Body Gossip School
Gok Wan-endorsed, award-winning Gossip School is a self-esteem class giving confidence to teenagers.
"Gossip School is exactly what the UK is crying out for! This will help body confidence and self-esteem get back into the public eye, but more importantly get directly to the people who really matter- the youth of this country!
Between 13 and 18 years old we all make such important decisions that will go on to affect our entire lives, this will really give them a platform to get there with confidence!"
- GOK WAN
To book Gossip School, please contact Natasha Devon on 07879 468882 or email natasha@bodygossip.org
What is Body Gossip School?
Body Gossip School is a multi-award winning self-esteem class aimed at teenagers aged 13-18 of both genders. Body Gossip have been teaching self-esteem classes since 2008 and to date have worked with more than 20,000 teenagers in schools and colleges throughout the UK.
As featured in the Times Educational Supplement, Body Gossip School is inspiring, uplifting and entertaining and will be relevant to every student in the room.
A recent feedback assessment showed 84% of our students described themselves as being more body confident after taking part in our class.
"Rock Your Own Brand of Gorgeous!"
Research shows that 70% of girls and 30% of boys aged 11-19 cite their relationship with their body as their 'number one worry'. It also shows that body insecurity prevents young people from raising their hand in class, expressing an opinion, partaking in physical education lessons, or even from turning up to school or college at all.
The Body Gossip campaign does not believe that it is acceptable for society's attitude towards beauty to stop young people from fulfilling their potential and enjoying their lives. By using a combination of powerful first-hand accounts, psychology and media literacy, we are inspiring students to make their own beauty and grooming rules and to rock their own unique brand of gorgeous.
"Gossip School fulfills the key objective of body image lessons"- JO SWINSON MP, Minister for Equalities and Chairman of the APPG on Body Image
"However excellent a school's teaching, or however bright the student, both will fall short of their potential without the right emotional guidance, delivered by the right people."
- NATASHA DEVON for the Times Educational Supplement
Testimonials from Students
"As someone who has struggled with maintaining a positive body image for a while now I found your talk incredibly inspiring. And whilst I'm fortunate enough not to suffer from an actual eating disorder, your talk made me realise that I can change the way I view myself and that I don't need to become this perfect idea that is unachievable, so I just wanted to say thank you for today". OW, 17
"I cannot tell you how much it means to me for you to bring up subjects that have not previously been discussed at my school. Going to an all girls school, it is obvious how much pressure each and every girl puts on themselves to reach perfection not only academically, but also to do with their appearance. Until this afternoon, I had hardly every heard a girl say something she liked about her appearance. Sitting in the common room, all you hear is girls complaining about themselves and worst of all, other girls' looks. However, after your talk today, the only conversation in the common room was people talking about what they love about themselves. It was so refreshing to hear and made me hope that this will carry on and you will continue to change other girls (and boys) lives across the country. So thank you for that!". AR, 16
"You convinced me that loving my body was the only way forward. You really inspired me to be confident". S, 16
"Today I found the session very inspirational. It was interesting how Natasha explained her past and how she found ways to fly past it . Also knowing that Body Gossip makes people believe that they are good enough the way they are instead changing everything to be someone they're not". AP, 15
"I have literally just got back to my room after attending one of your Body Gossip workshops and all I can think to do is to e-mail you expressing how amazing I think you and the workshops are. You are truly inspiring and not only through your personal experiences but also how you relate them to others and are using them to really change peoples perspectives about body image. Although I would consider my life to be relatively drama free, Uni can definitely be a stressful place sometimes, and you reminded me how important it is to stay positive on what had up until then been a rather rubbish day!" M, Student University of Nottingham
"Natasha from Body Gossip was bloomin' lovely. She was funny and laid back and didn't sound all 'woe is me' when she talked about having had Bulimia. She didn't go on about how ill she had been or sensationalise it or anything. Wonderfully she did not mention weight. (The kind of thing that makes me go 'oh well I'm not THAT ill, I must be fine, I can't get help')", University Student, currently suffering from an Eating Disorder
"I just wanted to say that other than the fact that you were ridiculously funny your talk was also really inspirational so thankyou :)" NL, 14
"You were the talk of my year group for the rest of the day. Everyone loved your talk - quite frankly, you're the best speaker we've ever had in!" Matt, 15
"Your talk in our school was amazing and you're so funny, I was constantly laughing, you're brilliant Natasha Devon!" Brendon, 15
"You were brilliant today and you are a great role model" Lizzie, 16
"It showed me anyone with an eating disorder can overcome their illness" MV, 16
"Natasha told us about her so it hit you more because it's ok having someone explaining something but if they've never been through it they have no right telling you what's right and wrong....She was amazing at making people realise [eating disorders] are dangeous. Get her back next year for the other groups I say!" DA, 16
"You learned to accept yourself the way you are" ZS, 15
"I enjoyed the workshop because it was from personal experience" NH, 15
"We learned that you dont have to lose weight in certain industries just because they want you to" JP, 15
"Really good, worth an hour of my life" HF, 15
Feedback from teachers and families
"Informative, inspirational, entertaining" - Alison Lecky, Head of PSHE, Hertfordshire & Essex High School
"Today, my daughter came home and repeated pretty much word-for-word what Natasha had taught her in the Gossip School lesson- And she never usually talks to me about school!" - Parent, Surrey
"I just wanted to comment on how good I thought this session was yesterday! My students also thought it was great – Natasha was down-to-earth, inspiring, open, honest and informative. I think we all took a lot away from the session and we continued to talk about it for the last 15 minutes of the hour" - Tutor, Chelmsford College
"You, and your talk, were brilliant yesterday. Thank you so much. Your rapport with the students was wonderful and they were thoroughly engaged throughout. I have been particularly impressed by the number of boys who loved your talk and were empowered and (occasionally) moved by it. The topic of you talk is of incredible importance and we will follow up the themes and issues you raised in Pastoral periods over the next two weeks. You were the perfect speaker to launch our fortnightly Pastoral theme of Self Image. - Peter Thompson, Teacher, Prior Park School
"My younger sister [was taught Gossip School], and I could not be more proud of her for dealing with her eating disorder, and I could not thank Natasha Devon more for how she helped my sister to deal with it in a way that no one else could. I think this is a fantastic programme and so many youngsters will benefit from it. I am backing it 100% and I feel that everyone should back this, be it for their grandchildren, children, younger brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, or even the girl who lives next door, because we have all felt insecure at some point in our lives, and we all know how awful that feeling is, and if we can help younger generations to extinguish these feelings, perhaps we will be shaping a better, brighter future for everyone" - Grace Foulkes, Sister
"The college is actively engaged with the 'every learner matters' agenda and the framework for excellence, so we're particularly proud to be associated with this extremely innovative and positive campaign. Students studying on a variety of courses such as fashion, music, hair, beauty, graphics and photography for example will be helping in the future to shape the attitudes and beliefs of our whole society, so for the creative academies we're fully supportive of the work of Natasha Devon and Body Gossip in raising these issues at the first opportunity" - Andy Ginn, Director of Creative Academies, Gloucestershire College
"Natasha's session was brilliant, thought provoking and fun. Natasha spoke with passion and insight and encouraged students to value themselves and each other and to question media stereotypes. Natasha shared her moving experiences with an appreciative audience and was able to relate to the students superbly. The students really appreicated Natasha's presentation that was very serious and emotional. Natasha was able to build good will and feeling in this group of 150 with a great sense of humour. Many students at the end of the Citizenship and RS session said it was the best of the year so far and clearly Natasha had inspired them to be better and more caring people" - Simon Etheridge, Head of PSHE, Bishop’s Stortford High School