There has been an ever growing need in our schools and colleges for student support when they are going through general wellbeing issues, mental ill health, anxiety or other situations that they may be struggling with. Modern life can be very challenging particularly after the Covid years.
HeadSpace is our schools and college project and was launched in 2015 having recognised a growing need to support young people experiencing issues and difficulties with their mental health and/or mental well-being in school or college. This allows an early intervention and sometimes a soft nudge to prevent or minimise more serious issues developing and affecting academic attendance or performance.
Introduction
HeadSpace currently works in a number local schools and colleges in and around the Sutton Coldfield, Walsall and north Birmingham. ​We use a combination of trained staff and volunteers, and all have experience in working with children and young people as well as a passion to help and support.
We deliver assemblies, workshops and one to one mentoring for young people in KS2, KS3 and KS4. We offer workshops for Y6 transition to Y7 in secondary schools,. We deliver focused sessions for SEND and home schooled children and young people. We can run a "pop-up Gap drop-in" during a school or college lunch break for young people to access an independent adult.
One to one mentoring gives young people the opportunity to share and explore any thoughts or feelings, to get advice and guidance or just to have someone trusted and impartial to listen to them. We can signpost to other organisations if needed.
We understand every child or young person is different and so we offer a 6 or 12 week mentoring package, and are flexible to adapt or extend this for the needs of the mentee as required.
By providing a safe and empowering environment, our mentors work closely with children and young people to explore tools and strategies to help overcome barriers they may be experiencing and help them make positive changes in their lives not just in the short term but long term and potentially for the rest of their lives. ​​
One-to-One Mentoring Process
We follow a three stage process:
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Engage - to actively listen, understand and gain trust
Invest - in awareness, trust, explore issues and develop strategies, tools and confidence
Empower - the young person to help themselves and live an independent life
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Areas we can support include:
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Academic pressures
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Anger management
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Anxiety
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Attendance
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Bereavement
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Bullying
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Depression
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Family breakdown
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Friendships
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Gender identity
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Loss or change
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Low confidence
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Low mood
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Low self esteem
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Managing emotions
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Parental mental health
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Relationships
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Risk of exploitation
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Self-harm
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Sexuality
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Stress management
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Suicidal thoughts​
Core Individual Outcomes
Over the years we have seen significant positive outcomes by fostering trusted relationships that enhance young people's self-confidence, emotional resilience, and social skills.
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Mental Health & Well-being: Enhanced self-esteem, self-confidence, emotional regulation, and resilience. Mentoring reduces depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness.
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Social and Emotional Skills: Development of communication skills, empathy, trust, and improved relationships with peers, family, and teachers.
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Education and Employment: Improved school attendance, academic performance, and higher/further education enrolment rates. Improved career goals, employability and workforce readiness and flexibility.
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Behavioural Change: Reductions in substance misuse and youth violence. Mentoring has been shown to reduce violent crime by 21% and re-offending by 19% (Youth Endowment Fund research).
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Longer term impact
These include improved school attendance, reduced engagement in risky behaviours or crime, increased independence and emotional resilience, increased employability, and better mental health, particularly for at-risk or marginalised young people.
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​Our Mentors
The HeadSpace mentors and support workers are trained to a minimum of Level 3 in Mentoring, and have received accredited safeguarding training. All our mentors and support workers have an enhanced DBS and identification. Mentors have regular supervision sessions for themselves and are supported by a team of safeguarding professionals. There is a whole team behind the mentor as they support a child or young person.
A referral request system is used for teachers, parents or guardians within school and college. We provide a basic end of term update for the school to know how the mentee is progressing.
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Please contact us for more information.