotional skills."
We provide schools with the necessary resources to support diverse learning needs and create a positive, inclusive environment for emotional development.
Watch the video below to learn all about Beyond Bricks from Children and Young People Service Manager, Amy Stothers.
How It Works
Beyond Bricks is designed to make a lasting impact in primary schools across Northern Ireland. Thanks to generous funding from the Agnew Group, we are able to fully resource, train, and co-deliver a series of 6 engaging workshops in the classroom. This hands-on support ensures that teachers feel confident and equipped to deliver the program independently, helping to reach many more young people in the future.
Here’s how the program works:
- Fully Funded Workshops
The Agnew Group’s funding allows us to provide free training, resources, and LEGO materials to schools, ensuring they have everything needed to implement Beyond Bricks successfully. - Co-Delivery of 6 Workshops
We work directly with teachers to co-deliver 6 engaging workshops with each class. During these sessions, pupils will explore emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and resilience through fun, hands-on learning activities like LEGO-based therapy. - Two Classes per School
Each participating school can engage two classes in the Beyond Bricks program at a time. This setup allows trained school staff to collaborate and provide the necessary support, ensuring the program can continue independently after the initial co-delivery phase. It also enables MindWise to extend the program’s reach across Northern Ireland, giving every young person the opportunity to participate. - Covering Every Primary School in NI
Our mission is to deliver Beyond Bricks across all primary schools in Northern Ireland, making sure that young people everywhere can benefit from this life-changing program.
Through this structure, we ensure that both teachers and young people are supported, creating a sustainable model that can continue to grow and support emotional wellbeing for years to come.
Why It Matters
Mental health challenges among young people are on the rise, and early intervention is critical. Beyond Bricks provides a safe, supportive space for pupils to develop their emotional intelligence and build resilience. By focusing on emotional regulation and communication, the program empowers young people to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and empathy.
Empowering Educators
Beyond Bricks isn’t just for pupils; it’s a legacy program that equips educators with the skills, resources, and support to continue the work long after the initial delivery. School staff are trained to deliver the program independently, ensuring the benefits are sustained and reach even more young people. In addition to the direct impact on pupils, the program fosters a positive school culture, where emotional wellbeing is prioritised, and teachers are empowered to address mental health in meaningful ways.
Evidence and Impact
Beyond Bricks has made a significant impact in supporting young people across Northern Ireland. Over the past three years, we’ve directly helped 3,593 children through our program.
With our legacy model, which fully trains and resources teachers for independent delivery, we’re proud to say that our dedicated teachers have pledged to deliver the program to an additional two cohorts each. This means we have had the potential to reach at least 14,200 more children, expanding the positive impact of Beyond Bricks across Northern Ireland.
What People Are Saying:
Children:
- "Amazing, happy, proud. I felt unstoppable!"
- “I love the workbooks because I love drawing.”
- "I love the LEGO and the team work”
School Staff:
- "Brilliant program for discussing children’s mental health and the issues they face in life. The LEGO is just the stimulus to help bring out so many areas of learning. We LOVED Beyond Bricks!"
- "This program helped children develop an emotional toolkit that can be integrated and used in various aspects of their lives, both inside and outside of school. This was done in a fun and meaningful way that the children engaged with extremely well."
- "I found it fascinating to watch the children interact and communicate with each other during the LEGO play. They don’t realise how their communication skills are improving over the weeks, and many of them had insightful thoughts about each week’s focus."
These quotes highlight the powerful, lasting impact Beyond Bricks has on young people and educators alike, supporting emotional growth in a fun and engaging way that’s both meaningful and sustainable.
How Can You Get Involved?
The Beyond Bricks program is more than just a school initiative—it’s a movement to transform the way we support young people’s mental health in Northern Ireland. Whether you're a teacher, a parent, or a potential funder, there are many ways you can get involved and help expand the program's reach.
For Schools:
- Schools can apply to join the Beyond Bricks program each January. If you haven’t already signed up for the waiting list, be sure to do so! This ensures you’ll be among the first to access the application form when it opens.
- Participate in the program to enhance emotional wellbeing in your classroom, receive comprehensive training, and gain access to valuable resources.
- We also hold information sessions where schools can learn more about the program, ask questions, and find out how to get started. To find out more email amy.stothers@mindwisenv.org.
For Parents:
- Get involved by attending our workshops, supporting your child’s emotional growth, and becoming part of a broader community dedicated to improving youth wellbeing.
For Funders:
Your support is vital to ensuring this program continues to reach more schools and young people. By funding Beyond Bricks, you're investing in a sustainable, evidence-based program that makes a real difference.
For Individuals:
- You can support Beyond Bricks by self-funding a session or helping raise awareness in your community. Find out more about how you can get involved and make a difference!
For Individuals:
Support Beyond Bricks by self-funding a session or helping raise awareness in your community. Find out more about how you can make a difference! Click here to donate to support Beyond Bricks.
Watch our video below to hear what schools say about Beyond Bricks.
Beyond Bricks Program Delivery
Apply or Get Involved
Are you a school or community organisation ready to bring Beyond Bricks to your pupils? Or would you like to support the program financially? We’re here to help!
- Self-Funding Options: Learn More
- Schools & Educators: Apply Now
Our Impact
Beyond Bricks has already reached over 4,500 young people across Northern Ireland—and we’re just getting started! With your support, we can expand and continue making a meaningful difference in young people’s lives.
Want to know more?
There are a limited number of funded places available. If you are interested in finding out more please contact Amy Stothers on: amy.stothers@mindwisenv.org or call 07719043925
- Save this page as a PDF by downloading the Beyond Bricks Flyer.
- You can also download the Beyond Bricks Charter which explains the program in more detail.
Beyond Bricks – Building Blocks of Stronger Foundations.
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