Episode 1: The Static
The Static is an interactive adventure for Year 3 or Year 4 to explore mental health and wellbeing.
In this episode UCA explores The Static, a mysterious presence that stops people feeling able to connect with one another, and isolates those with their own worries. The Static is a playful way to describe anxiety.
You’ll receive an UCA Beacon, which when lit, helps combat the static.
Students are tasked with helping Jay, a newly trained member of the Undercover Caretaker Agency, who is concerned about their friend and colleague at the agency Mal, who seems to be isolating themselves from the rest of the team. Through exercises based on the 5 Ways To Wellbeing , students are upskilled in methods to look after their own mental health and support their peers to do the same. The adventure culminates in helping them share what they learn with the rest of their school through creating a creative project to benefit the wellbeing of their community.
UCA was delivered annually to 6 Tower Hamlets schools between 2021–2023 before. In 2024–25, the team focused on refining and scaling Episode 1 into its most robust form yet—making the experience reusable, clinically reviewed, and even more accessible. Partnering with Tower Hamlets Education and Wellbeing Service (THEWS), the updated version of The Static was delivered to 20 schools in early 2025.
The delivery included:
A refreshed and clinically reviewed teacher pack
A redesigned reusable box by artist Kirsty Harris
Access support by consultant Elise Robinson
CPD sessions for 25+ teachers
Accompanying digital resources
“Each year, UCA becomes more embedded in our PSHE/ Wellbeing curriculum offer. UCA Episode 1 has provided us with a free mental health and wellbeing toolkit which helps to develop our children’s emotional literacy and creates the foundations for wider conversations about wellbeing.”
“The excitement of the pupils since delivery all the way to the end was absolutely amazing…
even my most quiet pupils burst out of their shells and participated with great eagerness.”
An innovative teacher-led experience
Episode 1 has been built to be comfortably delivered by a teacher - increasing the accessibility of the project and ensuring more teachers can engage with the project. An online CPD is available for all teachers - check out the first video in the 20minute series to see the box and hear more from Toby Peach.
If you’d like to see 2025’s Evaluation Report on Episode 1, please click below.
If you’d be interested in receiving a copy of Episode 1 please do contact us.
Credits
Associate Makers Brigitte Adela, Brent Grihalva, Janisè Sadik, Anne Langford
Producers Emily Davis, Ellie Browning & Eliza Cass
Filmmakers DMLK Video
Designer Kirsty Harris
Graphic Designer Jessica Sanders
Programers Suzanna Hurst & Ed Naujokas
Sound Design Jen Igiri
Project Director Toby Peach
Performers Anne Odeke, Afia Abusham & Toby Peach
Made in collaboration with members of the Young Coneys.
The Undercover CareTaker Agency was created thanks to funding from The Backstage Trust and Canary Wharf Contractors. The 2024/25 project expansion was made possible thanks to support from THAMES and ELFT Charity.
Project original developed at Coney
