A Transformational Day at the GDST Elevate Festival
A Transformational Day at the GDST Elevate Festival
The Mintridge Foundation was delighted to orchestrate the recent Elevate Festival with the Girls' Day School Trust — a vibrant celebration of wellbeing, movement and self-belief.
Hosted at Sutton High School GDST in West London, the festival brought together nine schools and more than 200 students for a day dedicated to feeling good, thinking positively and exploring new ways to nurture both body and mind.
Setting the Tone
The day began with an inspiring presentation delivered by Jess Silva, who spoke to the entire group about the importance of wellbeing and what it truly means to look after both your physical and mental health. Jess introduced the practitioners and teachers leading the sessions, helping students understand the variety of experiences available to them and encouraging them to approach the day with open minds and curiosity.
It was the perfect way to set the tone — thoughtful, energising and focused on self-awareness rather than self-judgement.
A Festival of Movement and Mindfulness
The festival was designed to “elevate” — not just energy levels, but confidence, awareness and connection. Yoke Space provided an inspiring team of practitioners who delivered a wide range of workshops, ensuring there was something for everyone.
Students were invited to experience:
Sound healing
Breathwork
Mat Pilates
Barre
Yoga and Yoga Flow
A run workshop
A nourishment workshop
Alongside these sessions, students also had the opportunity to try Tai Chi, Flamenco dancing and take part in a beautiful cacao ceremony, complete with hot chocolate — a calming and grounding moment within a high-energy day.
Don’t Worry About What You Look Like — Just Feel It
A consistent message throughout the festival was simple but powerful: don’t worry about how you look — focus on how you feel. Whether flowing through yoga poses, moving to the rhythm in a dance session or finding stillness in breathwork, students were encouraged to tune inwards rather than compare themselves to others.
The advice shared across the day extended far beyond physical activity:
Listen to a wide range of music to broaden your mind.
Dance like nobody’s watching.
Believe in yourself.
Surround yourself with positive people who bring enthusiasm and encouragement.
Most importantly, prioritise your own state of mind and body — don’t let worry about others distract you from your wellbeing.
Closing Reflections: Stories, Advice and Honest Conversation
The day concluded with a powerful 30-minute panel featuring all of the practitioners and teachers. They shared personal stories, practical advice and honest reflections on their own journeys with wellbeing, movement and mindset.
Students asked thoughtful and insightful questions, creating an open and supportive conversation that brought the whole day together. It was a meaningful reminder that wellbeing is not about perfection — it’s about awareness, balance and giving yourself permission to grow.
“What do you wish you’d known, when you were younger?”
“ What’s been your toughest time?”
“What got you started with this?”
A Lasting Impact
What made the Elevate Festival so special was not just the variety of workshops, but the atmosphere. There was a genuine sense of calm, openness and courage. Students stepped outside their comfort zones, tried new experiences and discovered different ways to manage stress and build confidence.
At the Mintridge Foundation, we believe in empowering young people to thrive both on and off the field. Days like this reinforce that wellbeing, self-belief and community are just as important as performance.
The Elevate Festival was more than an event — it was a reminder to pause, breathe, move and truly feel
A Special Thanks
To Jess Silva for her presenting brilliance, and calming Yoga, Lucy Pull with her experienced Yoke Team, plus Nicole and her Tai chi expertise and Nuria Head of the London Flamenco school.
Final Thoughts
Particular thanks to Hannah Morrell on the GDST Team who’s vision for this came alive and Lucy and her colleagues and Team from Sutton High School who looked after us so well.
Thank you to the Mintridge staff for enabling the day to run so smoothly as well!
About Us:
The Mintridge Foundation is a UK-wide charity dedicated to turbo-boosting young people's development and opportunities through the transformative power of sports. Our innovative programs and collaborations inspire, mentor, and guide the next generation to thrive.
