89% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they were more confident
83% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they were more resilient
83% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they felt greater agency
Average increase in students' confidence is 42%
5.6 pre-Thrive 7.9 post-Thrive
Average increase in students' resilience is 31%
6.1 pre-Thrive 8.1 post-Thrive
Average increase in students' agency is 32%
6.1 pre-Thrive 8.0 post-Thrive
Student Comments
This programme has been so helpful and was very well organised. The guest speakers were very inspirational. There is so much I will take forward and keep thinking about, especially about what my values are and how I can align more with them.
The Thrive Programme was incredible! I felt it directly spoke to me, especially with the topics relating to imposter syndrome and visibility. I particularly enjoyed the strengths card exercise, which led to some deeper reflection and understanding of my skills and potential. Yes, we all know we have the opportunity to be our best selves, but sometimes in a new environment we need to be reminded! All the speakers were friendly, engaging and understanding.
I thought the Thrive programme was very useful and really improved my confidence and agency. Also, it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my own thoughts and tell myself to slow down and prioritise self-care.
I found the programme deeply helpful. The content covered a lot of areas that I felt I was very weak on, such as my resilience and agency. The sessions came at the exact point in my life where I needed to hear some of the advice that was given. Thank you so much.
I definitely left the Thrive program feeling more confident and better about myself in general. Sarah helps to create an inclusive and welcoming environment from the beginning and she and the various team truly make the course worthwhile by delivering insightful and engaging content throughout.
Thrive offers a safe space to focus on ourselves. It supports you to set your direction through acceptance and recognition of yourself and your environment. It helps in realizing how others are going through similar challenges and what can be done to grow stronger and deal with it.
Sarah and the variety of individual guest speakers were all amazing, friendly, clear, and inspiring. The booklet was extremely useful, and all content was engaging, with chances to learn, write quietly on our own, talk with and listen to others, and share ideas. Supporting material recommended at the end - such as writers, books, mentors - was also very much appreciated, so that this journey doesn't feel like it's over.
The Thrive programme is very well-designed for supporting students on their personal development journeys. I had an amazing two days, and left there feeling a sense of community.
It has stopped the overwhelm you feel when you try to tackle these topics by yourself.
It has equipped me with life-long valuable resources and tips on everyday challenges that I face. Whether I am in exam season, or in the workplace I truly believe that I will return to my notes and feel more strengthened by the things Thrive has taught me.
I made friends and also started to do some networking which I haven鈥檛 done it before.
I feel more confident and equipped to tackle university and wider life.
Year 2: 2024/2025 Thrive鈩� Student Feedback
91% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they were more confident
80% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they were more resilient
85% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they felt greater agency
Average increase in students' confidence is 40%
5.7 pre-Thrive 7.9 post-Thrive
Average increase in students' resilience is 30%
6.1 pre-Thrive 7.9 post-Thrive
Average increase in students' agency is 42%
5.8 pre-Thrive 8.2 post-Thrive
Student Comments
I feel more confident and less alone.
This was just what I needed.
Invaluable tools for personal and professional growth.
An enriching and transformative experience.
Highlighted my strengths in a time of lower self-esteem.
It made me feel less lonely.
Feel more self-assured and motivated to take on new challenges.
Incredibly valuable experience.
Guest speakers also were very inspirational.
Incredible bond that fosters growth and support!
Gave me the confidence to apply to for鈥�.
I felt safe enough to open.
This programme is crucial for navigating challenges.
I learned to be kind to myself.
This program has given me a new perspective on how to approach my personal and academic life.
Year 1: 2023/2024 Thrive鈩� Student Feedback
92% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they were more confident
78% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they were more resilient
86% of all attendees felt that after attending Thrive they felt greater agency
"I feel a lot more resilient and organised. I have been keeping promises to myself and achieving my targets more easily. I see an almost radical transformation in my motivation levels at large."
Diya, Year 2, Philosophy
"I got lots of insights that I started to implement in my life from the very first session, and it changed my life!"
Mariia, Year 1, School of Engineering
"It has encouraged me to acknowledge and value my own strengths. I feel a lot more confident in myself, I've made some brilliant new friends, and I've had the unique opportunity to meet and network with accomplished women both from within and without the university." Arianwen, Year 4, English & Comparative Literary Studies
"I thoroughly enjoyed the Thrive programme. Hearing from such a large variety of speakers with their own unique experiences made me feel a lot less alone in navigating the challenges of the world as a woman. I feel a lot more confident going into social and career based situations now."
Freya, Year 1, Chemistry
"It was so refreshing to be around a group of women who were all equally interested in becoming a better version of themselves and not being afraid of becoming vulnerable. I was able to connect with such a variety of women from different walks of life and have definitely made some amazing friends." Martyna, Year 1, Philosophy
"I wish I attended a program like Thrive when I was in my first year 鈥� cannot imagine how powerful it will be to assist my whole university journey鈥ut I am so grateful that I still have a chance to participate in this program and hopefully I can enter the adult world with the courage and the toolkit Thrive provided me with."
Xia, Year 3, Economics
"[Thrive] Helped me feel more self-confident, resilient and empowered whilst also allowing me to meet other equally ambitious and kind women. It鈥檚 so easy to get caught up in all the work you must complete and deadlines you must meet on a daily basis; Thrive gave me the opportunity to step back and remember who I am as a person.
As a first year student, it was also an amazing opportunity to meet others women in the years above me and learn about their experiences and advise they had, being at uni longer than me. The guest speakers gave brilliant presentations and talks on topics that I felt really resonated with me and kept me engaged throughout!"
Vanshi, Year 1, Statistics
"I found the Thrive programme very enjoyable and thought provoking. I definitely learnt a lot during the program and I particularly enjoyed the session about strengths, as I was then able to use it in a strengths-based job interview I had recently."
Anna, Year 3, Life Sciences
It was wonderful. I met a community of strong women and I felt very empowered.
As a first-year international student, I felt overwhelmed with everything going around. Thrive helped me understand that it is normal to feel like this, and that I am not alone in feeling this way. I met a community of amazing women who share unique traits and are empowering and inspiring in their own way. .. . Thrive helped me to feel welcomed into the new community.
