We are all about finding glimmers, the small moments of joy in everyday. As part of our work with the Canal & River Trust we are training staff to become Official Glimmer Seeker’s. This is an important part of their training, as when we are in a good place ourselves we can then coach others much more effectively. These sessions were delivered online with small groups of staff members.
The Glimmer Seeker program is a specialist self-care and resilience framework. It is built on the core belief that for the Canal & River Trust Education Team to effectively support children, they must first be in a resilient headspace themselves.
The Positive Emotional Shift
While sessions began with staff appearing visibly stressed and “multi-tasking” due to heavy workloads, the virtual space became a sanctuary. By the end of the session, there was a visible shift in body language—moving from distracted to deeply focused and relaxed.
A recurring theme from participants was the desire to see this training codified. Staff expressed that HCK has a “ready-to-go product” that should be rolled out wider, potentially as a manual or book for the entire Trust. “Please can you do these regularly for us because we really need them.”
“It was a joy to see the team respond so openly. We witnessed a real-time transformation—seeing them move from being stressed and distracted to calm and present. Giving them this boost to their own mental health directly translates into better support for the communities they serve. These tools are powerful because they work in a very short amount of time.” Coach Laura
100% of participants reported a shift in nervous system regulation and self-talk.