Education Today Education Today Magazine
To mark Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 (9-13 February), Wates Group, one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies, is partnering with The Zen Project for a fourth year to deliver an innovative mobile wellbeing tour, bringing free mental health support directly to schools and local communities.
The Zen Bus is a bright yellow, converted American school bus transformed into a calm, nurturing and inclusive space to provide a sanctuary for reflection, emotional regulation and mental well-being.
The bus will travel to schools in Havant, Cardiff and London offering guided mindfulness sessions, breathwork, sound healing and grounding practices to children and teachers at an age-appropriate level. Research from the University of Waterloo (2017) shows that even short mindfulness practices can alter brainwaves, helping reduce anxious thought patterns while improving focus, emotional regulation and resilience.
This comes at a time when children, teachers and school support staff face unprecedented pressures. According to Place2Be, 95% of UK school staff members have witnessed an increase in pupil anxiety in the past year, while a survey from NHS England reveals that one in five children and young people had a probable mental disorder in 2023.
Kelly Osborne, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Wates Group, said: “We believe every young person deserves to feel supported, empowered and able to thrive. Our continued partnership with The Zen Project reflects our commitment to our purpose, working together to reimagine places for people to thrive. This is our fourth year supporting the Zen Bus, and each year we see the positive effect of taking practical mental health tools to young people and their teachers. We’re incredibly proud to play a part in making that possible.”
Corinne Gardner, Founder of The Zen Project, said: “The Zen Bus makes simple tools fun and helps children to start their journey to calm. We are passionate about creating a nurturing space to allow for rest and play all at once. We give children and teachers tools they can use anywhere – from classrooms to playgrounds.”
