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Evidence base for Pyramid Clubs

About Pyramid

Pyramid clubs are special clubs for children who are shy, quiet, withdrawn and who may feel anxious about home or school situations.

On this page you will find out more about the evidence and research supporting the Pyramid programme. 

Over the 10 weeks of the Pyramid club there was a significant change in A’s behaviour and she became much more approachable and friendly, no longer making unkind comments to other children. Her teacher had noticed a positive change in her behaviour. Best of all, she was happier, more relaxed and playing with other children! 

Parent, Melton Mowbray

The evidence base for Pyramid

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What Pyramid does

Pyramid clubs offer a therapeutic, group-work, early intervention for children aged seven to 14. They normally run as a targeted after-school club, in order to minimise stigma and make the intervention accessible to the widest number of children. 

The clubs offer a developmental journey for those children who internalise their difficulties and are showing early signs of mental health problems such as social withdrawal, somatic disorders, depression and anxiety.
 

How Pyramid works
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Theory

Pyramid clubs have been developed using concepts from two key psychological models: cognitive psychology and positive psychology.

The clubs offer children and young people an experiential model of learning about and developing strategies for managing their thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment.

The interventions that are used include:

  • solution-focused brief therapy
  • cognitive behavioural therapy
  • attachment theory
  • risk and resilience models
  • play.

Research evidence that supports the model

Extensive research by the University of West London has used the Goodman's Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and other tools to measure the impact of clubs on children as against matched control groups, both immediately post-club and a year on. This has demonstrated the enduring impact of Pyramid clubs. Published papers include:

Papers published by Ulster University, based on Pyramid clubs run by Barnardo’s in Northern Ireland, include:

Other facts and figures

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Reach

Pyramid adopts early-intervention principles, working with children at the early signs of problems developing, rather than waiting for full-blown mental health difficulties to develop.

As a result, many young people have already benefited. Over 33,000 children have attended Pyramid clubs across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, since 2004, supported by over 8,000 club leaders. Since its introduction, Pyramid has run at some point in 48 local authority areas in England, 10 in Wales and across most of Northern Ireland. 

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England

  • Bracknell Forest
  • Bradford
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Cornwall
  • Ealing
  • Essex
  • Haringey
  • Hillingdon
  • Lytham St Annes
  • Melton Mowbray
  • Newcastle
  • Rochdale
  • Salford
  • Sandwell
  • Slough.
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Northern Ireland

Clubs are operating across the province in conjunction with Barnardos Northern Ireland.

Wales
  • Anglesey
  • Cardiff
  • Ceredigion
  • Conwy
  • Denbighshire
  • Flintshire
  • Pembrokeshire
  • Powys
  • Rhondda Cynon Taff
  • Torfaen.
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External validation

Formal evaluation of Pyramid clubs by a number of universities has allowed the Early Intervention Foundation to validate the clubs for inclusion in its Guidebook for commissioners, listing evidence-based interventions to support children’s social and emotional development. 

The primary/transition clubs are also included on Mentally Healthy Schools, a government-funded website to help schools find proven interventions to support children’s mental health, as a suitable small-group intervention for children.

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Impact on children

The difference that Pyramid makes:

  • Improved self-esteem
  • Improved self-awareness and awareness of impact on others
  • Improved locus of control (internal rather than external) leading to better self-motivation and participation
  • Better peer relationships
  • Improved relationships with adults

  • Increased resilience through the development of coping skills and problem-solving ability

  • Development of key skills in emotional regulation and self-soothing

  • Improved school attainment through reduced anxiety, a more positive attitude towards school, better attendance and more participation in class

Key attributes of Pyramid

  • Systematised

    • Systematised to ensure quality, with guidance on setting up clubs (including screening of children), training of club leaders and post-club evaluation

  • Tried and tested

    • Proven to work well for both boys and girls and across different ethnic and social groups

  • Cost-effective

    • Low cost through the use of trained volunteer club leaders and existing school staff (teaching assistants/learning mentors) to deliver clubs

  • Certified training for trainers award

    • All club leaders trained in advance, with access to ongoing support

  • Well-resourced

    • Start-up activity packs provided by the University of West London 
    • Networks of users of the model who receive regular newsletters and updates to materials

  • Licensed

    • Licensed model to ensure consistency of procedures and impact
       

  • Cohesive

    • Multi-agency selection and review process to allow onward referrals as necessary

  • Thorough

    • Routine, year-group wide screening that allows other difficulties to be identified
    • Routine evaluation of every club and every child/young person attending

  • Current

    • Commitment to ongoing research through links with universities and other evaluation bodies

Contact us

We welcome your queries about joining or running a Pyramid club at your school:

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More information

  • About Pyramid Clubs

    Pyramid is an evidence-backed intervention programme to help children and young teenagers handle social and academic pressures.

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  • Pyramid Clubs for schools

    The Pyramid programme helps children aged 7-14 develop confidence and self-esteem so they can cope with the academic and social pressures of school.

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  • Pyramid for primary school

    Understand the challenges a child faces when they start school and how Pyramid can help turn those around to create positive experiences.

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  • Pyramid information for parents and volunteers

    Find more information about Pyramid clubs as well as discover answers to FAQs.

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  • Pyramid resources

    Schools and club leaders receive comprehensive support and resources in order to run a Pyramid club.

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  • Pyramid for secondary school

    Moving to secondary school is a big adventure but for many it can be overwhelming. Pyramid offers a safe place for young people to unburden themselves and develop a better model of relationships with both peers and adults.

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  • Pyramid transition clubs

    Moving to secondary school from primary school can be tough but Pyramid transition clubs can help children gain necessary skills to cope with the changes around them.

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