What are positive relationships?

by Jess Middleton, Insight Manager at BBC Children in Need

When asked to describe ourselves as people, we often talk about our key achievements. The experiences we have had. Our milestones.

However, it’s important to remember that behind all those headlines are key people with whom we’ve had strong, positive relationships – connections that have underlined and informed our experiences.

The parent or carer who nurtured us.

The youth worker who challenged us and helped us to build towards our futures.

The peer we learnt and developed alongside.

The friend who made us feel seen and loved, giving us a sense of belonging.

The people who have an active role in shaping us. The key positive relationships that have been threaded throughout our lives.

At BBC Children in Need, we believe that all children and young people should have access to a wide and diverse range of positive relationships.

They are fundamental to our social and emotional development in early childhood and beyond – how we feel, how we develop and how we grow.

We recognise how crucial they are to building community, accessing opportunities and connections and developing knowledge that helps children and young people to thrive and make successful progress.

Strong, nurturing, positive relationships are not just “nice-to-haves”. They really matter.

For some children and young people – including those living with the challenges addressed by our funding, such as poverty or mental health issues – they matter more than anything else.

Right now, life is difficult for far too many children and young people due to the twin crises of poverty and mental health, alongside a range of pressures and inequities.

They need these crucial connections and positive attachments more than ever to ensure they don’t miss out and can be the best they can be – despite the barriers they experience.

We believe that their futures are not yet written. Through nurturing, transformative and joyful relationships with peers, friends, trusted adults, family and their community, children and young people can build skills, confidence and resilience.

They can explore and learn, growing and strengthening their social and physical wellbeing, developing emotional intelligence and accessing opportunities that will help them to get on in life.

At BBC Children in Need, our funding already supports people and projects that focus on building positive relationships and allowing them to flourish – but we want to know more.

As part of an in-depth review alongside an advisory group of expert academics, practitioners and young people, supported by a learning partner, we are currently examining our role in positive relationships and exploring what more can be done regarding these essential connections and the ways in which we can all play our part.

We’ll share more on this in the near future.