Next week is Place 2 Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week (3rd– 9thFeb 2020) and the focus this year is on ‘finding your brave’. Did you know 1 in 8 children and young people have a diagnosable mental health condition?
Blackpool FC Community Trust, with support from the Premier League and Blackpool Public Health, are supporting Year 10 pupils to cope with exam stress and anxiety with a brand-new mental health programme, PL Inspires.
After consultation with local young people, it was discovered that they felt there was a lack of support for them in relation to the pressure of exam stress, preparation, and overall mental well-being.
The Community Trust will now offer local secondary schools a 20 hour programme, focused on helping them become more resilient individuals, reducing anxiety and developing coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques, to support the young people through the difficult time of exams.
The programme, which links into Headstart’s resilience revolution, has been developed by the Trust’s Head of Education and Employability, Selina Hayes and Secondary Education Manager, Simon Smith, with support from Headstart Blackpool. Blackpool FC Community Trust will employ two members of staff to help young people in Blackpool schools to have a positive outlook on a difficult period and support those currently on the cusp of gaining GCSE grades 4-5.
On Friday 24thJanuary we held our PL Inspires Challenge event at Bloomfield Road. Eight teams from across Blackpool came to present their social action ideas to staff at the club. Well done to all the pupils who attended the event and congratulations to the winners from St George’s High School. They will now go on to represent the club at the final celebration event in London later on this year.
Simon Smith, Secondary Education Manager said, “It could have been quite daunting for them to present their ideas in front of people they didn’t know but the groups did themselves proud. They excelled with how well they delivered and presented their social actions on the day. There were some great ideas that would have a positive impact on their local community, and I hope to see them continue with their plans.”
For more information about Blackpool FC Community Trust: Call: 01253 348 691 or follow BFCCT on social media.
