Mental health is an important part of a child’s overall well-being and development. It is essential for children to develop healthy coping skills, build strong relationships, and have a positive outlook on life. Mental health issues in children can manifest in different ways, including anxiety, depression, poor family life and more. It is important to recognize the signs of mental health issues in children so that they can receive the help they need. We try and play an important role in helping children and young people in Blackpool by providing support and understanding through several programmes we run. By taking steps to promote positive mental health among children, we can ensure that they will grow up to be healthy adults with strong emotional resilience.
Tiny Tangerines
Our Tiny Tangerines mini football sessions not only provide great physical activity for children, but they can also help improve their mental health. Through these sessions, children can learn valuable skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving. They can also help boost self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as provide an outlet for stress relief. Tiny Tangerines also provides a sense of belonging and gives children the opportunity to make friends and meet new people who share similar interests. By attending these sessions regularly, children improve their football skills massively, acting as the building blocks for children’s sports development and acting as a pathway for them to feel comfortable in a local grassroots football team.
These sessions are for 3 – 7-year-olds and take place weekly at Unity Academy and Armfield Academy. For more information or to book these sessions, click here – Tiny Tangerines
FIT2GO
Fit2Go is a six-week programme, delivered to Year 4 pupils throughout Blackpool, that aims to encourage children to live a healthy lifestyle, take part in regular physical activity and join local sports clubs and community programmes which will ultimately improve their overall health and well-being. A healthy lifestyle equals a healthy mind.
We teach children that having a healthy balanced diet is important not only for physical health but for mental health also. Eating a balanced diet can help children feel more energized, improve their concentration and focus, and boost their mood. It also provides the essential building blocks for healthy brain development in children.
For more information on Fit2Go, click here – Fit2Go
Tower Above
Tower Above is a one-to-one mentoring programme aimed at 8-12-year-olds who are at risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour. Sessions cover a wide variety of topics such as resilience, healthy relationships, moral dilemmas, community safety and more. Sport and mentoring are combined and allows young people to build confidence, talk openly with a trusted adult and provide a way to positively foster their interests and talents. By engaging with Tower Above, it is hoped that young people can turn away from the anti-social behaviour that could affect their mental well-being and go on to access positive provisions that will continue to build up their mental health, and physical actions and improve personal development.
You can find out more information here – Tower Above
Unstoppable
Our PSHE Unstoppable programme, which is delivered to Year 6 pupils across all Blackpool schools, focuses on supporting young people with difficult life topics, including mental health, knife crime, friendships, family dynamics and the transition to high school. This is all based on the book Unstoppable, written by bestselling author Dan Freedman. This makes sure children are aware of things that can happen in life and how to deal with them if something similar happens to them or someone they know.
You can find out more information here – Unstoppable
High School Hubs (1:1 Mentoring)
In our high school hubs programme, we deliver 1:1 mentoring sessions to specific students across 5 Blackpool schools. 1:1 mentoring in high schools can be a great way to improve the mental health and well-being of students. It is a form of support that helps students to develop a sense of self-esteem, build resilience and learn how to cope with difficult situations. Our mentors provide guidance and advice on topics such as academic performance, social relationships and career planning. Moreover, they create an environment where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings without judgement or fear of rejection. Through 1:1 mentoring, students can develop healthy habits which will benefit them in the long run.
You can find out more information here – 1 – 1 Mentoring
