For years, students in Year 12 from Bexley Grammar have participated in the prestigious Young Enterprise competition. Young Enterprise is a charity that’s determined to give young people the opportunity to develop life skills such as teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving to give us the knowledge & confidence we will need to have a chance in the changing world of work.

Over the last few years, we’ve noticed how stress and anxiety are affecting an increasing number of people in our school. We’ve noticed how more and more students are suffering in silence. How many people struggle with these feelings but often hesitate to seek help due to societal stigma and the distorted perception that it would be a sign of weakness.

We wanted to create something that could offer comfort. That could be a starting point for those struggling to take control of their mental well-being. Something that could take the weight of anxiety off your shoulders. Something that would be the first step in the journey of mastering mental well-being, that would let you enjoy the fullest that life has to offer.

And that’s how we came up with Heavy Hugs.

We saw how weighted blankets were becoming increasingly popular in helping people with anxiety or ADHD sleep more easily and wondered if we could apply the same concept to teddy bears. Whether we could make a weighted teddy bear that would provide comfort in a more personal way.

But for heavy hugs,  it’s not simply a stuffed animal — it’s a warm friend that’s always there for you, no matter the time or situation. It’s a friend that will be there without you having to ask for it.

Research confirmed our idea through studies on the effects of deep pressure stimulation: the weight provides a calming effect, simulating a mother holding a child, activating the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. In situations of panic or high stress, pressure stimulation helps slow the heart rate, steady breathing, and ease symptoms of anxiety.

For parents, we can only aspire that our weighted Teddy Bear can be a tool for you to help comfort your children during the hard moments and offer a way for you to say that ‘Everything is going to be okay,’ even without words.

Even though our journey has only just begun, we have already learnt so much more than we expected. From brainstorming ideas to designing and testing prototypes, every step has been a learning experience.

We’re very grateful for the opportunity to learn and to make a difference and we’re determined to give it all we’ve got.

So, for us, this isn’t just about selling a product—it’s about creating a movement.

Anxiety and stress shouldn’t be obstacles to enjoying life, especially for children.

By supporting Heavy Hugs, you’re not just buying a teddy bear; you’re joining us in our mission to make a difference.

We invite you to take that step with us.

Share our message, tell a friend, or come visit us at Old Spitalfields Market on the 25th February from 9:15am - 3:30pm. If you’re interested in learning more about our bears or placing an order, contact us via our social media links below (website coming soon).  Together, we can help children — and adults — find a little more comfort in their lives. Let’s make this world a more huggable place, one bear at a time.

Keep up with us on:

TikTok

Instagram 

Young Enterprise Team, 2025

In January 2025, I, alongside several other students at BGS, took part in a sponsored sleep-out to raise money for the Greenwich Winter Shelter. 

Over the past couple of months, Year 8 have been involved in the First Give project and each form has chosen a charity to support. Below you can read about what 8ML and 8LC have been doing for their projects.

Mrs Paige, Senior Academic Mentor, Year 8

8ML

Wednesday 18th December saw the BGS EX Hide & Seek event hosted by Wellman 8ML. The event was a fundraiser for Bexley Foodbank, a charity which aids local people in crisis, offering three-day emergency food supplies. On that day, so many people were so eager to attend, excited about the opportunity and wanted to donate as they knew it was going to a good cause.

BGS EX Hide & Seek was a thrilling, fast-paced game of hide and seek, spanning across the vast school campus. Taking place for an hour after school, the game was competitive, exceeding 100 students participating from Years 7-9. The event was split into two 30-minute segments, commencing with 11 seekers from 8ML, whilst others were chosen to be hiders, and vice versa.

Alongside the main hide-and-seek event, a selection of seven students volunteered to showcase their proficient, high-level expertise in baking through a bake sale. During the bake sale, a variety of baked goods were sold, ranging from banana bread and brownies to cookies.

We are pleased to announce that with the efforts of all those who participated, we were able to raise a grand total of £158 for the Bexley Foodbank. The event not only provided a fun and engaging way for the community to come together, but also showcased the creativity and dedication of those involved in planning and executing the game. The funds raised will go towards supporting various charitable initiatives, having a positive impact on the lives of those in need. We are very grateful and appreciative of the many students who donated to the charity.

Joshua and Jake, Year 8

8LC

8LC’s social action for the First Give programme started in early December and all the money we raise from our events will go towards the amazing charity Bexley Snap, which supports disabled children and their carers.

So far, we have launched a raffle and a quiz night, and we are hoping to host two more events in early 2025. Thank you to all participants and well done to the winners of the raffle and quiz night! 

Our next event will be a movie night held on the 10th January, and the movie is voted for from the three choices on our poster. We hope to see as many people there as possible!

Thank you again to everyone who has already taken part in our events to support the worthwhile charity Bexley Snap.

Aysu, Year 8

Exam stress is something which we all have experience of, and although stress is good and prepares us (e.g, enhances our focus and motivates us). Too much of it can lead to cognitive problems, for example, impairing our memory. Which is something we need running during an exam!

Stress can impact how memories are formed, as well as reduce retrieval. 

It’s important to recognise symptoms of stress-impaired memory, as well as what is causing this stress in the first place!  Finding the root of the problem and coming to terms with it helps to create a more focused approach to dealing with it.

Symptoms to recognise include (but not limited to):

• Forgetfulness
• Frequent confusion
• Difficulty recalling studied material

So how can we tackle this problem?

There are many coping mechanisms which we can use to reduce stress.

One simple, yet effective way to improve memory, by reducing stress, is to create a relaxation system. Whether this is a series of breathing exercises or visualising your happy place, it is important you have these systems in place and ready to use at the first sign of stress.

Many researchers (Zandi et al, 2021) have found that practising mindfulness (e.g. meditation) can help improve your memory by minimising stress, and even helping with any issues of getting to sleep.

Sleep is also an important key factor to doing well in exams, sleeping after studying helps to consolidate your learning (reinforce new information and commit them to long term memory), as well as allowing your brain to be refreshed for the next day (Diekelmann et al, 2009).

Which means you won’t end up falling asleep during your exam!

For some more information, here are some helpful links:

• How Stress Works With and Against Your Memory
• Stressors: Coping Skills and Strategies

For anyone who may need some support, here are some useful organisations:

• Mind
• Young Minds
• Mental Health Foundation

Zandi- DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_616_20

Diekelmann- doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2008.08.002.

Blaise Stokes, Year 12 Psychology Prefect