Journalists visited Central Park Primary School in Newham to interview students, parents and teachers about Lumi Nova, a mobile game used to help ease anxiety.
Lumi Nova combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques with immersive and ethical gaming to help children aged 7-12 build confidence and resilience. It was first commissioned by ELFT in 2022 to improve early access to mental health support for children and families.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, nearly 800 children in Newham, Tower Hamlets, Bedfordshire and Luton accessed Lumi Nova through ELFT. Data shows that:
- 65% of users were experiencing a clinical-level mental health challenge before starting. Of these, 72% reported improvements in their wellbeing, family relationships, and school life.
- 39% of children using Lumi Nova came from ethnic minority backgrounds, rising to 72% in Newham.
- Among ethnic minority users, 83% noticed improvements in their day-to-day lives and 97% saw their condition improve or remain stable, compared with 88% of all Lumi Nova users overall.
Lisa Young, Clinical Lead for Whole School Approaches, Wellbeing in Newham Schools Team, said:
“Lumi Nova has been a valuable tool to complement our CAMHS offer in Newham. It provides an inclusive, early intervention option for families who may find traditional routes to support difficult to access.”
Manjul Rathee, founder and CEO of BFB Labs, the social impact organisation behind Lumi Nova, added:
“We are proud of our collaboration with ELFT and the strong outcomes among children from minority groups. Our mission is to make mental health support accessible, engaging and effective for every child.”
Families in Newham can still access Lumi Nova online without prescription or referral via a self-sign-up hub, offering immediate, on-demand support.
Find out more at luminova.app.
The ITV London interview aired on Monday 10 November 2025 and featured a reference to ELFT at minute 24:30. You can watch the full segment here.
