Wellbeing Training for Anti-Bullying Ambassadors

Posted at 10:20 am on 14th May, 2019

Kooth deliver Mental Health Awareness

Wellacres’ Anti-Bullying Ambassadors continued their development with additional mental health awareness training from Kooth, the online counselling and support service for young people in Trafford.  This followed The Diana Award anti-bullying training in March.

Jude, from Kooth, delivered a workshop to the students which explored adverse emotions, thoughts and feelings as well as the causes and triggers in young people’s day-to-day lives such as issues with friends and family, self-esteem or school work.

The group furthered their knowledge of support strategies for peers, by learning more about coping mechanisms and prioritising advice and guidance routes available to students.

Wellacres’ Anti-bullying Ambassadors also had a refresher session about the Kooth online service, which Wellacre promoted to the student body last academy year.  By logging onto the website (www.kooth.com), they learned more about the accessibility of the service as well as the variety of resources available.

Mr Dougherty, Assistant Head of House for Turing, said:

“Peer-to-peer support is valued highly at Wellacre.   We are confident in our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors’ abilities to not only provide excellent advice and guidance but to also share  their anti-bullying, wellbeing and mental health training with newly appointed ambassadors to enable them to step into the role.”

The Ambassadors were challenged to brainstorm ideas for wellbeing and mental health initiatives and promoting awareness in school.  Year 9, Jamie, offered the following:

*  Apply for funding to plant flower seeds around school;

*  Use Eco Centre for peer meetings;

*  Hold art classes outside; and

*  Promote benefits of more than 8 hours sleep to students.

Mr Dougherty added:

“It was great to see the students leave the Kooth workshop with positivity and confidence in their capability to fulfil their role.  The boys came up with some fantastic ideas to impact student, and staff, health and wellbeing.”