Wellbeing Warriors 2023/24

Aim

To rebuild and support young children's mental health post COVID.

Over the last few years COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on children’s mental health. The government’s COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing surveillance report, updated in April 2022, suggests that some children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing was substantially impacted during the pandemic. Between March and June 2020, a period when schools were closed to most pupils, symptoms of depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found to have significantly increased in children and young people aged between 7.5 and 12 years old compared to immediately before the pandemic. The report also found increased rates of anxiety and loneliness but lower rates of access to mental health services.  A recent report from The Nuffield Trust emphasises the case for support being provided to young people to help them to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns and the significant disruption they have experienced over the last 3 years. The Nuffield Trust's report (Feb 2022) says: At the onset of the pandemic, much attention was focused on shielding the elderly and clinically vulnerable. Evidence has since shown that children and young people have suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic and the measures taken to control it. The surge in demand for mental health care in children has been unprecedented, with sharper increases than for adults. The number of children waiting for eating disorder treatment has quadrupled.  The importance of maintaining and improving children and young people’s health should not be underestimated. Healthy children are more likely to become healthy adults. Barriers to good health can disadvantage people into adulthood, and result in unfair differences between groups. (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/growing-problems-in-detail-covid-19-s-impact-on-health-care-for-children-and-young-people-in-englandgclid=EAIaIQobChMIp9SXpu2Y9gIVhoBQBh1qyQi7EAAYASAAEgJxY_D_BwE)  

Further evidence was provided in a BBC article: Demand for mental health services has risen, with researchers saying lockdowns and the disruption caused to education and social activities have taken a huge toll. 

The analysis highlighted: 

•    An 81% jump in referrals for child mental health services between April and September 2021, with growing numbers facing long waits 

•    More than 15,000 crisis referrals during the same period, a 59% jump on the same period in 2019 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-60417283 

Education Business Partnership (EBP) wants to contribute to addressing the situation for young people in West Berkshire/ North Hampshire. While we are aware that schools, colleges and youth organisations are implementing measures/ initiatives, the level of demand is very high, funding is limited and the majority of  initiatives aim to support older (Year 5 upwards) students. 

EBP is therefore looking to expand delivery of Wellbeing Warriors to students in Years 2 - 6. We are conscious that there is unmet need in these year groups and believe it is vital that this is addressed because:  - supporting pupils in these year groups after the disruption they have experienced due to COVID-19 will help to build firm foundations for them for the future while they are still at a formative stage in their education - students who will start Years 3 or 4 in Sept 2023 have experienced significant disruption in most academic years to date, heightening the need for intervention  - we believe that with the right support, delivered in a timely fashion, these children can absolutely 'bounceback' but in order to do so fully they need to be supported to develop the skills and capabilities required - until Spring/Summer 2022 ongoing COVID restrictions/ measures prevented face-to-face delivery of such programmes as schools have had to minimise visitor numbers and limit interactions. Any alternatives delivered virtually had reduced impact, especially with such young participants. The COVID lockdowns isolated young people from their peers, families, schools and support networks and resulted in isolation, loss of confidence and lack of experience with social interactions and large groups. Given that COVID restrictions have now been removed completely we believe that now is exactly the right time to expand this programme and to deliver it in person for maximum impact and the best results 

What is the Wellbeing Warriors programme? A six-week programme designed to support, motivate and empower children to look after their own mental health by exploring the 5 ways to wellbeing, covering physical, mental and emotional, social, educational and holistic wellbeing through drama, music, arts and crafts, games, quizzes etc. Teaching children to become Wellbeing Warriors!  

The phenomenal impact the arts can have on children’s confidence, sense of self and creativity and how the arts can be used as a tool for developing the 5 ways to wellbeing; making connections, being active, taking notice, learning and giving is well documented. 

The programme consists of 6 x 60 minute sessions exploring mental health and wellbeing. The sessions will focus on the 5 ways to wellbeing and cover exercise and nutrition, stress containers and self-care, bullying and healthy relationships, growth mindset and yoga/meditation. Each session is practical, with the class learning through drama, games, art and play. All sessions will be facilitated by experienced professional theatre and education practitioners. 

- Help children to understand what wellbeing is and what it means/looks like for them 

-    Empower and Motivate children to look after their own wellbeing - equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need moving forward 

-    Build children’s Confidence and Resilience 

-    Develop children’s Creativity 

Through our relationships with schools across West Berkshire we know there is a definite need and demand for this new programme. Budget constraints are prohibiting the majority of schools from funding it themselves.  Resource within schools is also stretched meaning that the Wellbeing Warriors model will work well as all materials and resource will be provided for the sessions. The bid outlines how this year group can be supported in meeting their well-being needs through creative, practical activities. It is an early intervention provision that enables the children to learn about how they can understand and support their own wellbeing which can help prevent the children needing to access higher level support later in their school life.

This project successfully funded on 29th January 2024