At Esland, creating environments where young people feel they truly belong is at the heart of everything we do. To mark the week, Lauren Hart, one of our clinicians, has shared her reflections on the importance of belonging and how it shapes a young person’s confidence, self-esteem, and long‑term wellbeing. A sense of belonging can make a significant difference to the young people we work with. When you feel cared for and part of something bigger than yourself, it has a profound impact on your self-esteem and wellbeing.

Belonging can grow in many spaces; within a family, a school, a residential home, a community. At the heart of belonging is feeling valued for who you are. When a young person feels appreciated simply for being their unique self, it gives them the confidence to expand their world, try new things, and believe in their own potential.

We also know that for many of our young people, early childhood trauma can fracture their sense of self.

If we do not feel connected; if relationships have been unsafe, inconsistent, or painful, this can deeply affect how we understand ourselves and how we believe others see us.

Part of rebuilding that sense of belonging is helping young people feel valued just as they are.

At Esland, we have daily opportunities to help young people find “their place”, not just in a physical sense, but in the emotional sense of knowing:

“I matter. I belong. I am valued here.”