WARRINGTON-based Bents Garden & Home has announced the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) as its 2026 Charity of the Year, supporting its mission to equip young people with essential skills and techniques to improve their wellbeing.
MiSP is one of the UK’s most established, providers of mindfulness training for schools and youth settings. Working with children and young people aged 3 to 18, the charity develops and delivers structured, classroom-based curricula, supporting teachers to bring mindfulness into everyday learning.
The partnership holds particular significance for Bents due to the charity’s strong local connection with Esther Ghey, founder of the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, established to raise awareness of mindfulness in schools and offering ‘Flourishing Families’ wellbeing workshops for families, a ‘Look up and Live’ workshop and ‘Growing Together’ programme, designed to support parents, families and children with wellbeing and screen time.
Esther, who works in an ambassadorial role at MiSP, found her personal mindfulness practice was vital in supporting her after the death of her daughter, Birchwood teenager Brianna in 2023. Working alongside the Mindfulness in Schools Project and backed by community support, Esther founded the Peace in Mind campaign, aiming not only to provide mindfulness trained staff in every school in Warrington but also to inspire broader change across England. Esther’s vision is a future where all young people are better equipped to navigate life’s challenges with strength and empathy.
This local link has been a key factor in Bents’ decision to support the charity, reflecting its commitment to backing initiatives that make a meaningful difference within its community.
Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Mindfulness in Schools Project as our Charity of the Year. The work they do to support young people’s mental wellbeing is incredibly important, particularly in today’s world.
“What makes this partnership even more meaningful is the strong local connection through Esther Ghey and the impact already being seen in our community. We look forward to working together to raise awareness and vital funds to help extend their reach even further.”
MiSP Ambassador Jane Coates says: “I accessed MiSP training via Peace in Mind funding, a campaign led by Esther Ghey after wanting to create meaningful support for young people’s mental health and well-being in memory of her daughter, Brianna. I have seen the positive impact of this work, both on a personal and professional footing and am looking forward to working alongside Bents in my role as MiSP Ambassador to further develop this locally.”
Faiy Rushton, Executive Director of the Mindfulness in Schools Project: “We are honoured and delighted to have been chosen as Charity of the Year and we are grateful for the way Esther Ghey has raised awareness of the contribution mindfulness in school can make to improving young people’s wellbeing. The donations from the Bents community will support our ongoing delivery of mindfulness-based wellbeing training for educators and the children and young people they work with. It will help us broaden our reach, especially to under-resourced schools and communities. It will also enable us to make our training more accessible and to include all members of school communities including pre-schoolers and their families.”.
Over the coming year, Bents will host a series of fundraising initiatives and awareness campaigns, inviting customers, colleagues and the wider community to get involved and support the charity’s work.
Since its inception, MiSP has made a significant impact. Between 2009 and 2025, more than 11,625 individuals have been trained to deliver its programmes, benefiting at least 1.1 million children and young people. Through this partnership, Bents hopes to help extend the reach of MiSP, enabling more young people to develop resilience, improve their mental wellbeing and build skills that will support them throughout their lives.
For more information about the Mindfulness in Schools Project, visit: About MiSP – Mindfulness in Schools Project
